338,410 Shares in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) Bought by Nuveen LLC

Key Points

• Nuveen LLC has acquired 338,410 shares of Leidos Holdings, Inc. for approximately $45.67 million, now holding 0.26% of the company's total shares.
• Leidos reported a net margin of 8.22% and earnings per share of $3.21 for the most recent quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.63.
• The company has announced a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share, with an annualized yield of 0.9%, set to be paid on September 30th.

Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 338,410 shares of the aerospace company's stock, valued at approximately $45,665,000. Nuveen LLC owned 0.26% of Leidos as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LDOS. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Leidos in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. REAP Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Leidos by 422.2% in the fourth quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 188 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. MCF Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Leidos in the first quarter worth $27,000. Optimum Investment Advisors grew its stake in shares of Leidos by 260.0% in the first quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 234 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new stake in shares of Leidos in the first quarter worth $33,000. 76.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Leidos Stock Down 1.9%

LDOS stock opened at $178.50 on Friday. Leidos Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $123.62 and a fifty-two week high of $202.90. The business's 50-day moving average is $160.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $147.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 1.62. The company has a market cap of $22.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.65.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The aerospace company reported $3.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.63 by $0.58. Leidos had a return on equity of 33.57% and a net margin of 8.22%. The company had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.24 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.63 earnings per share. Leidos's revenue was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 10.62 earnings per share for the current year.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. Leidos's dividend payout ratio is currently 15.12%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Leidos

In other news, Director Gregory R. Dahlberg sold 952 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.43, for a total value of $168,913.36. Following the transaction, the director owned 21,068 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,738,095.24. This trade represents a 4.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Stephen Edward Hull sold 7,526 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.39, for a total value of $1,327,511.14. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 26,481 shares in the company, valued at $4,670,983.59. This trade represents a 22.13% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 10,478 shares of company stock valued at $1,852,525. 0.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on LDOS shares. Robert W. Baird cut Leidos from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $163.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, May 27th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Leidos from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $185.00 to $205.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $190.00 target price (up from $186.00) on shares of Leidos in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Baird R W cut Leidos from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Leidos from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 9th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $179.46.

Leidos Company Profile

Leidos Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health segments. The Defense Solutions segment offers national security solutions and systems for air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace for the U.S.

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