Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) Sets New 1-Year High at $148.16

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $148.16 and last traded at $147.68, with a volume of 114316 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $146.60.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on LDOS. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Leidos from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. TheStreet raised Leidos from a "c" rating to a "b" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Leidos from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Leidos from $137.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Leidos from $138.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $145.67.

Leidos Stock Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average price of $131.62 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $118.17. The stock has a market cap of $19.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 63.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 30th. The aerospace company reported $2.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.70 by $0.59. Leidos had a net margin of 2.04% and a return on equity of 25.66%. The firm had revenue of $3.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.47 earnings per share. Leidos's revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 8.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 14th. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. Leidos's payout ratio is presently 65.52%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director David G. Fubini sold 7,874 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.89, for a total value of $1,007,005.86. Following the transaction, the director now owns 14,696 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,879,471.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, Director David G. Fubini sold 7,874 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.89, for a total value of $1,007,005.86. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 14,696 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,879,471.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gary Stephen May sold 2,745 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.49, for a total transaction of $341,725.05. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,352 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,413,210.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Leidos

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of LDOS. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA acquired a new stake in Leidos during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. acquired a new position in Leidos in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its position in Leidos by 209.0% during the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 275 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. acquired a new stake in Leidos during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Tidemark LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Leidos in the 4th quarter valued at $41,000. 76.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.