StockNews.com Downgrades Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) to Buy

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on LDOS. Truist Financial increased their price target on Leidos from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. TheStreet raised shares of Leidos from a "c" rating to a "b" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Leidos from $137.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, April 4th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Leidos from $133.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Leidos from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $132.42.

Leidos Stock Down 0.7 %

NYSE LDOS traded down $0.92 on Wednesday, reaching $126.18. The company had a trading volume of 740,016 shares, compared to its average volume of 813,157. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 1.24. Leidos has a 1 year low of $76.58 and a 1 year high of $131.50. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $124.97 and a 200-day moving average of $110.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.05 billion, a PE ratio of 88.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.70.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The aerospace company reported $1.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.74 by $0.25. Leidos had a net margin of 1.29% and a return on equity of 22.92%. The business had revenue of $3.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.83 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Leidos will post 7.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Gary Stephen May sold 2,745 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.49, for a total transaction of $341,725.05. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 11,352 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,413,210.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director David G. Fubini sold 7,874 shares of Leidos stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 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 is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gary Stephen May sold 2,745 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.49, for a total transaction of $341,725.05. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 11,352 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,413,210.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Leidos

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of LDOS. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Leidos in the first quarter worth approximately $25,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Leidos in the first quarter valued at about $27,000. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA acquired a new stake in shares of Leidos during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp increased its holdings in Leidos by 548.8% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 266 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the period. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. acquired a new position in shares of Leidos in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.12% of the company's stock.

About Leidos

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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