Zacks Research Has Bullish Estimate for Leidos Q1 Earnings

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Leidos in a report released on Tuesday, March 4th. Zacks Research analyst A. Dutta now anticipates that the aerospace company will earn $2.44 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $2.35. The consensus estimate for Leidos' current full-year earnings is $10.62 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Leidos' Q2 2025 earnings at $2.60 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $2.68 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $2.70 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $10.42 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $2.58 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $2.84 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $2.79 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.86 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $12.42 EPS.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The aerospace company reported $2.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.24 by $0.13. Leidos had a net margin of 7.53% and a return on equity of 30.93%.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. UBS Group cut their target price on Leidos from $162.00 to $156.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Leidos from $197.00 to $191.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Leidos to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Leidos from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $228.00 to $153.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, TD Cowen cut shares of Leidos from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price target for the company from $200.00 to $165.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Six 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. According to MarketBeat, Leidos presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $175.87.

Leidos Stock Down 1.5 %

Shares of Leidos stock traded down $2.07 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $137.17. 2,016,582 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,600,415. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.21. Leidos has a 52 week low of $123.22 and a 52 week high of $202.90. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $141.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $155.74. The company has a market cap of $17.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.72.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.17%. Leidos's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.32%.

Insider Activity at Leidos

In other news, Director Robert C. Kovarik, Jr. sold 1,511 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.56, for a total value of $203,320.16. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,408 shares in the company, valued at approximately $862,260.48. The trade was a 19.08 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Gary Stephen May sold 2,128 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.24, for a total transaction of $279,278.72. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 11,264 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,478,287.36. The trade was a 15.89 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Leidos

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LDOS. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Leidos in the 4th quarter worth approximately $266,419,000. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its position in Leidos by 510.6% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 999,661 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $144,011,000 after purchasing an additional 835,930 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Leidos by 35.0% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,630,448 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $378,942,000 after purchasing an additional 682,532 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Leidos by 27.8% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,405,726 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $392,133,000 after purchasing an additional 522,764 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Leidos by 13.1% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,504,392 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $571,216,000 after purchasing an additional 405,256 shares during the last quarter. 76.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.