Stock analysts at Zacks Research have updated their earnings per share estimates for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) for the second quarter of 2027. In a research note issued on January 7, 2024, the analysts predict that the aerospace company will earn $3.12 per share, a slight increase from their previous estimate of $3.11. Currently, Zacks holds a “Hold” rating on the stock.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus estimate for Leidos stands at $10.62 per share. Leidos last reported its quarterly earnings on November 4, 2023, announcing earnings of $3.05 per share, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $2.61 by $0.44. The company achieved a return on equity of 33.02% and a net margin of 8.11%, with total revenue reaching $4.47 billion, exceeding anticipated revenue of $4.28 billion.
Dividend Increase and Stock Performance
Leidos recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was distributed on December 31, 2023. Shareholders on record as of December 15, 2023 received a dividend of $0.43 per share. This marks an increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $0.40, resulting in an annualized dividend of $1.72 and a yield of 0.9%. The company’s payout ratio currently stands at 16.04%.
As of January 8, 2024, Leidos shares opened at $198.57. The firm has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.62, and a quick ratio of 1.50. With a market capitalization of $25.39 billion, the stock maintains a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.52 and a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.39. Over the past year, Leidos has seen a low of $123.62 and a high of $205.77.
Insider Trading and Institutional Interest
In additional company news, insider Elizabeth A. Porter sold 3,000 shares on December 19, 2023, at an average price of $181.04, totaling $543,120. Following this transaction, Porter holds 41,575 shares, valued at approximately $7.53 million. This transaction represents a decrease of 6.73% in her ownership of the company’s stock. Details of the sale were disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Recent institutional trading has seen several firms adjust their positions in Leidos. Notably, First Pacific Financial acquired a new position valued at $27,000 in the second quarter, while Mather Group LLC invested $28,000 in the third quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. and Cape Investment Advisory Inc. also made new investments worth approximately $29,000 and $31,000, respectively. Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.12% of Leidos stock.
Leidos continues to be a significant player in the aerospace and technology sectors, delivering services to government and commercial customers. The company’s focus spans national security, defense, intelligence, and civil government markets, providing systems integration, engineering, and cybersecurity solutions.
As Leidos progresses through the fiscal year, its financial performance and strategic decisions will be closely monitored by investors and analysts alike.
