Franklin Resources Inc. Has $58.46 Million Stake in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS)

Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS - Free Report) by 30.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 346,690 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 80,642 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned 0.26% of Leidos worth $58,459,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of LDOS. Rakuten Securities Inc. increased its stake in Leidos by 1,460.0% during the third quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 156 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Leidos during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new position in Leidos in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 1832 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of Leidos during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Leidos by 251.3% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 281 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.12% of the company's stock.

Leidos Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:LDOS traded down $2.33 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $150.17. The stock had a trading volume of 1,204,970 shares, compared to its average volume of 952,535. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $170.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $157.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.64. Leidos Holdings, Inc. has a 52 week low of $105.52 and a 52 week high of $202.90.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The aerospace company reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.96 by $0.97. The firm had revenue of $4.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.06 billion. Leidos had a net margin of 7.37% and a return on equity of 30.31%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.03 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 9.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Leidos Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 16th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.07%. This is a positive change from Leidos's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Leidos's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on LDOS. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Leidos from $180.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Leidos from $205.00 to $185.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Leidos in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $182.00 target price for the company. Barclays lifted their target price on Leidos from $165.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Leidos from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $182.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Robert C. Kovarik, Jr. sold 1,047 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.94, for a total transaction of $193,632.18. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,408 shares in the company, valued at $1,185,095.52. The trade was a 14.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Noel B. Geer acquired 2,000 shares of Leidos stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $161.13 per share, with a total value of $322,260.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $322,260. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 0.96% of the company's stock.

Leidos 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.