Horizon Investment Services LLC Raises Stock Position in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS)

Horizon Investment Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS - Free Report) by 18.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 15,333 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 2,405 shares during the period. Horizon Investment Services LLC's holdings in Leidos were worth $2,209,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of LDOS. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Leidos in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Leidos in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Mather Group LLC. increased its holdings in Leidos by 143.1% in the 4th quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 265 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the period. Human Investing LLC purchased a new position in Leidos during the 4th quarter worth approximately $52,000. Finally, Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new stake in Leidos during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.12% of the company's stock.

Leidos Price Performance

Leidos stock traded down $0.17 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $134.77. The company had a trading volume of 1,506,489 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,148,305. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.21. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $137.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $153.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.28 billion, a PE ratio of 14.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.72. Leidos Holdings, Inc. has a 1-year low of $123.23 and a 1-year high of $202.90.

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Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The aerospace company reported $2.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.24 by $0.13. Leidos had a net margin of 7.53% and a return on equity of 30.93%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 10.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.19%. Leidos's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. William Blair cut shares of Leidos from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Leidos to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Leidos from $185.00 to $165.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Leidos from $197.00 to $191.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Leidos from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, March 8th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $178.07.

Insider Transactions at Leidos

In related news, Director Gary Stephen May sold 2,128 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were 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 owns 11,264 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,478,287.36. This represents a 15.89 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Robert C. Kovarik, Jr. sold 1,511 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.56, for a total transaction of $203,320.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,408 shares in the company, valued at $862,260.48. This trade represents a 19.08 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.96% 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.