Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) Hits New 52-Week High - Should You Buy?

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $201.00 and last traded at $201.00, with a volume of 1350 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $198.42.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently weighed in on LDOS. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Leidos from $175.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted 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. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Leidos from $194.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Leidos from $183.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Leidos from $205.00 to $228.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Leidos presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $191.23.

Leidos Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $26.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.68. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $166.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is $153.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 1.15.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.06 billion. Leidos had a net margin of 7.37% and a return on equity of 30.31%. Leidos's revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.03 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 10.09 EPS for the current year.

Leidos Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. This is a positive change from Leidos's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Leidos's dividend payout ratio is currently 17.31%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Gary Stephen May sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.02, for a total transaction of $144,020.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,264 shares in the company, valued at $1,622,241.28. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Leidos 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 sale, the director now owns 6,408 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,185,095.52. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Gary Stephen May sold 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.02, for a total value of $144,020.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 11,264 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,622,241.28. The trade was a 0.00 % 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.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Leidos

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Leidos by 51.2% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 837,370 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $136,491,000 after purchasing an additional 283,558 shares during the period. Twin Tree Management LP purchased a new position in Leidos during the first quarter valued at approximately $2,512,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. raised its position in Leidos by 188.2% during the second quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. now owns 8,274 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,207,000 after acquiring an additional 5,403 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Leidos by 97.2% during the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 12,904 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,692,000 after purchasing an additional 6,360 shares during the period. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Leidos by 76.9% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 698,807 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $101,942,000 after purchasing an additional 303,775 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.12% of the company's stock.

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.