MML Investors Services LLC Buys 8,611 Shares of Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS)

MML Investors Services LLC grew its holdings in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS - Free Report) by 28.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 39,143 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 8,611 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in Leidos were worth $5,639,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Leidos by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 35,306 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $5,086,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Norinchukin Bank The lifted its position in Leidos by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 6,632 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $955,000 after buying an additional 768 shares in the last quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S boosted its position in Leidos by 129.5% during the fourth quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 16,161 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $2,328,000 after purchasing an additional 9,118 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Leidos by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,706,757 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $245,867,000 after buying an additional 131,832 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Leidos by 8.9% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,901,433 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $273,920,000 after purchasing an additional 155,481 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.12% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on LDOS. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Leidos from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Leidos from $191.00 to $173.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. UBS Group decreased their target price on Leidos from $162.00 to $156.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Leidos to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, William Blair lowered shares of Leidos from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $179.23.

Insider Activity at Leidos

In other news, Director Robert C. Kovarik, Jr. sold 1,511 shares of the company'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 sale, the director now directly owns 6,408 shares of the company's stock, valued at $862,260.48. This represents a 19.08 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Gary Stephen May sold 2,128 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.24, for a total value of $279,278.72. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 11,264 shares in the company, valued at $1,478,287.36. The trade was a 15.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Leidos Trading Up 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE LDOS traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $145.74. The company had a trading volume of 1,178,190 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,214,934. The stock has a market cap of $18.69 billion, a PE ratio of 15.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.66. Leidos Holdings, Inc. has a one year low of $123.62 and a one year high of $202.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $136.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $150.43.

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

Leidos Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. Leidos's payout ratio is 17.32%.

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.