Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) Sets New 52-Week High - Still a Buy?

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $170.15 and last traded at $169.74, with a volume of 40791 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $169.52.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on LDOS. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Leidos from $155.00 to $166.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Leidos from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Leidos from $172.00 to $183.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Leidos from $169.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Leidos from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $166.92.

Leidos Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $22.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $158.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $148.44.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The aerospace company reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.27 by $0.36. Leidos had a net margin of 2.72% and a return on equity of 28.40%. The business had revenue of $4.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.06 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.80 EPS. The company's revenue was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 8.96 EPS for the current year.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th were issued a $0.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 13th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.90%. Leidos's payout ratio is 47.65%.

Insider Activity at Leidos

In related news, Director Robert C. Kovarik, Jr. sold 1,059 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.23, for a total value of $153,798.57. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,455 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,082,689.65. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, Director Gary Stephen May sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.02, for a total value of $144,020.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,264 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,622,241.28. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Robert C. Kovarik, Jr. sold 1,059 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.23, for a total transaction of $153,798.57. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,455 shares in the company, valued at $1,082,689.65. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.96% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LDOS. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in Leidos by 156.5% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,133,508 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $165,356,000 after purchasing an additional 691,575 shares during the last quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC boosted its holdings in shares of Leidos by 1,184.3% in the second quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 501,868 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $73,213,000 after acquiring an additional 462,792 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Leidos by 76.9% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 698,807 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $101,942,000 after acquiring an additional 303,775 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its holdings in shares of Leidos by 138.5% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 517,498 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $67,840,000 after acquiring an additional 300,486 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Leidos by 51.2% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 837,370 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $136,491,000 after acquiring an additional 283,558 shares in the last quarter. 76.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.