Core Viewpoint - Leidos (LDOS) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook driven by an upward trend in earnings estimates, which significantly influences stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of changing earnings estimates, which are closely correlated with near-term stock price movements, particularly due to institutional investors adjusting their valuations based on these estimates [3][5]. - An increase in earnings estimates typically leads to higher fair value for a stock, prompting institutional investors to buy or sell, thus affecting stock prices [3]. Business Improvement Indicators - Rising earnings estimates and the Zacks rating upgrade for Leidos suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to be reflected in higher stock prices [4][9]. Earnings Estimate Revisions for Leidos - Leidos is projected to earn $11.28 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, with no year-over-year change; however, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 5.9% over the past three months [7]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988, indicating a strong performance potential [6][8]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, positioning Leidos among the best candidates for market-beating returns in the near term [9].

Core Insights - Leidos and VML have launched Imperium, an AI-powered technology platform aimed at enhancing U.S. capabilities in information operations [1][2] - The platform is designed to improve information dominance through advanced tools for planning, implementation, analysis, and assessment, while adhering to compliance frameworks and ethical standards [2][3] Company Overview - Leidos is a national security leader with approximately 47,000 global employees and reported annual revenues of about $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ending January 3, 2025 [5] - VML is a global communications company recognized for its innovative work with major clients and has a workforce of 26,000 across 55 markets [6] Product Development - The development of Imperium involved a three-year investment from both Leidos and VML, integrating Leidos' Trusted Mission AI for enhanced data analysis and insights [3][4] - Initial tests of Imperium have shown significant improvements in mission planning efficiency, reducing certain tasks from days to hours [4] Strategic Importance - The development of strategic information operations capabilities is deemed critical for the safety of the U.S. and its allies, with Imperium expected to deliver faster and more agile operational capabilities [5]

Company Overview - Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) is a Virginia-based technology company specializing in defense, aviation, information technology, and biomedical research with a market cap of $23.9 billion and approximately 47,000 employees [1] - The company operates across four primary divisions: National Security & Digital, Health & Civil, Commercial & International, and Defense Systems [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts expect LDOS to report a profit of $2.62 per share on a diluted basis for the fiscal third quarter of 2025, which represents a decline of 10.6% from $2.93 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the full fiscal year, analysts anticipate an EPS of $11.41, reflecting an increase of 11.8% from $10.21 in fiscal 2024 [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, LDOS stock has increased by 9.7%, which is lower than the S&P 500 Index's 13.5% gains and the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund's 24% gains during the same period [4] - Following the release of strong Q2 results on August 5, Leidos Holdings' shares surged by 7.5%, with revenue rising 2.9% year over year to $4.3 billion, exceeding expectations [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on LDOS stock is reasonably bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall; out of 16 analysts, ten recommend a "Strong Buy," one suggests "Moderate Buy," and five give a "Hold" [6] - The average analyst price target for LDOS is $196.28, indicating a potential upside of 6.4% from current levels [6]

Core Insights - Leidos (LDOS) stock closed at $194.05, down 2.11% from the previous trading session, underperforming the S&P 500, which fell 0.28% [1] - Over the last month, Leidos shares increased by 9.9%, outperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 7.19% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.03% [1] Earnings Performance - Leidos is expected to release its earnings on November 4, 2025, with analysts projecting earnings of $2.62 per share, a year-over-year decline of 10.58% [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is $4.28 billion, reflecting a 2.06% increase from the same quarter last year [2] Full Year Estimates - For the full year, analysts expect earnings of $11.22 per share and revenue of $17.15 billion, representing changes of +9.89% and +2.95% respectively from the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent changes to analyst estimates indicate evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions suggesting analysts' confidence in Leidos' performance and profit potential [4] Zacks Rank and Valuation - Leidos currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with the Zacks Rank system showing a strong track record of outperformance [6] - The Forward P/E ratio for Leidos is 17.66, compared to the industry average of 17.32, indicating that Leidos is trading at a premium [7] PEG Ratio - Leidos has a PEG ratio of 1.89, which is higher than the average PEG ratio of 1.81 for the Computers - IT Services industry [8] Industry Ranking - The Computers - IT Services industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, ranks in the top 25% of all industries according to the Zacks Industry Rank [9]

Core Insights - Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) has signed a 19-year agreement with Kazaeronavigatsia to upgrade Kazakhstan's air traffic control system, anticipating significant growth in the country's aviation sector, with passenger traffic projected to increase from nearly 15 million to 26 million by 2030 [1][3] Group 1: Agreement Details - The agreement includes enhancements at four control centers and 21 towers nationwide, aimed at improving the safety and reliability of Kazakhstan's air traffic system [3] - Leidos will implement its SkyLine-X Air Traffic Management system, which provides comprehensive surveillance capabilities and advanced safety features [2][7] Group 2: Leidos' Expertise - Leidos has over 50 years of experience in air traffic management, ensuring the safe travel of more than four million passengers daily across four continents [4] - The company integrates advanced technologies such as AI and hybrid cloud architecture through its Common Automation Platform to enhance air traffic control operations [5] Group 3: Industry Growth Potential - A report by Airports Council International World predicts a global passenger traffic CAGR of 3.4% from 2024 to 2043, indicating a rising demand for modernized air traffic management solutions [6] - Other companies in the air traffic management sector include Boeing, RTX Corporation, and Leonardo DRS, each with their own growth rates and sales projections [6][8][10] Group 4: Stock Performance - Over the past six months, Leidos shares have increased by 41.9%, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 6.2% [11] - Leidos currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating positive market sentiment [12]

Core Insights - Leidos has signed a contract with Kazaeronavigatsia to modernize Kazakhstan's air traffic control system, reflecting over 20 years of collaboration in the aviation sector [1][3] - The modernization will include the installation of the SkyLine-X Air Traffic Management system, enhancing safety and operational efficiency for air traffic controllers [2][4] - Kazakhstan's aviation sector is projected to grow significantly, with annual passenger traffic expected to reach 26 million by 2030, up from nearly 15 million [4] Company Overview - Leidos is a leader in industry and technology, serving government and commercial customers with innovative digital solutions, and reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ending January 3, 2025 [6] Industry Context - The agreement spans a 19-year period and involves upgrades at four control centers and 21 towers across Kazakhstan, indicating a long-term commitment to improving the country's air traffic management capabilities [3][4] - Kazakhstan's flight safety rating stands at 82%, surpassing the global average of 70.8%, highlighting the country's commitment to aviation safety [5]

Market Performance - The U.S. stock market showed strong performance last week, with major indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 0.82%, 0.84%, and 0.96% respectively [1] - Investor optimism was fueled by advancements in Artificial Intelligence and expectations for further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, despite a partial government shutdown creating uncertainties [1] Consumer Confidence and Labor Market - The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for September dropped by 3.6 points to 94.2, marking its lowest level since April, attributed to inflation and a weakening job market [2] - Job openings increased slightly by 19,000 to 7.227 million in August, while hiring decreased by 114,000 to 5.126 million according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey [2] Zacks Research Performance - Amneal Pharmaceuticals saw a stock increase of 29.9% since its Zacks Rank upgrade on July 25, outperforming the S&P 500's 5.5% increase [4][7] - Leidos Holdings experienced a 19.8% return following a Zacks Rank upgrade on July 28, also surpassing the S&P 500's 5.1% increase [5][7] - A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks returned +8.64% in 2025 through September 1, compared to +7.60% for the S&P 500 index [5] Focus List and Model Portfolios - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned 13.74% in 2025 through August 31, outperforming the S&P 500 index's 10.79% [12] - Intellia Therapeutics gained 85.9% and Shopify returned 38.3% over the past 12 weeks, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 7% increase during the same period [11] Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) - The ECAP returned +0.20% in Q2 2025, underperforming the S&P 500 index's +10.94% gain [16] - The portfolio aims to minimize capital loss by holding shares of companies with a proven track record of earnings stability over 20+ years [17] Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) - Johnson & Johnson returned 20.9% and Home Depot increased by 6.3% over the past 12 weeks, benefiting from investor preference for quality dividend stocks amid market volatility [19] - The ECDP returned -3.17% in Q2 2025, compared to the S&P 500 index's +10.94% gain [20] Top 10 Stocks Performance - Goldman Sachs, part of the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, increased by 38% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500 index's 14.2% increase [22] - The Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,369.7% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's 522.5% [24]

Company Performance - Leidos (LDOS) closed at $195.58, with a daily increase of +1.39%, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.01% [1] - The stock has risen by 8.01% over the past month, lagging behind the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 10.49% and exceeding the S&P 500's gain of 4.83% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Leidos is set to release its earnings on November 4, 2025, with an expected EPS of $2.62, reflecting a decrease of 10.58% from the prior-year quarter [2] - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $4.28 billion, which represents an increase of 2.06% from the year-ago period [2] Full-Year Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimates for Leidos indicate earnings of $11.22 per share and revenue of $17.15 billion, showing year-over-year changes of +9.89% and +2.95%, respectively [3] - Recent changes to analyst estimates suggest a favorable outlook on the company's business health and profitability [3] Zacks Rank and Valuation - Leidos currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with a recent 0.26% increase in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days [5] - The company has a Forward P/E ratio of 17.19, which aligns with the industry average [6] PEG Ratio - Leidos has a PEG ratio of 1.84, compared to the average PEG ratio of 1.99 for the Computers - IT Services industry [7] Industry Overview - The Computers - IT Services industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector and holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 74, placing it in the top 30% of over 250 industries [8]

Group 1 - ETHA is down approximately 15% from its August highs and is at support from its 2020-2024 highs, indicating a potential setup for Q4 risk-on strategies [1] - The Chinese government reportedly spends 600 times more on cybersecurity than the U.S., highlighting the importance of cybersecurity offerings from companies like Lighthouse [2] - Charles Schwab is experiencing the fastest earnings growth in the financial sector, benefiting from high share prices and Fed rate cuts, trading at 18 times earnings [2] Group 2 - Positive calls were made on several regional banks, with Morgan Stanley being highlighted for its strong performance in wealth management [3]

Leidos (LDOS) closed at $182.36 in the latest trading session, marking a -2.69% move from the prior day. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.5%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.38%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.5%. The security and engineering company's shares have seen an increase of 2.19% over the last month, not keeping up with the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 8.21% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.74%.Analysts and investors alike will be keepi ...