Core Insights - The U.S. administration is conceptualizing the Golden Dome program to counter the increasing threat from next-generation strategic weapons, particularly cruise and hypersonic missiles [1][2] - Leidos Holdings Inc. (LDOS) is well-positioned to contribute to the Golden Dome mission with its advanced sensor and missile defense capabilities [1][2] Company Positioning - The Golden Dome program aims to provide a next-generation missile defense shield for U.S. citizens, utilizing a layered network of sensors, interceptors, and command and control technologies [2] - Leidos has extensive expertise in radar systems, threat detection, and AI-driven command-and-control platforms, enhancing its chances of securing a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) [2][4] - The company's next-generation mission command solutions, such as the Rapid Command and Control Enhancement (RC2E) microservices, improve decision-making speed and accuracy [3] - Advanced surveillance sensors like GroundAware enable real-time threat detection and actionable information [3] Competitive Landscape - Leidos is a strong contender for future contracts related to the Golden Dome initiative, given its experience in developing layered air and missile defense systems [4] - Other defense stocks, such as Lockheed Martin (LMT) and RTX Corp. (RTX), are also competing for contracts associated with the Golden Dome program [5] - Lockheed Martin leads the Missile Defense Agency's National Team for Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC), with systems that could position it well for Golden Dome contracts [6] - RTX has a strong competitive edge due to its collaboration with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems on Israel's Iron Dome, which inspired the Golden Dome concept [7] Financial Performance - Leidos shares have increased by 0.9% year to date, contrasting with the defense industry's loss of 6.1% [8] - The company is trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 13.19X, which is approximately 56% lower than the industry average of 29.76X [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LDOS' sales in 2025 and 2026 indicates year-over-year growth of 2.7% and 3.2%, respectively, with EPS estimates trending higher over the past 60 days [11]

Core Viewpoint - Leidos has experienced a decline of approximately 6.7% in share price over the past month, underperforming the S&P 500, raising questions about its upcoming earnings release and potential for recovery [1]. Earnings Estimates - Estimates for Leidos have trended downward over the past month, indicating a negative sentiment among analysts [2]. VGM Scores - Leidos holds an average Growth Score of C and a similar score for momentum, while achieving a B grade for value, placing it in the top 40% for this investment strategy. The overall aggregate VGM Score for the stock is B, which is significant for investors not focused on a single strategy [3]. Outlook - The downward trend in estimates for Leidos appears promising in terms of magnitude, and the company holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting an expectation of above-average returns in the coming months [4]. Industry Performance - Leidos is part of the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry. A peer, Cognizant, has seen a 2.3% increase in share price over the past month. Cognizant reported revenues of $5.12 billion for the last quarter, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 7.5% [5]. Cognizant's Earnings Expectations - For the current quarter, Cognizant is projected to report earnings of $1.25 per share, representing a 6.8% increase from the previous year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cognizant has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, and it also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) with a VGM Score of B [6].

Core Viewpoint - Leidos is developing a new navigation technology called magnetic navigation (MagNav) that utilizes variations in the Earth's magnetic field and quantum properties of nitrogen in diamonds to overcome the vulnerabilities of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to jamming [1][2]. Group 1: Technology Development - The MagNav system does not rely on signals that can be jammed, making it a more secure navigation option for military applications [2]. - Quantum sensing technology is employed to enhance the sensitivity of magnetometers, which are crucial for the MagNav system [2][3]. - The new magnetometer being developed by Frequency Electronics, Inc. in collaboration with MIT Lincoln Lab aims to provide high accuracy in magnetic navigation systems [3][4]. Group 2: Company Overview - Leidos is a leader in the industry, serving both government and commercial customers, with reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025 [5]. - The company is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, and employs around 48,000 people globally [5].

The most recent trading session ended with Leidos (LDOS) standing at $144.42, reflecting a -0.05% shift from the previouse trading day's closing. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.01% for the day. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.22%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.32%.Coming into today, shares of the security and engineering company had lost 6.63% in the past month. In that same time, the Computer and Technology sector gained 7.95%, while the S&P 500 gained 5.2%.Analysts ...

Investors looking for stocks in the Computers - IT Services sector might want to consider either Leidos (LDOS) or Dynatrace (DT) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings ...

Core Insights - Leidos Holdings Inc. (LDOS) has seen a year-to-date share price increase of 3.1%, outperforming the S&P 500's return of 0.1%, but underperforming the Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry's growth of 17.5% and the broader Zacks Aerospace sector's appreciation of 18.6% [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance and Backlog - The company ended Q1 2025 with a backlog of $46.30 billion, up from $43.55 billion in the previous quarter, indicating strong demand for its products across various industries [4] - The improved backlog is expected to bolster future revenue generation prospects, enhancing investor confidence in the stock's profitability [5] Group 2: Financial Health - Leidos Holdings reported cash and cash equivalents of $0.84 billion and current debt of $0.12 billion at the end of Q1 2025, indicating a strong solvency position [6] - The current ratio of 1.54 as of April 4, 2025, suggests the company has sufficient capital to meet short-term debt obligations [6] Group 3: Growth Prospects - The macroeconomic and geopolitical environment is favorable for Leidos Holdings, with increased defense spending anticipated, including a proposed 13% increase in the defense budget to $1.01 trillion for fiscal 2026 [7] - The company is well-positioned to contribute to the "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative, which aligns with its advanced air and missile defense capabilities [9] Group 4: Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 and 2026 sales suggests improvements of 2.7% and 3.2% year-over-year, respectively [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share for 2025 and 2026 has been revised upward by 1.8% and 1%, respectively, indicating growing analyst confidence in the stock's earnings growth capabilities [11] Group 5: Valuation - Leidos Holdings has a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 13.49X, which is a discount compared to the industry average of 26.42X, suggesting a lower price relative to expected earnings growth [16] - Other industry peers, such as RTX and Northrop Grumman, are also trading at discounts to the industry average [17] Group 6: Investment Consideration - Investors may consider adding LDOS to their portfolio due to its discounted valuation, long-term growth prospects, and upward revisions in earnings estimates [18] - The company holds a VGM Score of A and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong performance potential [20]

Core Viewpoint - Leidos (LDOS) has experienced a bearish trend recently, losing 6.6% over the past two weeks, but the formation of a hammer chart pattern suggests a potential trend reversal as buying interest may be increasing [1][2]. Technical Analysis - The hammer chart pattern indicates a potential bottom in the stock price, characterized by a small candle body and a long lower wick, suggesting that bears may be losing control [4][5]. - This pattern typically forms during a downtrend when the stock opens lower, makes a new low, but then finds support and closes near its opening price, indicating a possible shift in momentum [4][5]. Fundamental Analysis - There is rising optimism among Wall Street analysts regarding the future earnings of Leidos, which supports the potential for a trend reversal [2][7]. - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased by 1.6%, indicating that analysts expect better earnings than previously predicted [8]. - Leidos currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks, which historically correlates with outperformance in the market [9].

Group 1: Acquisition Details - Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) acquired Kudu Dynamics for approximately $300 million in cash, enhancing its focus on AI-powered offensive cyber operations and vulnerability research [1] - The acquisition is expected to improve LDOS's customer base and product offerings, particularly in AI-enabled cyber capabilities for defense, intelligence, and homeland security clients [2] Group 2: Strategic Alignment - The acquisition aligns with Leidos' strategy to expand its offensive cyber technology capabilities through AI-driven innovation, reinforcing its commitment to delivering advanced cyber tools [3] - Amid rising global cybersecurity threats, the acquisition positions Leidos to capitalize on increasing demand for advanced cyber defense solutions, potentially boosting sales [4] Group 3: Industry Context - The defense industry is experiencing a surge in mergers and acquisitions due to cost-reduction initiatives and the need to diversify portfolios amid intensifying competition [5] - Other defense companies, such as TransDigm Group, HEICO Corporation, and Teledyne Technologies, have also engaged in recent acquisitions to enhance their market positions [6][7][8] Group 4: Stock Performance - Over the past three months, Leidos shares have increased by 14.7%, outperforming the industry growth of 10.9% [9] - Leidos currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating positive market sentiment [10]

Leidos' extensive current AI-enabled cyber offerings arm users with the rapid capability and scale needed to automate vulnerability detection, enhance novel defenses, neutralize attacker advantages and evade adversary defenses. Acquiring Kudu Dynamics will accelerate Leidos' strategy for AI-enabled offensive cyber, electromagnetic spectrum operations and vulnerability research. Founded in 2013, Kudu Dynamics rapidly has grown its work across the Department of Defense, leading the industry in automated targe ...

Industry Overview - The aerospace defense industry is experiencing growth despite supply-chain challenges, driven by increased defense budgets and positive projections for global air passenger numbers in the second half of 2025 [1][3] - A White House report indicates a proposed 13% increase in U.S. defense spending to $1.01 trillion for fiscal year 2026, which is expected to benefit defense-focused companies [4] - The Zacks-defined Aerospace – Defense Industry ranks in the top 16% of Zacks Industry Rank, suggesting it will outperform the market in the next three to six months [5] Company Summaries GE Aerospace - GE Aerospace is seeing strong demand for commercial engines and propulsion technologies, supported by rising defense budgets and geopolitical tensions [8] - The company raised its dividend by 28.6% to 36 cents per share in February 2025, with expected organic revenue growth in the low-double-digit range for 2025 [9] - GE Aerospace has an expected revenue growth rate of -6.8% and an earnings growth rate of 19.6% for the current year [9] Howmet Aerospace Inc. - Howmet Aerospace is benefiting from robust momentum in the commercial aerospace market and strength in its defense business due to rising defense budgets [10] - The company has a strong liquidity position and expects revenue and earnings growth rates of 8.5% and 28.6%, respectively, for the current year [11] Leidos Holdings Inc. - Leidos Holdings reported strong earnings and revenue growth, with increased contract wins from the Pentagon leading to a solid backlog of $46.30 billion [12][14] - The company is well-positioned to contribute to the development of a next-generation missile defense shield, with expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 2.7% and 4.3%, respectively, for the current year [14] Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. - Huntington Ingalls is a leading U.S. shipbuilder with a solid order backlog, driven by strong demand for its nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines [15][16] - The company expects revenue and earnings growth rates of 3.3% and 2.5%, respectively, for the current year [17] Vertical Aerospace Ltd. - Vertical Aerospace is focused on designing and manufacturing zero-emission electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with significant growth potential in the advanced air mobility market [18] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 1% and an earnings growth rate of over 100% for the current year [19]