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]

Company Performance - Leidos (LDOS) closed at $182.36, reflecting a -2.69% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.5% [1] - Over the last month, Leidos shares increased by 2.19%, lagging behind the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 8.21% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.74% [1] Earnings Forecast - Analysts predict Leidos will report an EPS of $2.62, indicating a 10.58% decline compared to the same quarter last year [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projected at $4.28 billion, up 2.06% from the year-ago period [2] Full Year Estimates - For the full year, earnings are expected to be $11.22 per share and revenue at $17.15 billion, representing changes of +9.89% and +2.95% respectively from last year [3] - Recent changes to analyst estimates suggest a positive outlook for Leidos, as these modifications often indicate shifting near-term business trends [3] Valuation Metrics - Leidos is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 16.7, which is in line with the industry average [6] - The PEG ratio for Leidos stands at 1.79, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 2.06 [6] Industry Context - The Computers - IT Services industry, which includes Leidos, ranks in the bottom 42% of all industries according to the Zacks Industry Rank [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Company Overview - Leidos Holdings, Inc. operates as an IT services company, focusing on defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets with a market cap of $23.4 billion [1][2] Stock Performance - Leidos touched its all-time high of $202.90 on Nov. 22, 2024, and is currently trading 9.4% below that peak, with a 23% increase over the past three months, outperforming the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLK) 12.5% surge during the same period [3] - Year-to-date, Leidos' stock has gained 27.6% and 19.1% over the past 52 weeks, surpassing XLK's 16.7% gains in 2025 but lagging behind XLK's 23.8% surge over the past year [4] Financial Performance - Following the release of robust Q2 results on Aug. 5, Leidos' stock prices rose 7.5% in the trading session and maintained positive momentum for six subsequent sessions [5] - Q2 revenues increased 2.9% year-over-year to $4.3 billion, exceeding expectations, while non-GAAP EPS soared by 22.1% year-over-year to $3.21, significantly surpassing consensus estimates [5] - Free cash flows increased by 27.7% year-over-year to $457 million, boosting investor confidence [5] Competitive Position - Leidos has significantly outperformed Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation, which experienced a 21.1% decline year-to-date and a 34.7% plunge over the past 52 weeks [6]

Core Thesis - Leidos Holdings, Inc. is viewed positively due to its stable cash flows, significant backlog, and potential for re-rating in stock value, contrasting with the higher-risk profile of competitors like Palantir [1][4]. Company Overview - Leidos operates as a mission services and systems integrator, primarily serving the Pentagon and U.S. government, with 44% of its revenue derived from National Security & Digital programs and 30% from Health & Civil contracts [2]. - The company offers comprehensive solutions including secure networks, sensors, cloud migrations, cyber defense, health IT systems, and long-term mission operations, leveraging applied AI for enhanced decision-making [2]. Financial Performance - Leidos generates approximately $17 billion in annual revenue and has an earnings per share (EPS) of $10.7, characterized by thin but stable profit margins [3]. - The company trades at a forward P/E ratio of 15 and an EV/EBITDA of 11, indicating a modest valuation compared to competitors [4]. Market Positioning - Leidos is positioned as a service-heavy provider, focusing on integration and operations, while competitors like Palantir are product-heavy, monetizing software platforms [3]. - The company has a substantial backlog of $46 billion, suggesting strong future revenue potential [4]. Investment Outlook - Analysts suggest that Leidos could see a re-rating towards a fair value of $250–300 per share, representing a potential upside of 25–30% [4]. - In terms of risk/reward, Leidos is considered a more stable and underappreciated investment opportunity compared to Palantir, which is priced for high growth and carries more risk [4].

Group 1 - Leidos closed at $185.26, with a +2.71% change from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.85% [1] - Over the last month, Leidos shares decreased by 0.87%, while the Computer and Technology sector gained 4.39% and the S&P 500 gained 2.38% [1] Group 2 - Leidos is forecasted to report an EPS of $2.62, reflecting a 10.58% decrease from the same quarter last year, with expected revenue of $4.28 billion, up 2.06% year-over-year [2] - For the full year, earnings are projected at $11.22 per share and revenue at $17.15 billion, indicating increases of +9.89% and +2.95% respectively from the prior year [3] Group 3 - Recent changes in analyst estimates for Leidos can indicate shifts in near-term business trends, with positive revisions seen as favorable for the business outlook [3] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, has shown a track record of outperformance, with 1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988 [4][5] Group 4 - Leidos has a Forward P/E ratio of 16.07, which is below the industry average of 17.33, indicating it is trading at a discount [6] - The current PEG ratio for Leidos is 1.72, compared to the industry average of 2.09, suggesting a more favorable valuation relative to expected earnings growth [7] Group 5 - The Computers - IT Services industry, which includes Leidos, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 95, placing it in the top 39% of over 250 industries [7][8]

Core Insights - Leidos Holdings Inc. is recognized as a top IT stock by hedge funds, with a focus on its new-generation autonomous maritime technology [1] - The company has commenced local production of the Sea Archer, an uncrewed surface vessel, in Australia, aligning with the AUKUS security partnership [1][3] Group 1: Sea Archer USV Details - The Sea Archer is designed for high-speed missions, achieving speeds of up to 40 knots and a range of 1,500 nautical miles [2] - It features a payload capacity exceeding 900 kg, enabling various mission types including strike, logistics, ISR, and electromagnetic deception [2] - The vessel is powered by Leidos' LAVA advanced autonomy platform, enhancing its operational capabilities [2] Group 2: Local Production and Supply Chain - Local production in Australia aims to utilize domestic supply chains for construction, payload integration, and maintenance, fostering a sovereign ecosystem [3] - The first aluminum vessel is being constructed by Oceans Rivers Lakes, based on the NSW Central Coast, with production already in progress [3] - The Sea Archer is currently undergoing sea trials in the U.S. and is projected to be mission-ready by 2026 [3]

Core Insights - Leidos Holdings, Inc. has been recognized as one of the 10 Best Space Exploration Stocks to Buy Now, highlighting its strong position in the industry [1] - The company has achieved Amazon Web Services' Trusted Secure Enclave Vetted Partner certification, underscoring its commitment to secure cloud architecture [1][2] - Leidos supports AUKUS Pillar 2, emphasizing the importance of secure cooperation among allies in defense and research [3] Company Performance - Leidos Holdings, Inc. reported $16.7 billion in revenue for FY2024, indicating robust financial performance [3] - The company employs approximately 47,000 individuals globally, reflecting its significant operational scale [3] Industry Position - Leidos is ranked fifth among the Best Space Stocks, showcasing its competitive standing in the space exploration sector [3]