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]

Core Viewpoint - Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) presents a strong investment opportunity in the Aerospace Defense industry due to rising earnings estimates, robust return on equity (ROE), a solid backlog, and shareholder-friendly initiatives [1] Growth Forecast & Surprise History - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LDOS' 2025 earnings per share (EPS) has increased by 1.5%, while the estimate for 2026 EPS has risen by 0.7% over the past 30 days [2] - The total revenue estimate for 2025 is $17.11 billion, indicating a growth of 2.7% from 2024, and for 2026, the revenue estimate is $17.66 billion, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 3.3% [2] - LDOS has a long-term earnings growth rate of 7.4% and has surpassed expectations in the last four quarters with an average earnings surprise of 23.71% [3] Rising Backlog - Contract wins from the Pentagon and other U.S. allies for cost-effective military technologies are key revenue sources for Leidos, enhancing its bookings and backlog [4] - The backlog at the end of March 2025 was $46.30 billion, up from $43.55 billion in the prior quarter, indicating improved revenue-generating potential [4] Return on Equity - LDOS has a return on equity (ROE) of 32.62%, significantly higher than the industry average of 9.66%, indicating effective fund utilization [5] Solvency & Liquidity - The times interest earned (TIE) ratio for Leidos at the end of Q1 2025 was 10.1, suggesting the company can meet its interest payment obligations without difficulty [6] - The current ratio was 1.54, indicating the company can meet its short-term liabilities effectively [6] Shareholder-Friendly Initiatives - Leidos has consistently paid dividends, with a current quarterly dividend of 40 cents per share, leading to an annualized dividend of $1.60 [7] - In Q1 2025, the company paid dividends totaling $53 million, with a current dividend yield of 1.05%, surpassing the sector average of 0.95% [7] - The company repurchased $528 million worth of its shares in Q1, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 188.5% [8] Stock Price Performance - Over the past three months, LDOS shares have increased by 15.8%, outperforming the industry's rise of 7.6% [10]