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Leidos Holdings (LDOS)
NYSE:LDOS

Leidos Holdings (LDOS) AI Stock Analysis

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LDOS

Leidos Holdings

(NYSE:LDOS)

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Outperform 79 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:79Outperform
Price Target:
$219.00
▲(16.22% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by strong underlying financial performance and a notably positive earnings update with raised 2025 guidance and robust cash generation. Valuation is reasonable but not cheap given the low dividend yield, while technical signals are neutral-to-mildly positive. The ENTRUST acquisition adds growth upside, partially offset by added financing and execution risk and by the recent decline in free cash flow growth.
Positive Factors
Profitability & margins
Sustained mid-teens gross margins and positive net margins reflect scale and pricing power in mission-critical government and commercial services. Durable margins stem from long-term contracts, high-value systems integration and recurring services, supporting stable earnings over months.
Operating cash generation & raised guidance
Robust operating cash flow and reiterated/upward guidance demonstrate persistent cash conversion and execution discipline. Strong OCF funds capex, debt paydown and buybacks, enhancing financial flexibility and supporting durable investment in growth initiatives over the next several quarters.
Strategic expansion into energy infrastructure
The ENTRUST acquisition materially expands utility engineering capabilities and client base into transmission, distribution and generation. Exposure to a large, multi-decade grid modernization TAM (~$1T) increases secular revenue runway and diversifies Leidos beyond defense and IT services.
Negative Factors
Acquisition financing and leverage risk
Financing a $2.4B all-cash acquisition with new debt and a large bridge facility raises execution and leverage risk. Higher debt servicing needs can constrain flexibility, elevate interest expense and limit optionality for M&A or buybacks until leverage is meaningfully reduced.
Declining free cash flow growth
A TTM decline in free cash flow growth weakens the company’s internal funding capacity for reinvestment and de-leveraging. Even with strong operating cash, negative FCF trends reduce cushion for cyclical contract delays and increase reliance on external financing for strategic moves.
Government contract timing and legal reserve risk
Heavy dependence on federal contracting creates timing and adjudication risk during shutdowns, delaying revenue and cash receipts. Rising legal reserves signal contingent liabilities; together they can produce quarter-to-quarter volatility in revenue recognition and margin sustainability over the medium term.

Leidos Holdings (LDOS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Leidos Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLeidos Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health. The Defense Solutions segment offers national security solutions and systems for air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace for the U.S. Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, military services, and government agencies of U.S. allies abroad, as well as other federal and commercial customers in the national security industry. Its solutions include technology, large-scale systems, command and control platforms, data analytics, logistics, and cybersecurity solutions, as well as intelligence analysis and operations support services to critical missions. The Civil segment provides systems integration services to air navigation service providers, including the federal aviation administration, the En route automation modernization, advanced technology oceanic procedure, time based flow management, terminal flight data management, geo-7, and future flight services, as well as enterprise-information display systems; and security detection and automation services. It also offers information technology (IT) solutions in cloud computing, mobility, application modernization, DevOps, data center, network modernization, asset management, help desk operations, and digital workplace enablement; and environment, energy, and infrastructure services. The Health segment offers solutions to federal and commercial customers responsible for health and well-being of people worldwide, including health information management, managed health, digital transformation, and life sciences research and development services. Leidos Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Reston, Virginia.
How the Company Makes MoneyLeidos generates revenue primarily through government contracts, particularly in defense and intelligence sectors, where it provides a range of services including systems engineering, software development, and data analytics. The company also engages in commercial contracts, offering solutions in cybersecurity and healthcare. Key revenue streams include long-term contracts with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as partnerships with major defense contractors and commercial entities. Significant factors contributing to its earnings include a robust backlog of contracts, the expansion of its services in emerging technology areas, and strategic acquisitions that enhance its capabilities and market reach.

Leidos Holdings Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Backlog by Segment
Backlog by Segment
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

Leidos Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 04, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 17, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Leidos demonstrated strong financial performance and growth across multiple segments, with successful contract renewals and innovative solutions driving future growth. However, the ongoing government shutdown poses challenges, alongside increased legal reserves and pressure in the Security Products business.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance
Leidos reported a 7% increase in revenue, a 13.8% adjusted EBITDA margin, and $711 million in operating cash flow. Year-to-date, they achieved 5% revenue growth, 13% EBITDA growth, and 18% EPS growth.
Successful Contract Wins and Renewals
Leidos rewon a $0.5 billion counterterrorism contract and delivered an electronic health record system for the Department of War on time and under budget. They reported a 27% sequential increase in funded backlog and a 1.3x book-to-bill ratio.
Energy Infrastructure Growth
The energy infrastructure business grew by double-digit CAGRs and now represents over $600 million in annual revenues. Leidos' proprietary Skywire AI platform reduces project costs by 30%.
Capital Deployment and Shareholder Returns
Leidos repurchased $100 million in shares, accelerated $450 million debt repayment, and increased its quarterly dividend by 7.5%.
Strong Segment Performance
National Security and Digital revenues increased 8%, Health & Civil revenues increased 6%, and Defense Systems grew 11% year-over-year.
Negative Updates
Impact of Government Shutdown
The ongoing government shutdown has caused some delays in customer decisions, potentially affecting revenue and cash flow timing.
Legal Reserves Increase
Leidos increased its legal reserves by $24 million, which impacted their bottom line performance.
Challenges in Commercial & International Segment
The Security Products business faced moderate revenue and fee pressure due to product delivery shifts into Q4 and increased investments in AI deployment.
Company Guidance
During the Leidos Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, CEO Tom Bell reported a 7% top-line growth with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 13.8% and operating cash flow of $711 million. Year-to-date, revenue has grown 5%, EBITDA 13%, and EPS 18%. This robust performance has allowed Leidos to raise its 2025 guidance for the second time this year, despite challenges such as the DOGE headwinds and a government shutdown. The company has maintained its revenue guidance between $17 billion and $17.25 billion, increased its adjusted EBITDA margin guidance to the high 13s, and raised its non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance to a range of $11.45 to $11.75. Additionally, Leidos has a $69 billion pipeline of near-term opportunities, with $24 billion in bids awaiting adjudication. The company also repurchased $100 million in shares and paid down $450 million in debt, improving its gross leverage ratio to 2x.

Leidos Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong profitability and operating efficiency (TTM gross margin 17.61%, net margin 8.11%) alongside consistent revenue growth support a solid score. Leverage appears manageable (D/E 1.07) and ROE is strong (30.81%), but the decline in TTM free cash flow growth is a notable risk that tempers the rating.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Leidos Holdings demonstrates strong revenue growth with a TTM increase of 1.64% and consistent annual growth. The company maintains healthy gross and net profit margins, with the TTM gross profit margin at 17.61% and net profit margin at 8.11%. EBIT and EBITDA margins are robust, indicating efficient operations. Overall, the income statement reflects a solid financial performance with a positive growth trajectory.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet shows a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07 in the TTM, indicating manageable leverage. Return on equity is strong at 30.81%, reflecting effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio is stable, suggesting a balanced capital structure. However, the company should monitor its debt levels to maintain financial stability.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a decline in free cash flow growth in the TTM, but operating cash flow remains strong with a coverage ratio of 0.52. The free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 0.89, indicating efficient cash generation relative to net income. While cash flow management is generally sound, the negative growth in free cash flow warrants attention.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue17.33B16.66B15.44B14.40B13.74B12.30B
Gross Profit3.05B2.80B2.24B2.08B2.01B1.74B
EBITDA2.35B2.12B946.00M1.42B1.48B1.25B
Net Income1.41B1.25B199.00M685.00M753.00M628.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets13.54B13.10B12.70B13.07B13.26B12.51B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments974.00M943.00M777.00M516.00M727.00M524.00M
Total Debt5.23B5.29B5.20B5.49B5.67B5.31B
Total Liabilities8.59B8.64B8.44B8.72B8.92B8.64B
Stockholders Equity4.91B4.41B4.20B4.30B4.29B3.86B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.39B1.24B958.00M857.00M927.00M1.15B
Operating Cash Flow1.55B1.39B1.17B986.00M1.03B1.33B
Investing Cash Flow-458.00M-142.00M-211.00M-313.00M-730.00M-2.81B
Financing Cash Flow-1.23B-1.08B-715.00M-865.00M-113.00M1.45B

Leidos Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price188.44
Price Trends
50DMA
188.85
Negative
100DMA
189.19
Negative
200DMA
174.62
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.38
Positive
RSI
47.10
Neutral
STOCH
33.98
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LDOS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 188.44 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 191.72, below the 50-day MA of 188.85, and above the 200-day MA of 174.62, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.38 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 47.10 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 33.98 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for LDOS.

Leidos Holdings Risk Analysis

Leidos Holdings disclosed 2 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Leidos Holdings reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Leidos Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$70.51B22.3232.85%2.58%4.62%1.06%
79
Outperform
$24.09B17.7029.51%0.87%6.48%22.17%
74
Outperform
$13.36B25.9013.18%12.61%11.85%
71
Outperform
$37.02B16.3415.16%1.46%7.44%-4.57%
71
Outperform
$4.42B12.3823.75%1.69%-0.38%31.38%
67
Neutral
$27.02B17.5915.82%2.78%-1.97%48.61%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LDOS
Leidos Holdings
188.44
49.04
35.18%
CACI
Caci International
605.08
229.83
61.25%
CTSH
Cognizant
76.71
-8.99
-10.49%
INFY
Infosys
16.74
-4.96
-22.84%
SAIC
Science Applications
97.87
-6.86
-6.55%
WIT
Wipro
2.56
-0.99
-27.95%

Leidos Holdings Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyM&A TransactionsPrivate Placements and Financing
Leidos to Acquire ENTRUST, Expanding Energy Infrastructure Footprint
Positive
Jan 26, 2026

On Jan. 23, 2026, Leidos’ subsidiary Leidos, Inc. agreed to acquire ENTRUST Solutions Group (KENE Parent, Inc.) from KENE Holdings for an all-cash consideration of approximately $2.4 billion, with closing expected by the end of the second quarter of 2026 subject to customary regulatory and antitrust approvals and other closing conditions. The deal will effectively double Leidos’ energy infrastructure engineering business, expand its presence from transmission and distribution into utility gas and electric generation infrastructure markets, and broaden its base of utility clients at a time when U.S. utilities are projected to invest $1 trillion over the next decade in grid modernization; Leidos expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA margin, and to fund it through a mix of new debt, cash on hand, commercial paper and a committed $1.4 billion 364-day bridge credit facility from Citi, signaling a strategic push to solidify the company’s position as a leading engineering solutions provider to the utility sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (LDOS) stock is a Hold with a $190.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Leidos Holdings stock, see the LDOS Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 27, 2026