Leidos Holdings (NYSE:LDOS) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Leidos Holdings

Leidos Holdings Inc is a technology, engineering, and science company that provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets, both domestically and internationally. Company customer includes the U.S. Department of Defense ("DoD"), the U.S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"), the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA"), and many other U.S. civilian, state and local government agencies, etc. The company is engaged in three reportable segments; Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health. Defense Solutions provides technologically latest services, solutions, and products to a broad customer base. It generates key revenue from Defense Solutions.

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BKMC

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LDOS

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, the BNY Mellon US Mid Cap Core Equity ETF (ARCA:BKMC) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 04/09/2020.

Should BNY Mellon US Mid Cap Core Equity ETF Be on Your Investing Radar?

Earnings

STRL

We often judge a company based on its sales and earnings. These metrics, however, may not be sufficient on their own. A stock might get a boost if these figures rise year over year or surpass estimates in a particular quarter, offering a lucrative opportunity for short-term investors to cash in. However, relying solely on sales and earnings numbers may not yield the desired long-term returns.

4 Stocks That Stand Out on Attractive Interest Coverage Ratio

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Here&#39;s Why Leidos is a Strong Value Stock

Leidos Holdings Inc

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, the BNY Mellon US Mid Cap Core Equity ETF (ARCA:BKMC) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 04/09/2020.
The fund is sponsored by Bny Mellon. It has amassed assets over $495.10 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.
<h2>Why Mid Cap Blend</h2>
Compared to large and small cap companies, mid cap businesses tend to have higher growth prospects and are less volatile, respectively, with market capitalization between $2 billion and $10 billion. Thus, companies that fall under this category provide a stable and growth-heavy investment.
Blend ETFs are aptly named, since they tend to hold a mix of growth and value stocks, as well as show characteristics of both kinds of equities.
<h2>Costs</h2>
Investors should also pay attention to an ETF&#39;s expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.04%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.39%.
<h2>Sector Exposure and Top Holdings</h2>
ETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund&#39;s holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector--about 26.60% of the portfolio. Consumer Discretionary and Healthcare round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, Godaddy Inc - Class A (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gddy#NYSE">GDDY</a>) accounts for about 0.64% of total assets, followed by Leidos Holdings Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ldos#NYSE">LDOS</a>) and Texas Pacific Land Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tpl#NYSE">TPL</a>).
The top 10 holdings account for about 5.48% of total assets under management.
<h2>Performance and Risk</h2>
BKMC seeks to match the performance of the MORNINGSTAR U.S. MID CAP INDEX before fees and expenses. The Morningstar US Mid Cap Index is a float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the performance of U.S. medium-capitalization stocks.
The ETF has added about 9.48% so far this year and it&#39;s up approximately 21.08% in the last one year (as of 09/16/2024). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $75.04 and $99.80.
The ETF has a beta of 1.02 and standard deviation of 19.22% for the trailing three-year period. With about 407 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
<h2>Alternatives</h2>
BNY Mellon US Mid Cap Core Equity ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, BKMC is a good option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Mid Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
The Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (ARCA:VO) and the iShares Core S&amp;P Mid-Cap ETF (ARCA:IJH) track a similar index. While Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF has $67.95 billion in assets, iShares Core S&amp;P Mid-Cap ETF has $88.17 billion. VO has an expense ratio of 0.04% and IJH charges 0.05%.
<h2>Bottom-Line</h2>
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2336241/should-bny-mellon-us-mid-cap-core-equity-etf-bkmc-be-on-your-investing-radar?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-style_box_etf-2336241">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

We often judge a company based on its sales and earnings. These metrics, however, may not be sufficient on their own. A stock might get a boost if these figures rise year over year or surpass estimates in a particular quarter, offering a lucrative opportunity for short-term investors to cash in. However, relying solely on sales and earnings numbers may not yield the desired long-term returns. For those seeking sustainable investment growth, a deeper dive into the company&#39;s financial health and stability is essential.
A critical analysis of a company&#39;s financial background is a prerequisite for an informed investment decision. Coverage ratios, which assess whether a company is robust enough to meet its financial obligations, play a crucial role in this analysis. A higher ratio generally indicates a stronger financial position. This article focuses on the interest coverage ratio, a key indicator used to evaluate a company&#39;s ability to pay interest on its debt, ensuring that the company is not over-leveraged and can comfortably meet its interest obligations from its operating earnings.
Interest Coverage Ratio = Earnings before Interest &amp; Taxes (EBIT) divided by Interest Expense.
<h2>Why Interest Coverage Ratio?</h2>
The interest coverage ratio is used to determine how effectively a company can pay the interest charges on its debt.
Debt, which is crucial for most companies to finance operations, comes at a cost called interest. Interest expense has a direct bearing on the profitability of a company and its creditworthiness depends on how effectively it meets interest obligations. Therefore, the interest coverage ratio is one of the important criteria to factor in before making any investment decision.
Interest coverage ratio suggests the number of times the interest could be paid from earnings and gauges the margin of safety a firm carries for paying interest.
An interest coverage ratio lower than 1.0 implies that the company is unable to fulfill its interest obligations and could default on repaying debt. A company that is capable of generating earnings well above its interest expense can withstand financial hardships. One should also track the company&#39;s past performance to determine whether the interest coverage ratio has improved or worsened over a period of time.
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/strl#NASDAQ">STRL</a>), H&amp;R Block, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hrb#NYSE">HRB</a>), Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ldos#NYSE">LDOS</a>) and Stride, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lrn#NYSE">LRN</a>) boast an impressive interest coverage ratio.
<h2>The Winning Strategy</h2>
Apart from having an Interest Coverage Ratio that is more than the industry average, adding a favorable Zacks Rank and a VGM Score of A or B to your search criteria should lead to better results.
Interest Coverage Ratio greater than X-Industry Median
Price greater than or equal to 5: The stocks must all be trading at a minimum of $5 or higher.
5-Year Historical EPS Growth (%) greater than X-Industry Median: Stocks that have a strong EPS growth history.
Projected EPS Growth (%) greater than X-Industry Median: This is the projected EPS growth over the next three to five years. This shows that the stock has near-term earnings growth potential.&nbsp;
Average 20-Day Volume greater than 100,000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.
Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.
VGM Score of less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best upside potential.
Here are four of the eight stocks that qualified the screening.
Sterling Infrastructure, which is engaged in e-infrastructure, transportation and building solutions, sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. Sterling Infrastructure has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17.4%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sterling Infrastructure&#39;s current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 9.7% and 26.6%, respectively, from a year ago. The stock has surged 38.1% in the past year.
H&amp;R Block, which specializes in assisted income tax return preparation and DIY tax return services and products, sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. HRB has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.8%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for H&amp;R Block&#39;s current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 3% and 15.2%, respectively, from the year-ago period. The stock has rallied 62.4% in the past year.
Leidos Holdings, which provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil and health markets in the United States and internationally, has a VGM Score of A and carries a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Leidos Holdings&#39; current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 5.4% and 22.6%, respectively, from a year ago. Leidos Holdings has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 23.5%, on average. The stock has surged 62.7% in the past year.
Stride, a technology-based education company, carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a VGM Score of A. LRN delivered an earnings surprise of 40.3% in the last reported quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Stride&#39;s current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 6.3% and 7.7%, respectively, from the year-ago period. The stock has soared 87.3% in the past year.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2332597/4-stocks-that-stand-out-on-attractive-interest-coverage-ratio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rw-2332597">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Throughout the last three months, 10 analysts have evaluated Leidos Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>), offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The following table provides a quick overview of their recent ratings, highlighting the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts' evaluations of 12-month price targets offer additional insights, showcasing an average target of $166.2, with a high estimate of $175.00 and a low estimate of $145.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 5.66% from the previous average price target of $157.30.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725548410_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
A clear picture of Leidos Holdings's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Tobey Sommer</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mariana Perez</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Strauss</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Akers</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$172.00</td>
<td>$168.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cai von Rumohr</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$166.00</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Gursky</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$169.00</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Seth Seifman</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ken Herbert</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Seth Seifman</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bert Subin</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Leidos Holdings. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analyzing trends, analysts offer qualitative evaluations, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Leidos Holdings compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Leidos Holdings's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LDOS/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Leidos Holdings analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Leidos Holdings: A Closer Look</h2>
Leidos Holdings Inc is a technology, engineering, and science company that provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets, both domestically and internationally. Company customer includes the U.S. Department of Defense ("DoD"), the U.S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"), the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA"), and many other U.S. civilian, state and local government agencies, etc. The company is engaged in three reportable segments; Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health. Defense Solutions provides technologically latest services, solutions, and products to a broad customer base. It generates key revenue from Defense Solutions.
<h3>Understanding the Numbers: Leidos Holdings's Finances</h3>
Market Capitalization Highlights: Above the industry average, the company's market capitalization signifies a significant scale, indicating strong confidence and market prominence.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Leidos Holdings showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 7.66% as of 30 June, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.
Net Margin: Leidos Holdings's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 7.79%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Leidos Holdings's ROE surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 7.39% ROE, the company effectively utilizes shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Leidos Holdings's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROA, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROA of 2.5%, the company showcases efficient use of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: Leidos Holdings's debt-to-equity ratio surpasses industry norms, standing at 1.16. This suggests the company carries a substantial amount of debt, posing potential financial challenges.
<h2>The Core of Analyst Ratings: What Every Investor Should Know</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Leidos Holdings Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (10 Ratings)

Truist Securities analyst Tobey Sommer maintains Leidos Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $165 to $175.

Price Target

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Leidos Holdings, Raises Price Target to $175

&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4244100-1&amp;h=512496829&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leidos.com%2F&amp;a=Leidos">Leidos</a>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>), a Fortune&#xAE;&nbsp;500 innovation company, was recently awarded the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Development, Maintenance, Support, and Modernization contract by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. Leidos will leverage its data management and mission software expertise to continue delivering a secure NHSN platform, including the necessary support applications and inputs from partnering federal agencies. The contract has a total value of $51 million over a five-year period of performance.

Contracts

Leidos Awarded CDC's National Health Safety Network Modernization Contract Which Has A Total Value Of $51M Over A 5-Year Period Of Performance

Under the contract, Leidos will provide Model Based Systems Engineering, Development/Security/Operations, software integration, and deployment. These capabilities will assist Space Systems Command to process non-traditional data sources for integration into the CCIC2S enterprise. Furthermore, these improvements will advance the fusion of weapons systems data to support enhanced accuracy of MW/MT systems.

Leidos Secures $51M Contract To Enhance Missile Warning Capabilities For U.S. Space Systems Command

<h2>Stock to Watch: Leidos</h2>
Founded in 1969, Delaware-based Leidos Holdings, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ldos#NYSE">LDOS</a>) is a global science and technology leader that serves the defense, intelligence, civil and health markets. Its core capabilities include providing solutions in the fields of cybersecurity; data analytics; enterprise IT modernization; operations and logistics; sensors, collection and phenomenology; software development; and systems engineering.
LDOS is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 17.3; value investors should take notice.
Eight analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.46 to $8.95 per share. LDOS boasts an average earnings surprise of 23.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, LDOS should be on investors&#39; short list.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2326977/here-s-why-leidos-ldos-is-a-strong-value-stock?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|zacks_education_value_score-2326977">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Here's Why Leidos is a Strong Value Stock

Gary Stephen May, Director at Leidos Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>), executed a substantial insider sell on August 14, according to an SEC filing.
What Happened: May's decision to sell 1,000 shares of Leidos Holdings was revealed in a Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001336920/000162828024037261//Archives/edgar/data/1336920/000162828024037261/0001628280-24-037261-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a> on Wednesday. The total value of the sale is $144,016.
During Thursday's morning session, Leidos Holdings shares down by 0.0%, currently priced at $147.34.
<h3>About Leidos Holdings</h3>
Leidos Holdings Inc is a technology, engineering, and science company that provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets, both domestically and internationally. Company customer includes the U.S. Department of Defense ("DoD"), the U.S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"), the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA"), and many other U.S. civilian, state and local government agencies, etc. The company is engaged in three reportable segments; Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health. Defense Solutions provides technologically latest services, solutions, and products to a broad customer base. It generates key revenue from Defense Solutions.
<h3>Financial Insights: Leidos Holdings</h3>
Revenue Growth: Leidos Holdings's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 June, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 7.66%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company surpassed expectations with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.
Insights into Profitability:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: With a low gross margin of 17.06%, the company exhibits below-average profitability, signaling potential struggles in cost efficiency compared to its industry peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): The company excels with an EPS that surpasses the industry average. With a current EPS of 2.39, Leidos Holdings showcases strong earnings per share.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 1.16.
Assessing Valuation Metrics:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The current Price to Earnings ratio of 46.19 is higher than the industry average, indicating the stock is priced at a premium level according to the market sentiment.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: The current P/S ratio of 1.27 is below industry norms, suggesting potential undervaluation and presenting an investment opportunity for those considering sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): With an EV/EBITDA ratio of 19.78, the company's market valuation exceeds industry averages.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization: Boasting an elevated market capitalization, the company surpasses industry averages. This signals substantial size and strong market recognition.
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<h3>Navigating the Impact of Insider Transactions on Investments</h3>
Insider transactions contribute to decision-making but should be supplemented by a comprehensive investment analysis.
In the realm of legality, an "insider" is defined as any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and major hedge funds. These insiders are required to disclose their transactions through a Form 4 filing, to be submitted within two business days of the transaction.
Notably, when a company insider makes a new purchase, it is considered an indicator of their positive expectations for the stock.
Conversely, insider sells may not necessarily signal a bearish stance on the stock and can be motivated by various factors.
<h3>Important Transaction Codes</h3>
Delving into transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> typically prioritize those unfolding in the open market, as precisely outlined in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 indicates a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C signals the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0001336920">Check Out The Full List Of Leidos Holdings's Insider Trades.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insider Trades

Leidos Holdings Director Trades $144K In Company Stock

Leidos Awarded eRA Agile Software Development Support Contract By The National Institutes Of Health With Maximum Value Of $326.5M

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) shares are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener">trading higher on Wednesday.</a>
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, LDOS stock has gained 50% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Global X Funds Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>) and Amplify ETF Trust Amplify Cybersecurity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HACK#NYSE">HACK</a>).
The company said it was recently awarded a contract by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency&#8217;s&nbsp;&nbsp;Interated Program Office for Analysis for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/08/n40364032/nga-awards-leidos-86-million-analytics-systems-management-contract" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifecycle management of existing and emerging analytics systems</a>.
The single award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, known as Chinook, has a ceiling value of $86.4 million if all task orders are fulfilled over five years.
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&#8220;Geospatial intelligence analysts use a spectrum of tools and need them to perform to support their missions,&#8221; said&nbsp;Roy Stevens, Leidos National Security Sector President.
Under the Chinook contract, Leidos will deliver software development, systems engineering, integration, and operations and sustainment services.
This includes support for systems such as the Commercial-Joint Mapping Tool Kit, Target Coordinate Mensuration Validation, Advanced Analyst Augmentation Analytical Cloud Enablement System, and the Tearline open-source intelligence system.
&#8220;Building on our longstanding relationship with NGA, we are committed to sustaining and evolving these analysis systems for ongoing decision advantage,&#8221; Stevens added.
Leidos will employ DevSecOps practices and Zero Trust cybersecurity methodologies to maintain and enhance these systems.
Price Action: LDOS shares are trading higher by 1.37% to $146.81 at last check Wednesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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HACK

SHLD

Why Leidos Holdings Shares Are Gaining Today

Leidos Awarded NGA Analytics Systems Management Contract With Ceiling Value Of $86.4M

Leidos Awarded $191M Contract By U.S. Army To Provide Integrated Lifecycle Software And Management Solutions For Communications Electronics Command

B of A Securities analyst Mariana Perez maintains Leidos Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $160 to $165.

B of A Securities Maintains Buy on Leidos Holdings, Raises Price Target to $165

Given the current scenario, investors should gauge the changing market dynamics and accordingly chalk out a sturdy investment strategy. Well, you can decide to buy or sell a particular stock by looking at its sales and earnings numbers. However, such a strategy does not always warrant superior returns when the market faces a myriad of issues. A critical analysis of the company&#39;s financial background is always required for a better investment decision.
Indeed, a company should be sound enough to meet its financial obligations. This can be judged with coverage ratios &mdash; the higher these are, the more efficient an enterprise will be in meeting its financial obligations. Here, we have discussed one such ratio called the interest coverage ratio.
Interest Coverage Ratio = Earnings before Interest &amp; Taxes (EBIT) divided by Interest Expense.
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ldos#NYSE">LDOS</a>), Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ato#NYSE">ATO</a>) and Addus HomeCare Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/adus#NASDAQ">ADUS</a>) are four stocks with an impressive interest coverage ratio.
<h3>Why Interest Coverage Ratio?</h3>
The interest coverage ratio is used to determine how effectively a company can pay the interest charged on its debt.
Debt, which is crucial for most companies to finance operations, comes at a cost called interest. Interest expense has a direct bearing on a company&#39;s profits. The company&#39;s creditworthiness depends on how effectively it meets its interest obligations. Therefore, the interest coverage ratio is one of the essential criteria to factor in before making any investment decision.
The interest coverage ratio suggests the number of times interest could be paid from earnings and also gauges the margin of safety a firm carries for paying interest.
An interest coverage ratio lower than 1.0 implies that the company is unable to fulfill its interest obligations and could default on repaying debt. A company that is capable of generating earnings well above its interest expense can withstand financial hardship. One should also track the company&#39;s past performance to determine whether the interest coverage ratio has improved or worsened over a period of time.
<h3>What&#39;s the Strategy?</h3>
Apart from having an interest coverage ratio that is more than the industry average, adding a favorable Zacks Rank and a VGM Score of A or B to your search criteria should lead to better results. 
Interest coverage ratio greater than X-Industry Median 
Price greater than or equal to 5: The stocks must all be trading at a minimum of $5 or higher.
5-Year Historical EPS Growth (%) greater than X-Industry Median: Stocks that have a strong EPS growth history.
Projected EPS Growth (%) greater than X-Industry Median: This is the projected EPS growth over the next three to five years. This shows that the stock has near-term earnings growth potential.&nbsp;
Average 20-Day Volume greater than 100,000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.
Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.
VGM Score of less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best upside potential.
Here are four of the 15 stocks that qualified the screening:
Halozyme Therapeutics, a biopharma technology platform company, has a VGM Score of B and sports a Zacks Rank #1.
HALO has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.4%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Halozyme Therapeutics&#39; current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 19.3% and 40.8%, respectively, from the year-ago period. The stock has gained 24% in the past year.
Leidos Holdings, which provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil and health markets in the United States and internationally, sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Leidos Holdings&#39; current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 5.4% and 22.5%, respectively, from a year ago. Leidos Holdings has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 23.5%, on average. The stock has rallied 46.5% in the past year.
Atmos Energy, engaged in regulated natural gas distribution and pipeline and storage businesses, carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a VGM Score of B. Atmos Energy has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.3%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Atmos Energy&#39;s current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 6.9% and 11%, respectively, from the year-ago period. The stock has risen 7.9% in the past year.
Addus HomeCare offers home care services, specializing in personal care to support daily living activities, alongside hospice and home health care services. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a VGM Score of B.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Addus HomeCare&#39;s current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 6.5% and 9.2%, respectively, from the year-ago period&#39;s levels. ADUS has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.5%, on average. The stock has rallied 24.5% in the past year.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2317150/4-stocks-that-flaunt-an-impressive-interest-coverage-ratio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rw-2317150">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

ADUS

4 Stocks That Flaunt an Impressive Interest Coverage Ratio

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/08/05/final-trades-kkr-co-leidos-holdings-abbvie-and-the-iyh.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners said AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>) is a very <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39992204/abbvie-wins-analyst-confidence-with-q2-beat-diverse-portfolio-fuels-long-term-growt">strong health care provider.</a>
On July 25, AbbVie reported second-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.65, down 8.9% year over year, beating the consensus of $2.57. Net revenues reached $14.46 billion, up 4.3%, beating the consensus of $14.03 billion. Sales were up 5.6% on an operational basis.
Stephen Weiss of Short Hills Capital Partners said Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) reported stable earnings.
On July 30, Leidos reported better-than-expected second-quarter fiscal 2024 earnings. The company posted revenue growth of 8% year-over-year to $4.13 billion, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $4.06 billion, driven by demand across all customer segments, especially for managed health services.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Stephanie Link of Hightower named iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYH#NYSE">IYH</a>) as her final trade.
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>).
On July 31, KKR &amp; Co posted second-quarter earnings of 72 cents per share on sales of $4.17 billion. On Aug. 2, Citigroup analyst Chris Allen maintained KKR with a Buy rating, while raising the price target from $130 to $150.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>AbbVie shares fell 2.6% to close at $184.36 on Monday.</li>
<li>Leidos gained 0.9% during Friday's session.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF fell 2.6% during Monday's session.</li>
<li>KKR shares fell 2.2% to settle at $106.23 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/08/40165522/top-3-tech-stocks-that-could-surge-this-quarter">Top 3 Tech Stocks That Could Surge This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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ABBV

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Healthcare Sector Index Fund

AbbVie, Leidos, KKR And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Barclays analyst David Strauss maintains Leidos Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $160 to $165.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Leidos Holdings, Raises Price Target to $165

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: KKR & Co., Leidos Holdings, AbbVie, iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF

<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4225506-1&amp;h=3704305576&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leidos.com%2F&amp;a=Leidos">Leidos</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>), a Fortune 500&#xAE; innovation leader, has been awarded a $276 million task order to support the Department of Defense (DOD) Information Analysis Center to conduct research and development (R&amp;D) of critical minerals and materials for use in munitions and to promote energetics supply chain resiliency. Leidos was awarded this contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center's (DoDIAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle.&nbsp;These IAC MAC task orders (TOs) are awarded by the U.S. Air Force's 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the DTIC repository and the R&amp;D and S&amp;T community.

Leidos Awarded $276M Defense Department Contract To Research And Develop Critical Minerals And Materials For Use In Munitions

Analysts' ratings for Leidos Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) over the last quarter vary from bullish to bearish, as provided by 8 analysts.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Leidos Holdings, presenting an average target of $164.62, a high estimate of $175.00, and a low estimate of $145.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 6.81% from the previous average price target of $154.12.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1722531624_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Decoding Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Look</h2>
A clear picture of Leidos Holdings's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Akers</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$172.00</td>
<td>$168.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cai von Rumohr</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$166.00</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Gursky</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$169.00</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Seth Seifman</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ken Herbert</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Seth Seifman</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bert Subin</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Strauss</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Leidos Holdings. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Leidos Holdings compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Leidos Holdings's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Leidos Holdings's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LDOS/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Leidos Holdings analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Leidos Holdings Better</h2>
Leidos Holdings Inc is a technology, engineering, and science company that provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets, both domestically and internationally. Company customer includes the U.S. Department of Defense ("DoD"), the U.S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"), the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA"), and many other U.S. civilian, state and local government agencies, etc. The company is engaged in three reportable segments; Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health. Defense Solutions provides technologically latest services, solutions, and products to a broad customer base. It generates key revenue from Defense Solutions.
<h3>Leidos Holdings's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization: Boasting an elevated market capitalization, the company surpasses industry averages. This signals substantial size and strong market recognition.
Revenue Growth: Leidos Holdings displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 June, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 7.66%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.
Net Margin: Leidos Holdings's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 7.79% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Leidos Holdings's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 7.39%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 2.5%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: Leidos Holdings's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 1.16.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Some analysts will also offer forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide further guidance on stocks. Investors who use analyst ratings should note that this specialized advice comes from humans and may be subject to error.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Deep Dive Into Leidos Holdings Stock: Analyst Perspectives (8 Ratings)

Wells Fargo analyst Matthew Akers maintains Leidos Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $168 to $172.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Leidos Holdings, Raises Price Target to $172

As global enterprises increasingly rely on tech services and solutions for automation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, the tech industry thrives, presenting attractive investment opportunities. Therefore, investors might consider strong tech stocks Zoom Video Communications (ZM), Dropbox (DBX), and Leidos Holdings (LDOS), due to their discounted valuations and Strong Buy ratings. Read on... The tech services industry is set to grow due to increased adoption of generative AI, continued cloud migration, and rising regulatory demands. Likewise, higher software and IT services spending this year reflects positive industry sentiment. These trends drive infrastructure investment and modernization, making the sector a strong investment opportunity this year.
Given these favorable trends, investors could consider undervalued tech stocks like Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ZM/">ZM</a>), Dropbox, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/DBX/">DBX</a>), and Leidos Holdings, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LDOS/">LDOS</a>), which have Strong Buy ratings this month.
This year, optimism for the IT services sector is driven by several key trends: increased AI adoption, boosting demand for specialized consultancies, rapid expansion of cloud and edge computing, and a rise in mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) activity. These factors collectively support a forecasted lead in IT services spending and sector growth.
Consequently, the U.S. IT Services Market, valued at <a href="https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/united-states-it-services-market">$461.03 billion in 2024</a>, is projected to reach $630.76 billion by 2029, reflecting a 6.5% CAGR. Meanwhile, Gartner predicts a <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-04-16-gartner-forecast-worldwide-it-spending-to-grow-8-percent-in-2024">7.1% increase</a> in IT services spending this year, reaching $1.61 trillion. This growth, fueled by innovation investments, creates new opportunities for tech services companies to deliver cutting-edge solutions promising future growth.
Considering these conducive trends, let's assess the fundamentals of the three abovementioned <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/technology-services/">Technology - Services</a> stocks, starting with the third choice.
Stock #3: Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ZM/">ZM</a>)
ZM provides a unified communications platform in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers Zoom Meetings, Zoom Phone, Zoom Chat, Zoom Rooms, Zoom Conference Room Connector, Zoom Events, OnZoom, and Zoom Webinars.
On August 5, 2024, ZM introduced Zoom Docs, an AI-powered document solution within Zoom Workplace. It converts meeting content into actionable documents and comes at no additional cost with Zoom Workplace plans.
On June 20, 2024, ZM announced that Workvivo, its employee experience platform, is now available for resale through its channel partners. This allows partners to offer Workvivo's employee engagement solutions alongside ZM's existing services.
In terms of forward non-GAAP <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/price-earningsratio.asp">P/E</a>, ZM's 11.14x is 51.1% lower than the 22.76x industry average. Its 5.49x forward EV/EBITDA is 60% lower than the 13.73x industry average. Furthermore, its 1.35x forward non-GAAP PEG is 26.3% lower than the 1.84x industry average.
ZM's revenues for the first quarter, which ended on April 30, 2024, increased 2.7% year-over-year to $1.14 billion. Similarly, its gross profit rose 3.2% over the prior-year quarter to $867.93 million.
For the same quarter, the company's non-GAAP income from operations increased 8.1% year-over-year to $456.60 million. In addition, the company's non-GAAP net income was $426.32 million, or $1.35 per share, up 20.7% and 16.4% from the prior year's quarter, respectively.
Street expects ZM's revenue for the quarter ended July 31, 2024, to increase marginally year-over-year to $1.15 billion. Its EPS for fiscal 2026 is expected to increase marginally year-over-year to $5.11. It surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. Over the past month, the stock has declined 2.6% to close the last trading session at $55.41.
ZM's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect strong prospects. It has an overall rating of A, translating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 different factors, each with its own weighting.
It is ranked #8 out of 75 stocks in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/technology-services/">Technology - Services</a> industry. It has a B grade for Value and Quality. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ZM/">Click here</a> to see ZM's ratings for Growth, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment.
Stock #2: Dropbox, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/DBX/">DBX</a>)
DBX provides a content collaboration platform worldwide. The company's platform allows individuals, families, teams, and organizations to collaborate and sign up for free through its website or app, as well as upgrade to a paid subscription plan for premium features.
In terms of forward non-GAAP PEG, DBX's 0.82x is 55.5% lower than the 1.84x industry average. Its 9.58x forward EV/EBIT is 50.4% lower than the 19.30x industry average. Likewise, its 10.02x forward non-GAAP P/E is 56% lower than the 22.76x industry average.
In the fiscal second quarter that ended June 30, 2024, DBX's revenue stood at $634.50 million, up 1.9% year-over-year, and non-GAAP gross profit rose 4.1% year-over-year to $536.30 million. For the same quarter, its non-GAAP net income and net income per share increased 11.6% and 17.6% over the prior-year quarter to $194.10 million and $0.60, respectively.
Analysts expect DBX's revenue for the quarter ending September 30, 2024, to increase marginally year-over-year to $637. 01 million. Its EPS for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, is expected to increase 4.2% year-over-year to $0.52. It surpassed the Street EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. Over the past month, the stock has gained marginally to close the last trading session at $22.05.
DBX's positive outlook is reflected in its POWR Ratings. It has an overall rating of A, equating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It is ranked #6 in the same industry. It has an A grade for Quality and a B for grade for Growth and Value. To see DBX's Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/DBX/">click here</a>.
Stock #1: Leidos Holdings, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LDOS/">LDOS</a>)
LDOS provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets in the U.S. and internationally. The company operates through Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health segments.
On July 29, 2024, LDOS announced it received an $823 million contract from DISA to manage and maintain the upgraded DoDNet. This five-year deal will extend support to over 160,000 users and improve network services with enhanced IT solutions.
On July 11, 2024, LDOS received a $476 million contract from NASA to provide cargo mission engineering and integration services for the ISS Program and Artemis campaign. This two-year contract includes support for NASA's space missions through analytical, engineering, and hardware development services.
In terms of forward EV/Sales, LDOS' 1.46x is 16.8% lower than the 1.76x industry average. Similarly, its 16.01x forward non-GAAP P/E is 13.4% lower than the 18.48x industry average. Also, its 14.35x forward EV/EBIT is 7.5% lower than the 15.52x industry average.
LDOS' revenues for the fiscal second quarter that ended June 28, 2024, increased 7.7% from the year-ago value to $4.13 billion and its non-GAAP operating income rose 35.1% from the year-ago value to $524 million.
For the same period, its non-GAAP net income attributable to LDOS common stockholders stood at $358 million, up 43.8% over the prior-year quarter. Also, its non-GAAP EPS attributable to LDOS common stockholders grew 46.1% year-over-year to $2.63.
For the quarter ending September 30, 2024, LDOS' revenue is expected to increase 3.6% year-over-year to $4.06 billion. Its EPS for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, is expected to increase 6% year-over-year to $2.11. LDOS surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. Over the past year, the stock has gained 48.5% to close the last trading session at $144.90.
LDOS' robust fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. It has an overall rating of A, which translates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It has a B grade for Growth, Value, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment. Within the Technology - Services industry, it is ranked first. To access the additional POWR Ratings of LDOS for Quality, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LDOS/">click here</a>.
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<hr />
LDOS shares were trading at $145.46 per share on Monday afternoon, up $1.25 (+0.87%). Year-to-date, LDOS has gained 35.14%, versus a 12.84% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Abhishek Bhuyan</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ABhuyan.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Abhishek embarked on his professional journey as a financial journalist due to his keen interest in discerning the fundamental factors that influence the future performance of financial instruments.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=abhishek-bhuyan">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/ldos-zm-dbx-3-undervalued-tech-stocks-with-strong-buy-ratings/>3 Undervalued Tech Stocks With Strong Buy Ratings</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

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