UBS Group Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) Stock Price

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) had its price objective lowered by UBS Group from $162.00 to $156.00 in a report published on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the aerospace company’s stock.

LDOS has been the topic of several other reports. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Leidos from $185.00 to $165.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Leidos from $199.00 to $197.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Leidos from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Leidos from $180.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Leidos from $194.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Leidos currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $176.27.

Leidos Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of Leidos stock opened at $136.82 on Wednesday. Leidos has a 52-week low of $118.40 and a 52-week high of $202.90. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $148.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $157.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The company has a market cap of $18.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.58, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.66.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The aerospace company reported $2.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.24 by $0.13. Leidos had a net margin of 7.37% and a return on equity of 30.31%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Leidos will post 10.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Leidos’s dividend payout ratio is currently 18.22%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Leidos

In related news, Director Noel B. Geer bought 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $161.13 per share, with a total value of $322,260.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $322,260. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.96% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Leidos

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ballentine Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Leidos by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $297,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. increased its holdings in Leidos by 3.2% in the third quarter. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. now owns 2,280 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $372,000 after buying an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Leidos by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,680 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $242,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Leidos by 20.4% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 454 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its stake in shares of Leidos by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 2,738 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $394,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.12% of the company’s stock.

About Leidos

Leidos Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides services and solutions in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health segments. The Defense Solutions segment offers national security solutions and systems for air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace for the U.S.