Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) Shares Sold by Kentucky Retirement Systems

Kentucky Retirement Systems decreased its position in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) by 2.4% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 10,189 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 254 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems’ holdings in Leidos were worth $1,486,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Tidemark LLC purchased a new stake in Leidos in the 4th quarter worth $41,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Leidos by 251.3% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 281 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in Leidos by 122.5% in the 2nd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 307 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Leidos in the 4th quarter worth about $49,000. Finally, Family Firm Inc. acquired a new stake in Leidos in the 2nd quarter worth about $60,000. 76.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Leidos Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE LDOS opened at $157.06 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $21.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 67.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $151.25 and a 200-day simple moving average of $142.91. Leidos Holdings, Inc. has a 1 year low of $89.22 and a 1 year high of $159.10.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The aerospace company reported $2.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.27 by $0.36. Leidos had a return on equity of 28.40% and a net margin of 2.72%. The company had revenue of $4.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.06 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.80 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 8.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a $0.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.97%. Leidos’s payout ratio is currently 65.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on LDOS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Leidos from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Leidos from $155.00 to $166.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Leidos from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, June 24th. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Leidos from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 5th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Leidos from $165.00 to $169.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $163.08.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Gary Stephen May sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.02, for a total value of $144,020.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 11,264 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,622,241.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Thomas Arthur Bell bought 1,712 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 1st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $145.04 per share, for a total transaction of $248,308.48. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 22,398 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,248,605.92. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Gary Stephen May sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.02, for a total transaction of $144,020.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,264 shares in the company, valued at $1,622,241.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.