Truist Financial Has Lowered Expectations for Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) Stock Price

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) had its price target reduced by Truist Financial from $185.00 to $165.00 in a report published on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. Truist Financial currently has a buy rating on the aerospace company’s stock.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Leidos from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $228.00 to $153.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on shares of Leidos from $180.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Leidos in a report on Friday, February 7th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $185.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Leidos from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on Leidos from $194.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $176.27.

Leidos Stock Performance

Shares of Leidos stock opened at $136.82 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $148.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $157.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The company has a market capitalization of $18.26 billion, a PE ratio of 15.58, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.66. Leidos has a 12 month low of $118.40 and a 12 month high of $202.90.

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

Leidos Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. Leidos’s payout ratio is 18.22%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Leidos news, Director Noel B. Geer purchased 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $161.13 per share, with a total value of $322,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at $322,260. This represents a ? increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.96% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LDOS. Rakuten Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in Leidos by 1,460.0% during the 3rd quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 156 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Leidos in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Leidos in the third quarter valued at about $29,000. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Leidos during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Leidos during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. 76.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Leidos Company Profile

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.