Strategic Financial Concepts LLC Acquires New Stake in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS)

Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new position in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 87,187 shares of the aerospace company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,560,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in Leidos in the third quarter valued at $29,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC purchased a new stake in Leidos during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Berbice Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Leidos during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of Leidos by 143.1% in the 4th quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 265 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.12% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Leidos

In other Leidos news, Director Robert C. Kovarik, Jr. sold 1,511 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.56, for a total transaction of $203,320.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,408 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $862,260.48. This trade represents a 19.08 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Noel B. Geer bought 2,000 shares of Leidos stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $161.13 per share, for a total transaction of $322,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $322,260. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Leidos Trading Up 1.2 %

NYSE LDOS opened at $132.22 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $17.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.66. Leidos Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $120.98 and a fifty-two week high of $202.90. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $146.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $157.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.23.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) last announced 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, analysts forecast that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 10.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Leidos’s payout ratio is 18.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on LDOS shares. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Leidos in a report on Friday, February 7th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $185.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Leidos from $199.00 to $197.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com cut shares of Leidos from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note 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 report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Leidos from $162.00 to $156.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Five research 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $176.27.

Leidos 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.