Nebula Research & Development LLC Takes Position in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS)

Nebula Research & Development LLC purchased a new stake in Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 14,088 shares of the aerospace company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,525,000. Leidos makes up about 0.5% of Nebula Research & Development LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA purchased a new stake in shares of Leidos during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Leidos during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Leidos by 209.0% during the fourth quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 275 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new stake in Leidos in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Tidemark LLC purchased a new stake in Leidos in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.12% of the company’s stock.

Leidos Stock Performance

Shares of Leidos stock traded down $1.34 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $143.38. 166,833 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 883,255. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $138.67 and its 200 day moving average is $124.07. The stock has a market cap of $19.39 billion, a PE ratio of 61.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.35. Leidos Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $82.58 and a 12 month high of $151.32.

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 30th. The aerospace company reported $2.29 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.59. The business had revenue of $3.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.82 billion. Leidos had a net margin of 2.04% and a return on equity of 25.66%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.47 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Leidos Holdings, Inc. will post 8.59 EPS for the current year.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Friday, June 14th will be given a $0.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 14th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.06%. Leidos’s dividend payout ratio is presently 65.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LDOS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Leidos from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Leidos from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 27th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Leidos from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Leidos from $138.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Leidos from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, May 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $145.67.

Insider Activity at Leidos

In other Leidos news, Director David G. Fubini sold 7,874 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.89, for a total value of $1,007,005.86. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 14,696 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,879,471.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Leidos news, Director David G. Fubini sold 7,874 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.89, for a total transaction of $1,007,005.86. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 14,696 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,879,471.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Roy E. Stevens sold 875 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.67, for a total transaction of $131,836.25. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 44,149 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,651,929.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.