Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) Coverage Initiated at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) in a report released on Friday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage issued an overweight rating and a $185.00 target price on the aerospace company’s stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Leidos from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays lifted their price target on Leidos from $165.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Leidos from $205.00 to $185.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Leidos in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $182.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Leidos from $180.00 to $218.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Leidos presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $179.47.

Leidos Trading Up 1.1 %

NYSE LDOS opened at $142.34 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $150.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $157.78. The company has a market capitalization of $18.99 billion, a PE ratio of 16.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.66. Leidos has a 12 month low of $112.53 and a 12 month high of $202.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87.

Leidos Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.12%. Leidos’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.22%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Leidos

In other Leidos news, Director Noel B. Geer acquired 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $161.13 per share, with a total value of $322,260.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $322,260. The trade was a ∞ increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.96% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Leidos

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Rakuten Securities Inc. lifted its stake in Leidos by 1,460.0% in the third quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 156 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 146 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Leidos in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Leidos during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. bought a new position in Leidos during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Leidos in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.12% of the company’s stock.

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.