AMTM vs LDOS

For growth investors, Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is the stronger pick with 71. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 1% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) offers the better valuation at 11. 8x trailing P/E (11. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) a "Buy" — based on 27 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the cheapest at 11. 8x versus Amentum Holdings, Inc. at 90. 9x. On forward P/E, Amentum Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) delivered a total return of +33. 4%, compared to -16. 8% for Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LDOS returned +223. 8% versus AMTM's -16. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 42β versus Amentum Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 17β — meaning AMTM is approximately 177% more volatile than LDOS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 94% versus 119% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is pulling ahead at 71. 6% versus 3. 1% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Amentum Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 179. 4% year-over-year, compared to 20. 7% for Leidos Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMTM leads at 23. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 5% net margin versus 0. 5% for Amentum Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LDOS leads at 12. 3% versus 3. 5% for AMTM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LDOS leads at 17. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) trades at 10. 2x forward P/E versus 11. 1x for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — 0. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LDOS: 55. 5% to $204. 00.

In this comparison, LDOS (1.

2% yield) pays a dividend. AMTM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 42), 1. 2% yield, +223. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LDOS: +223. 8%, AMTM: -16. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (AMTM (Industrials) and LDOS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AMTM is a small-cap high-growth stock; LDOS is a mid-cap deep-value stock. LDOS pays a dividend while AMTM does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.