ESLT vs LDOS

For growth investors, Elbit Systems Ltd.

(ESLT) is the stronger pick with 23. 9% 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 Elbit Systems Ltd. at 64. 5x. On forward P/E, Leidos Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Leidos Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 54x versus Elbit Systems Ltd. 's 3. 48x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Elbit Systems Ltd.

(ESLT) delivered a total return of +486. 3%, compared to +33. 4% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ESLT returned +737. 2% versus LDOS's +223. 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), Elbit Systems Ltd.

(ESLT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 35β versus Leidos Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 42β — meaning LDOS is approximately 21% more volatile than ESLT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESLT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 119% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Elbit Systems Ltd.

(ESLT) is pulling ahead at 23. 9% versus 3. 1% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Elbit Systems Ltd. grew EPS 71. 7% year-over-year, compared to 20. 7% for Leidos Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ESLT leads at 17. 8% 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 6. 7% for Elbit Systems Ltd. — 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 8. 8% for ESLT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ESLT leads at 24. 4%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 54x versus Elbit Systems Ltd. 's 3. 48x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) trades at 11. 1x forward P/E versus 57. 3x for Elbit Systems Ltd. — 46. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LDOS: 55. 5% to $204. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 0. 3% for Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESLT).

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%, ESLT: +737. 2%), 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 (ESLT (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: ESLT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LDOS is a mid-cap deep-value stock. LDOS pays a dividend while ESLT 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.