SAIC vs LDOS

For growth investors, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the stronger pick with 3. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 9% for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (11. 4x 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 12. 1x versus Science Applications International Corporation at 12. 3x. On forward P/E, Science Applications International Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Leidos Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 55x versus Science Applications International Corporation's 0. 56x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) delivered a total return of +37. 1%, compared to +14. 8% for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LDOS returned +230. 5% versus SAIC's +104. 4%. 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), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

26β versus Leidos Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 42β — meaning LDOS is approximately 60% more volatile than SAIC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 119% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(LDOS) is pulling ahead at 3. 1% versus -2. 9% for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Leidos Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 20. 7% year-over-year, compared to 7. 4% for Science Applications International Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LDOS leads at 6. 1% 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 4. 9% for Science Applications International Corporation — 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 7. 1% for SAIC. 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.

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. 55x versus Science Applications International Corporation's 0. 56x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) trades at 9. 3x forward P/E versus 11. 4x for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — 2. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LDOS: 51. 2% to $204. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 1. 2% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

26), 1. 6% yield, +104. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAIC: +104. 4%, LDOS: +230. 5%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.