VTSI vs KTOS vs CACI vs SAIC vs LDOS

For growth investors, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) is the stronger pick with 18. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -32. 1% for VirTra, Inc. (VTSI). Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) offers the better valuation at 11. 7x trailing P/E (11. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS) a "Buy" — based on 24 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. 7x versus Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. at 445. 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. 53x versus CACI International Inc's 1. 41x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) delivered a total return of +125. 0%, compared to -22. 1% for VirTra, Inc. (VTSI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KTOS returned +1253% versus VTSI's +44. 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), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

27β versus Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. 's 1. 87β — meaning KTOS is approximately 588% more volatile than SAIC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 119% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) is pulling ahead at 18. 5% versus -32. 1% for VirTra, Inc. (VTSI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Leidos Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 20. 7% year-over-year, compared to -84. 4% for VirTra, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KTOS leads at 14. 5% 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 1. 6% for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, 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 2. 1% for KTOS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VTSI leads at 73. 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. 53x versus CACI International Inc's 1. 41x. 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 76. 4x for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. — 67. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KTOS: 89. 3% to $109. 58.

In this comparison, SAIC (1.

6% yield), LDOS (1. 2% yield) pay a dividend. VTSI, KTOS, CACI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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.

27), 1. 6% yield, +104. 0% 10Y return). VirTra, Inc. (VTSI) carries a higher beta of 1. 67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAIC: +104. 0%, VTSI: +44. 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 (VTSI (Industrials) and KTOS (Industrials) and CACI (Technology) and SAIC (Technology) and LDOS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: VTSI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KTOS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CACI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SAIC is a small-cap deep-value stock; LDOS is a mid-cap deep-value stock. SAIC, LDOS pay a dividend while VTSI, KTOS, CACI do 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.