Bull case
LDOS would need investors to value it at roughly 13x earnings — about 4x more generous than today's 9x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
Wall Street verdict, consensus price target, and analyst rating breakdown — everything needed to frame the risk/reward at today's price.
Three scenarios for where LDOS stock could go
LDOS would need investors to value it at roughly 13x earnings — about 4x more generous than today's 9x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
This is close to how the market is already pricing LDOS — at roughly 10x forward earnings. No dramatic re-rating needed, just steady execution on the core business.
If investor confidence fades or macro conditions deteriorate, a 3x multiple contraction could push LDOS down roughly 31% from where it trades now.
Not financial advice. Model confidence reflects internal scenario assumptions, not a guarantee of returns. Past performance does not predict future results.

Leidos is a large government technology contractor providing IT services and solutions primarily to U.S. defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. It generates revenue through three main segments — Defense Solutions (~60% of revenue), Civil (~25%), and Health (~15%) — delivering systems integration, cybersecurity, logistics, and data analytics services. The company's moat lies in its deep security clearances, long-term government contracts, and specialized expertise in classified national security work that creates high barriers to entry.
Quarterly beat-or-miss track record against analyst estimates, plus forward revenue and EPS outlook for the next two fiscal years.
| Quarter | EPS (Actual / Est) | EPS Surprise | Revenue (Actual / Est) | Rev Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $3.21/$2.66 | +20.7% | $4.3B/$4.2B | +0.4% |
| Q4 2025 | $3.05/$2.71 | +12.5% | $4.5B/$4.3B | +4.5% |
| Q1 2026 | $2.76/$2.61 | +5.7% | $4.2B/$4.3B | -2.2% |
| Q2 2026 | $3.13/$2.90 | +7.9% | $4.4B/$4.3B | +2.8% |
LDOS beat EPS estimates in 4 of 4 tracked quarters. A perfect track record raises the bar for the upcoming report.
Product and geographic revenue mix from the latest annual disclosure, with year-over-year growth by segment.
Latest annual revenue by segment or product family
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Latest annual revenue by reported region
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Current multiples compared to the S&P 500, the company's sector, and its own five-year average.
Fair value est. $143 — implies +33.4% from today's price.
| Metric | LDOS | S&P 500 | Technology | 5Y Avg LDOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward PE | 9.0x | 18.8x-52% | 22.3x-59% | — |
| Trailing PE | 9.6x | 24.4x-61% | 29.0x-67% | 29.1x-67% |
| PEG Ratio | 0.47x | 1.66x-72% | 1.51x-69% | — |
| EV/EBITDA | 7.6x | 15.2x-50% | 16.6x-55% | 13.9x-46% |
| Price/FCF | 8.3x | 20.7x-60% | 19.2x-57% | 15.5x-46% |
| Price/Sales | 0.8x | 3.1x-75% | 2.4x-68% | 1.1x-29% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 1.91% | 1.11% | 1.24% |
Forward P/E and PEG reflect analyst consensus estimates. Historical averages use trailing ratios where forward data is unavailable.S&P 500 and sector benchmarks both use trailing median P/E — similar readings indicate the broader index and sector are priced alike.
Open valuation toolLDOS generates $1.7B in free cash flow at a 9.6% margin — 17.1% ROIC signals a durable competitive advantage · returns 8.5% of market cap to shareholders annually.
Revenue, margins, and cash generation
ROIC, leverage, and debt serviceability
~2.8 years to full repayment at current FCF run-rate
How capital is returned to owners
All figures from the trailing twelve months. ROIC uses invested capital (equity + net debt).
Open full ratios pageKey factors that could pressure the stock price, compress the multiple, or weigh on future results.
AI analysis · updated June 18, 2026
Market valuation concerns overshadowed strong Q1 2026 earnings, contributing to a 25% stock decline since February 2026.
Investors engaged in profit-taking following a period of strong performance, leading to a bearish trend despite outperforming profit projections.
The spin-off of its security and industrial automation businesses introduces execution and integration risks with Analogic Corporation.
Weak future return potential and a post-earnings sell-off have led to a Hold rating, despite improved valuation.
Leidos Holdings disclosed only 1 risk factor in its recent earnings report, potentially understating challenges.
These are risk mechanisms, not predictions. The key question is which would force a cut to earnings estimates or a lower multiple than the market currently prices in.
Structural drivers behind the upside case and why the stock could outperform over the next 12 months.
AI analysis · updated June 18, 2026
Leidos is recognized as a Fortune 500 digital and mission innovator, delivering solutions at the intersection of national security, health, and critical infrastructure.
Multiple bullish theses on platforms like ValueInvesting subreddit highlight investor confidence in Leidos Holdings, Inc.'s growth potential.
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with efficient digital and mission innovations.
Leidos plans to spin off its security and industrial automation businesses, merging them with Analogic Corporation to unlock value.
Leidos' trailing and forward P/E ratios of 16.77 and 14.79 respectively indicate a potentially undervalued stock with growth prospects.
Leidos operates in defense, aviation, IT, and biomedical research, providing scientific, engineering, and systems integration solutions.
A real bull case compounds — each driver matters most when it strengthens margins, supports capital returns, and keeps the company above the market's minimum growth bar simultaneously.
52-week range context and price returns across multiple time horizons. Dividend contribution is shown separately in the Capital Return section.
Range context matters because valuation compression and earnings misses rarely hit from the same starting point. A stock already far below its high can still fall, but it is no longer carrying the same embedded optimism as one pressing a fresh peak.
Valuation, growth, and margin comparison against the closest publicly traded peers for this company.
| Company | Mkt Cap | Fwd PE | Rev Grw | Margin | Rating | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LDO LDOS Leidos Holdings, Inc. | $13.5B | 9.0x | +3.4% | 7.8% | Buy | +66.6% |
SAI SAIC Science Applications International Corporation | $4.3B | 10.1x | 0.0% | 5.6% | Hold | +9.1% |
BAH BAH Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation | $7.9B | 10.9x | +2.1% | 7.6% | Buy | +34.9% |
CAC CACI CACI International Inc | $10.3B | 16.5x | +7.5% | 5.9% | Buy | +48.0% |
LMT LMT Lockheed Martin Corporation | $117.8B | 17.1x | +4.8% | 6.4% | Buy | +24.3% |
RTX RTX RTX Corporation | $249.9B | 26.7x | +6.0% | 8.0% | Buy | +20.9% |
This peer comparison reflects companies with similar business models, product lines, or market positioning, supplemented by industry grouping when direct matches are limited.
LDOS returns capital mainly through $944M/year in buybacks (7.0% buyback yield), with a modest 1.49% dividend — combining for 8.5% total shareholder yield. The dividend has grown for 7 consecutive years.
Yield, cadence, and growth quality
How much per-share support comes from repurchases
| Year | Div / Share | YoY Grw | BB Yield | Total Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.86 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | $1.63 | +5.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% |
| 2024 | $1.54 | +5.5% | 4.5% | 5.6% |
| 2023 | $1.46 | +1.4% | 1.6% | 3.0% |
| 2022 | $1.44 | +2.9% | 3.7% | 5.1% |
Common questions answered from live analyst data and company financials.
Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) is rated Buy by Wall Street analysts as of 2026. Of 27 analysts covering the stock, 17 rate it Buy or Strong Buy, 10 rate it Hold, and 0 rate it Sell or Strong Sell. The consensus 12-month price target is $178, implying +66.6% from the current price of $107. The bear case scenario is $74 and the bull case is $154.
The Wall Street consensus price target for LDOS is $178 based on 27 analyst estimates. The high-end target is $215 (+100.8% from today), and the low-end target is $125 (+16.7%). The base case model target is $117.
LDOS trades at 9.0x times forward earnings. The stock currently trades at a discount to the broader market. Based on current multiples versus the peer group, the relative model signals cheap versus peers. Whether the stock is over or undervalued ultimately depends on whether consensus earnings estimates are achievable.
The primary risks for LDOS in 2026 are: (1) Valuation concerns — Market valuation concerns overshadowed strong Q1 2026 earnings, contributing to a 25% stock decline since February 2026. (2) Profit-taking pressure — Investors engaged in profit-taking following a period of strong performance, leading to a bearish trend despite outperforming profit projections. (3) Business spin-off risks — The spin-off of its security and industrial automation businesses introduces execution and integration risks with Analogic Corporation. Each factor has the potential to pressure earnings or compress the stock's valuation multiple.
Analyst consensus estimates LDOS will report consensus revenue of $18.1B (+3.4% year-over-year) and EPS of $10.64 (+0.3% year-over-year) for the upcoming fiscal year. The following year, analysts project $18.7B in revenue.
Leidos Holdings, Inc. is expected to report its next earnings on approximately 2026-08-04. Consensus expects EPS of $2.89 and revenue of $4.4B. Over recent quarters, LDOS has beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time.
Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) generated $1.7B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months — a free cash flow margin of 9.6%. LDOS returns capital to shareholders through dividends (1.5% yield) and share repurchases ($944M TTM).