Leidos Holdings Downgraded as 2026 Growth Expected to Moderate
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 09 2026
0mins
Should l Buy LDOS?
Source: Benzinga
- Growth Expectation Adjustment: Analyst Jonathan Siegmann downgraded Leidos Holdings from Buy to Hold, anticipating a moderation in growth for 2026 primarily due to pressures on its high-margin Department of Veterans Affairs medical exam business.
- Key Contract Impact: The Compensation and Pension medical exams generate over $5 billion annually and account for more than 30% of Leidos' consolidated earnings, with potential growth slowdown likely exerting negative pressure on the stock price.
- Market Reaction: Leidos shares closed down 0.71% at $195.22 on Thursday, reflecting market uncertainty regarding future growth prospects.
- Sustainability Challenge: While the analyst believes earnings from this key contract may not deteriorate as much as feared, Leidos will need time to demonstrate the sustainability of its business to restore investor confidence.
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Analyst Views on LDOS
Wall Street analysts forecast LDOS stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 172.510
Low
178.00
Averages
219.70
High
235.00
Current: 172.510
Low
178.00
Averages
219.70
High
235.00
About LDOS
Leidos Holdings, Inc. is a holding company, which operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Leidos, Inc. (Leidos). The Company’s segments include National Security & Digital, Health & Civil, Commercial & International and Defense Systems. Its National Security & Digital business provides technologically advanced services, solutions and products, as well as mission software capabilities for defense and intelligence customers in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations and decision analytics. Its Health & Civil business provides services and solutions to federal and commercial customers in the areas of public health, care coordination, life and environmental sciences and transportation. Its Commercial & International business delivers a portfolio of products, services, and solutions aimed at securing national assets, modernizing energy and critical infrastructure, and enhancing mission outcomes. The Company serves government and commercial customers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Leidos Secures Contract to Modernize Air Force Cloud Platform
- Contract Award: Leidos Holdings Inc. secured a contract to modernize the U.S. Air Force's Cloud One platform, aimed at accelerating the secure deployment of cloud capabilities by enhancing security, increasing automation, reducing costs, and simplifying cloud operations, thereby facilitating easier adoption and scaling of cloud services for Air Force units worldwide.
- Strategic Alignment: This initiative aligns with Leidos' NorthStar 2030 strategy, reinforcing the company's focus on large-scale federal technology and cybersecurity modernization, which is expected to enhance its competitiveness in the government contracting market.
- AI Partnership: Leidos partnered with Dropzone AI to help U.S. federal agencies tackle alert fatigue in security operations centers, with Dropzone's AI agents automating over 160 years of manual analyst work across more than 300 commercial organizations, cutting response times by up to 90%.
- Market Performance: Leidos shares rose 1.68% to $175.40 on Wednesday, although the stock is currently trading 1.4% below its 20-day and 7.5% below its 100-day simple moving averages, yet it has gained 28.95% over the past 12 months, indicating strong long-term growth potential.
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- Potential Impact Warning: Microsoft warned that without the order, tech companies would need to immediately alter existing product and contract configurations with the Defense Department, which could hinder U.S. warfighters' capabilities at a critical time, highlighting the close ties between technology and defense.
- Investment Background: Microsoft announced plans to invest up to $5 billion in Anthropic last November, demonstrating its long-term confidence in the company and reflecting its strategic positioning in the AI sector, particularly in defense-related technology applications.
- Negotiation Breakdown: Despite recent negotiations between Anthropic and the Defense Department over contract terms, talks collapsed due to disagreements on model usage, escalating tensions and impacting Anthropic's business outlook.
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- AI Model Expansion: Google announced the introduction of the Agent Designer tool on the Defense Department's GenAI.mil platform, enabling over 3 million military and civilian personnel to create custom AI assistants, which is expected to significantly enhance administrative task efficiency.
- No-Code Tool Application: The new tool will assist users in automating tasks such as drafting meeting notes, creating action items, and breaking down large projects into step-by-step plans, initially operating on unclassified networks with potential future expansion to classified environments, thereby enhancing the Department's operational capabilities.
- Strengthened Partnership: The DOD's technology chief expressed high confidence in Google's collaboration across all networks, indicating an increasing influence of Google in military applications while reflecting a shift in the DOD's partnerships with other AI providers.
- Industry Tensions: Amid rising tensions in the tech industry regarding military AI usage, Google's AI chief and other employees have backed Anthropic's legal action against the Pentagon, highlighting growing internal concerns and dissent regarding military collaborations.
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Pratt & Whitney Secures Follow-On Contract from Leidos
- Contract Renewal: Pratt & Whitney has secured a follow-on contract from Leidos Dynetics to supply TJ150 engines for the AGM-190A small cruise missile, further solidifying its position in the defense market.
- Technical Advantage: The TJ150 engine is a compact turbojet designed to operate at high altitudes, specifically engineered to power various autonomous systems and weapons, catering to both domestic and international customers.
- Market Potential: As the global defense and security ecosystem continues to grow, this contract not only enhances Pratt & Whitney's market share but also provides robust support for its future business development.
- Strategic Significance: The signing of this contract reflects Pratt & Whitney's ongoing investment and technological innovation in the defense sector, ensuring its competitive edge in a highly contested market.
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Anthropic Faces Pentagon Ban Amid Controversy
- Pentagon Ban: The Department of Defense has designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk, prohibiting its technology from use in sensitive military environments, jeopardizing hundreds of millions in contracts and straining its relationship with the Pentagon.
- Legal Challenge: Anthropic has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the ban is 'unprecedented and unlawful' and asserting that it causes irreparable harm to the company, potentially threatening its future business prospects.
- Technological Dependence: Despite the shocking decision, many officials view Anthropic's AI models as superior for military applications, particularly in their integration with existing contractors like Palantir, highlighting a significant reliance on this technology.
- Market Pressure: Since its founding in 2021, Anthropic has raised billions, achieving a valuation of $380 billion, but faces intense competition from rivals like OpenAI, forcing it to accelerate commercialization efforts to maintain its market position.
See More
Anthropic Sues Trump Administration Over Blacklisting as National Security Threat
- Lawsuit Initiated: Anthropic filed a lawsuit on Monday in the Northern District of California against the Trump administration, claiming that being blacklisted and labeled a national security threat is 'unprecedented and unlawful,' causing irreparable harm to the company.
- Contract Risks Escalate: The complaint states that Anthropic's contracts with the federal government are already being canceled, and future contracts with private parties are also in jeopardy, potentially jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in the near term, severely impacting the company's financial health.
- Reputation Damage: The lawsuit emphasizes that Anthropic's reputation and core First Amendment freedoms are under attack, and without judicial relief, these harms will only compound in the coming weeks and months, potentially affecting the company's market position.
- Defense Department Restrictions: President Trump directed federal agencies last month to 'immediately cease' all use of Anthropic's technology, requiring defense contractors to certify they do not use the company's models, further limiting its business opportunities.
See More
Leidos Secures Contract to Modernize Air Force Cloud Platform
- Contract Award: Leidos Holdings Inc. secured a contract to modernize the U.S. Air Force's Cloud One platform, aimed at accelerating the secure deployment of cloud capabilities by enhancing security, increasing automation, reducing costs, and simplifying cloud operations, thereby facilitating easier adoption and scaling of cloud services for Air Force units worldwide.
- Strategic Alignment: This initiative aligns with Leidos' NorthStar 2030 strategy, reinforcing the company's focus on large-scale federal technology and cybersecurity modernization, which is expected to enhance its competitiveness in the government contracting market.
- AI Partnership: Leidos partnered with Dropzone AI to help U.S. federal agencies tackle alert fatigue in security operations centers, with Dropzone's AI agents automating over 160 years of manual analyst work across more than 300 commercial organizations, cutting response times by up to 90%.
- Market Performance: Leidos shares rose 1.68% to $175.40 on Wednesday, although the stock is currently trading 1.4% below its 20-day and 7.5% below its 100-day simple moving averages, yet it has gained 28.95% over the past 12 months, indicating strong long-term growth potential.
See More
Microsoft Backs Anthropic Against Pentagon Ban
- Legal Support Statement: Microsoft stated in a court filing in San Francisco that it supports Anthropic's request for a temporary restraining order to block the Pentagon's designation of it as a supply chain risk, aiming to avoid disruptions to the military's use of advanced AI and ensure operational continuity.
- Potential Impact Warning: Microsoft warned that without the order, tech companies would need to immediately alter existing product and contract configurations with the Defense Department, which could hinder U.S. warfighters' capabilities at a critical time, highlighting the close ties between technology and defense.
- Investment Background: Microsoft announced plans to invest up to $5 billion in Anthropic last November, demonstrating its long-term confidence in the company and reflecting its strategic positioning in the AI sector, particularly in defense-related technology applications.
- Negotiation Breakdown: Despite recent negotiations between Anthropic and the Defense Department over contract terms, talks collapsed due to disagreements on model usage, escalating tensions and impacting Anthropic's business outlook.
See More
Google Deepens Partnership with Defense Department
- AI Model Expansion: Google announced the introduction of the Agent Designer tool on the Defense Department's GenAI.mil platform, enabling over 3 million military and civilian personnel to create custom AI assistants, which is expected to significantly enhance administrative task efficiency.
- No-Code Tool Application: The new tool will assist users in automating tasks such as drafting meeting notes, creating action items, and breaking down large projects into step-by-step plans, initially operating on unclassified networks with potential future expansion to classified environments, thereby enhancing the Department's operational capabilities.
- Strengthened Partnership: The DOD's technology chief expressed high confidence in Google's collaboration across all networks, indicating an increasing influence of Google in military applications while reflecting a shift in the DOD's partnerships with other AI providers.
- Industry Tensions: Amid rising tensions in the tech industry regarding military AI usage, Google's AI chief and other employees have backed Anthropic's legal action against the Pentagon, highlighting growing internal concerns and dissent regarding military collaborations.
See More
Pratt & Whitney Secures Follow-On Contract from Leidos
- Contract Renewal: Pratt & Whitney has secured a follow-on contract from Leidos Dynetics to supply TJ150 engines for the AGM-190A small cruise missile, further solidifying its position in the defense market.
- Technical Advantage: The TJ150 engine is a compact turbojet designed to operate at high altitudes, specifically engineered to power various autonomous systems and weapons, catering to both domestic and international customers.
- Market Potential: As the global defense and security ecosystem continues to grow, this contract not only enhances Pratt & Whitney's market share but also provides robust support for its future business development.
- Strategic Significance: The signing of this contract reflects Pratt & Whitney's ongoing investment and technological innovation in the defense sector, ensuring its competitive edge in a highly contested market.
See More
Anthropic Faces Pentagon Ban Amid Controversy
- Pentagon Ban: The Department of Defense has designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk, prohibiting its technology from use in sensitive military environments, jeopardizing hundreds of millions in contracts and straining its relationship with the Pentagon.
- Legal Challenge: Anthropic has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the ban is 'unprecedented and unlawful' and asserting that it causes irreparable harm to the company, potentially threatening its future business prospects.
- Technological Dependence: Despite the shocking decision, many officials view Anthropic's AI models as superior for military applications, particularly in their integration with existing contractors like Palantir, highlighting a significant reliance on this technology.
- Market Pressure: Since its founding in 2021, Anthropic has raised billions, achieving a valuation of $380 billion, but faces intense competition from rivals like OpenAI, forcing it to accelerate commercialization efforts to maintain its market position.
See More
Anthropic Sues Trump Administration Over Blacklisting as National Security Threat
- Lawsuit Initiated: Anthropic filed a lawsuit on Monday in the Northern District of California against the Trump administration, claiming that being blacklisted and labeled a national security threat is 'unprecedented and unlawful,' causing irreparable harm to the company.
- Contract Risks Escalate: The complaint states that Anthropic's contracts with the federal government are already being canceled, and future contracts with private parties are also in jeopardy, potentially jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in the near term, severely impacting the company's financial health.
- Reputation Damage: The lawsuit emphasizes that Anthropic's reputation and core First Amendment freedoms are under attack, and without judicial relief, these harms will only compound in the coming weeks and months, potentially affecting the company's market position.
- Defense Department Restrictions: President Trump directed federal agencies last month to 'immediately cease' all use of Anthropic's technology, requiring defense contractors to certify they do not use the company's models, further limiting its business opportunities.
See More
