Leidos Stock: 9 Straight Green Days, Up 17%
Shares of Leidos (LDOS) have closed higher in each of the last 9 sessions, a cumulative gain of 16.8%. That added about $2.5 billion to the company’s market value, which now stands at about $17.6 billion. The stock closed at $139.86 on Monday, October 26, 29.1% below its 52-week high of $197.27 and 40.3% above its low of $99.68.
LDOS Versus The S&P 500
Returns for LDOS and the S&P 500 over the streak and the periods around it, all ending Monday, October 26 and including dividends:
| Return Period | LDOS | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Day | 2.8% | 0.7% |
| 9 Days (Current Streak) | 16.8% | -1.6% |
| 1 Month (21 Trading Days) | 13.1% | -0.8% |
| 3 Months (63 Trading Days) | 18.5% | 3.6% |
| Year To Date | -21.8% | 13.2% |
| 1 Year (252 Trading Days) | -26.1% | 15.3% |
A Stock-Specific Run, Or A Market Move?
The market explains little of this: the S&P 500 lost 1.6% over the same 9 sessions, including dividends, against Leidos’ +16.8%. No other S&P 500 stock is currently on a winning streak of 9 days or longer. Over the past three months the stock is up 18.5%, a window that includes the streak; over the other 54 sessions of that window it was essentially flat (+1.5%).
Is The Business Keeping Up With The Stock?
On the fundamentals, revenue grew 3.4% over the last twelve months, against a median of 7.8% for S&P 500 Industrials stocks; its operating margin is 11.8%, versus a median of 17.6%; and the stock trades at 12.8 times trailing earnings against a median of 26.5. The read is mixed: a multiple below the median on one side, revenue growth below the median and margins below the median on the other.
If you are looking for strength with more behind it than a hot tape, our Guidance Momentum screen surfaces the names where management raised its own outlook.
Streaks End. Discipline Compounds
A run like this is genuinely useful information: something about this business has the market’s full attention. But streaks are where discipline gets tested, because the urge to chase strength is strongest right before it pauses.
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio channels that urge into a system: roughly 30 businesses selected for consistent cash generation, strong margins, and resilient balance sheets, sized and rebalanced with rules rather than excitement. It has a track record of outpacing a benchmark that combines the S&P 500, the S&P MidCap 400, and the Russell 2000. Enjoy the streak; own the process.