Leidos Reports Strong Third Quarter 2024 Results and Raises Full-Year Guidance

• Revenues of $4.2 billion, up 7% year-over-year
• Net income of $362 million or $2.68 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of $596 million (14.2% margin)
• Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share of $2.93, up 44% year-over-year
• Cash Flows from Operations of $656 million; Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) of $633 million
• Net Bookings of $8.1 billion (book-to-bill ratio of 1.9 for the quarter and 1.1 for trailing twelve months)

RESTON, Va., Oct. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LDOS) today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024.

"Continued improvement in operating performance across all segments drove excellent revenue growth, record margins for net income and adjusted EBITDA, substantial earnings growth, strong cash flow, and robust bookings," said Leidos Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell. "These results demonstrate clearly how our collaborative and innovative workforce is focused on consistent execution for our customers and shareholders. With a healthy balance sheet, improving business development performance, and emerging 'North Star' strategy, Leidos is well positioned to deliver robust and sustainable returns as we move forward."

Summary Operating Results

Revenues for the quarter were $4.19 billion, up 7% compared to the third quarter of 2023. Revenues grew year-over-year due to increased demand across all customer segments, especially for managed health services.

With a net income margin of 8.6%, net income for the third quarter was $362 million, or $2.68 per diluted share.  Comparisons to the year ago period are not meaningful as the result of the $699 million pre-tax, non-cash impairment and restructuring charge primarily associated with the Security Enterprise Solutions (SES) reporting unit recorded in the third quarter of 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA was $596 million for the third quarter, up 32% year-over-year. Record adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.2% increased from 11.5% in the third quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net income was $396 million for the third quarter, up 40% year-over-year, and non-GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter was $2.93, up 44% year-over-year. The primary drivers of increased profitability were increased volumes on managed health services programs and improved program execution and cost control across the company.

Cash Flow Summary

In the third quarter, Leidos generated $656 million of net cash provided by operating activities and used $23 million and $257 million in investing and financing activities, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities was driven by strong EBITDA and collections performance. Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) for the quarter was 59.

Investing activities consisted primarily of $23 million in property, equipment and software payments, which resulted in quarterly free cash flow of $633 million. Leidos returned $254 million to shareholders in the third quarter, including $203 million in share repurchases and $51 million as part of its regular quarterly cash dividend program. As of September 27, 2024, Leidos had $1,185 million in cash and cash equivalents and $4.7 billion of debt.

On October 25, 2024, the Leidos Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share, which represents an increase of 5.3% over the prior quarter's dividend amount. The dividend will be payable on December 31, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 16, 2024.

Business Development

Net bookings totaled $8.1 billion in the quarter, representing a book-to-bill ratio of 1.9. As a result, backlog at the end of the quarter was $40.6 billion, of which $9.1 billion was funded. Included in the quarterly bookings were several notable awards:

• Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Medical Disability Examinations (MDE) Regions 1-4 Option Year. The VBA MDE Office awarded Leidos the next option year on the existing indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ), firm-fixed price contracts that were originally awarded in November 2018. Leidos QTC Health Services will continue to provide MDE to meet Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) requirements for separating and retired service members.
• Army Global Unified Network (AGUN). The Army Program Executive Office for Command, Control, and Communications-Tactical Global Enterprise Network Modernization (PEO C3T GENM-O) awarded Leidos a five-year, $331 million contract to modernize the U.S Army's network in alignment with the Army's Network Modernization Strategy and Army Unified Network Plan. Leidos will deploy AGUN to individual Army sites to deliver a standardized, orchestrated modern network architecture that supports the transition to a Zero Trust Architecture and aims to make applications, data, and enterprise services are accessible, trusted and interoperable across the globe.
• Advanced Battle Management System-Digital Infrastructure (ABMS-DI) Network. The Department of the Air Force's (DAF) Program Executive Officer Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (PEO C3BM) awarded Leidos a five-year, $303 million contract to oversee the planning, analysis, and operations for the DAF ABMS-DI network. This contract extends Leidos' collaborative role with the DAF to design, develop, and deploy modern Combined Joint-All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) capabilities for the Air Force and Space Force.
• Automated Installation Entry (AIE) Next Generation Support. The Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO IEW&S) awarded Leidos the AIE Next Generation contract to enhance security at 92 additional Army and select joint-service installation access control points located around the world. Under the six-year, $249 million contract, Leidos will continue to transform the Army's enterprise physical access control system to a fully extensible, cloud-based solution with advanced biometrics modalities.

Forward Guidance

Leidos is updating its fiscal year 2024 guidance as follows:

For information regarding adjusted EBITDA margin and non-GAAP diluted EPS, see the related explanations and reconciliations to GAAP measures included elsewhere in this release.

Leidos does not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking adjusted EBITDA margins or non-GAAP diluted EPS to net income due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation. Because certain deductions for non-GAAP exclusions used to calculate projected net income may vary significantly based on actual events, Leidos is not able to forecast on a GAAP basis with reasonable certainty all deductions needed in order to provide a GAAP calculation of projected net income at this time. The amounts of these deductions may be material and, therefore, could result in projected net income and diluted EPS being materially less than what may be implied by projected adjusted EBITDA margins and non-GAAP diluted EPS.

Conference Call Information

Leidos management will discuss operations and financial results in an earnings conference call beginning at 8 A.M. eastern time on October 29, 2024. A live audio broadcast of the conference call along with a supplemental presentation will be available to the public through links on the Leidos Investor Relations website (http://ir.leidos.com). An archived version of the webcast will be available on the Leidos Investor Relations website until October 29, 2025.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500^® innovation company rapidly addressing the world's most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release contain or are based on "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "guidance" and similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements in this release include, among others, estimates of our future growth, strategy and financial and operating performance, including future revenues, adjusted EBITDA margins, diluted EPS (including on a non-GAAP basis) and cash flows provided by operating activities, as well as statements about our business contingency plans, government budgets and the ongoing Continuing Resolution, uncertainties in tax due to new tax legislation or other regulatory developments, strategy, planned investments, sustainability goals and our future dividends, share repurchases, capital expenditures, debt repayments, acquisitions, dispositions and cash flow conversion. These statements reflect our belief and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate.

Actual performance and results may differ materially from those results anticipated by our guidance and other forward-looking statements made in this release depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: developments in the U.S. government defense and non-defense budgets, including budget reductions, sequestration, implementation of spending limits or changes in budgetary priorities, delays in the U.S. government budget process or a government shutdown, or the U.S. government's failure to raise the debt ceiling, which increases the possibility of a default by the U.S. government on its debt obligations, related credit-rating downgrades, or an economic recession; uncertainties in tax due to new tax legislation or other regulatory developments; inflationary pressures and fluctuations in interest rates; delays in the U.S. government contract procurement process or the award of contracts and delays or loss of contracts as a result of competitor protests; changes in U.S. government procurement rules, regulations and practices; our compliance with various U.S. government and other government procurement rules and regulations; governmental reviews, audits and investigations of our company; our ability to effectively compete and win contracts with the U.S. government and other customers; our ability to respond rapidly to emerging technology trends, including the use of artificial intelligence; our reliance on information technology spending by hospitals/healthcare organizations; our reliance on infrastructure investments by industrial and natural resources organizations; energy efficiency and alternative energy sourcing investments; investments by U.S. government and commercial organizations in environmental impact and remediation projects; the effects of health epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks may have on our business, financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows; our ability to attract, train and retain skilled employees, including our management team, and to obtain security clearances for our employees; our ability to accurately estimate costs, including cost increases due to inflation, associated with our firm-fixed-price contracts and other contracts; resolution of legal and other disputes with our customers and others or legal or regulatory compliance issues; cybersecurity, data security or other security threats, system failures or other disruptions of our business; our compliance with international, federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding privacy, data security, protection, storage, retention, transfer and disposal, technology protection and personal information; the damage and disruption to our business resulting from natural disasters and the effects of climate change; our ability to effectively acquire businesses and make investments; our ability to maintain relationships with prime contractors, subcontractors and joint venture partners; our ability to manage performance and other risks related to customer contracts; the failure of our inspection or detection systems to detect threats; the adequacy of our insurance programs, customer indemnifications or other liability protections designed to protect us from significant product or other liability claims, including cybersecurity attacks; our ability to manage risks associated with our international business; our ability to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010 and similar worldwide anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws and regulations; our ability to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights by third parties of infringement, misappropriation or other violations by us of their intellectual property rights; our ability to prevail in litigation brought by third parties of infringement, misappropriation or other violations by us of their intellectual property rights; our ability to declare or increase future dividends based on our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors, including compliance with applicable law and our agreements; our ability to grow our commercial health and infrastructure businesses, which could be negatively affected by budgetary constraints faced by hospitals and by developers of energy and infrastructure projects; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; and our ability to execute our business plan and long-term management initiatives effectively and to overcome these and other known and unknown risks that we face.

These are only some of the factors that may affect the forward-looking statements contained in this release. For further information concerning risks and uncertainties associated with our business, please refer to the filings we make from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Legal Proceedings" sections of our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, all of which may be viewed or obtained through the Investor Relations section of our website at www.leidos.com.

All information in this release is as of October 29, 2024. Leidos expressly disclaims any duty to update the guidance or any other forward-looking statement provided in this release to reflect subsequent events, actual results or changes in Leidos' expectations. Leidos also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by investment analysts or others.

National Security & Digital

National Security & Digital revenues of $1.87 billion increased by 1% compared to the prior year quarter. Revenue grew across several enterprise Information Technology (IT) programs, which offset reductions on certain Intelligence Community contracts. For the quarter, operating income margin increased to 10.0% from 9.2% in the prior year quarter, and non-GAAP operating income margin increased to 10.5% from 9.8% in the prior year quarter. The increase in segment profitability was primarily attributable to volume and efficiencies on certain fixed price programs.

Health & Civil

Health & Civil revenues of $1.23 billion increased by 16% compared to the prior year quarter. Health & Civil operating income margin for the quarter was 23.4%, compared to 15.6% in the prior year quarter, and non-GAAP operating income margin was 24.2%, compared to 16.5% in the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues and segment profitability was driven by increased volumes and case complexity within the managed health services business as well as net write-ups on certain programs.

Commercial & International

Commercial & International revenues of $578 million increased by 5% compared to the prior year quarter driven by increased deliveries of security products and commercial energy engineering services. Operating income margin for the quarter was 7.1%, compared to (117.0)% in the prior year quarter, which included non-cash impairment and restructuring charges of $679 million related to the SES reporting unit. Non-GAAP operating margin was 8.8%, compared to 9.2% in the prior year quarter.

Defense Systems

Defense Systems revenues of $522 million increased by 13% compared to the prior year quarter. Defense Systems operating income margin for the quarter was 7.1%, compared to 0.6% in the prior year quarter, and non-GAAP operating margin was 10.2%, compared to 7.4% in the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues and segment profitability was primarily driven by increased scope and improved program execution on fixed price development programs.

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED BACKLOG BY REPORTABLE SEGMENT
(in millions)

Backlog represents the estimated amount of future revenues to be recognized under negotiated contracts. Backlog value is based on management's estimates about volume of services, availability of customer funding and other factors, and excludes contracts that are under protest. Estimated backlog comprises both funded and negotiated unfunded backlog. Backlog estimates are subject to change and may be affected by several factors, including modifications of contracts, non-exercise of options and foreign currency movements.

Funded backlog for contracts with the U.S. government represents the value on contracts for which funding is appropriated less revenues previously recognized on these contracts. Funded backlog for contracts with non-U.S. government entities and commercial customers represents the estimated value on contracts, which may cover multiple future years, under which Leidos is obligated to perform, less revenue previously recognized on the contracts.

Negotiated unfunded backlog represents estimated amounts of revenue to be earned in the future from contracts for which funding has not been appropriated and unexercised priced contract options. Negotiated unfunded backlog does not include unexercised option periods and future potential task orders expected to be awarded under IDIQ, General Services Administration Schedule or other master agreement contract vehicles, with the exception of certain IDIQ contracts where task orders are not competitively awarded or separately priced but instead are used as a funding mechanism, and where there is a basis for estimating future revenues and funding on future anticipated task orders.

The estimated value of backlog as of the dates presented was as follows:

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Leidos uses and refers to organic revenue, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, non-GAAP diluted EPS, non-GAAP free cash flow and non-GAAP free cash flow conversion, which are not measures of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. and, accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures and should be read in conjunction with Leidos's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide another representation of the results of operations and financial condition, including its ability to comply with financial covenants. These non-GAAP measures are frequently used by financial analysts covering Leidos and its peers. The computation of non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, thus limiting their use for comparability.

Organic revenues capture the revenue that is inherent in the underlying business excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestitures made within the prior year; it is computed as current revenues excluding revenues from acquisitions within the last 12 months and divestitures within the current and year-ago periods.

Non-GAAP operating income is computed by excluding the following discrete items from operating income:

• Acquisition, integration and restructuring costs – Represents acquisition, integration, lease termination, severance and retention costs and asset markdowns related to acquisitions and restructuring activities.
• Amortization of acquired intangible assets – Represents the amortization of the fair value of the acquired intangible assets.
• Gain on sale of intangible assets – Represents the gain on sale of intellectual property not used in operations.
• Asset impairment charges – Represents impairments of long-lived intangible assets, right-of-use assets, and other assets related to our facility rationalization effort.
• Goodwill impairment charges – Represents impairments of goodwill due to changes in actual performance against performance projected when the goodwill was acquired.

Non-GAAP operating margin is computed by dividing non-GAAP operating income by revenues.

Adjusted EBITDA is computed by excluding the following items from income before income taxes: (i) discrete items as identified above; (ii) interest expense; (iii) interest income; (iv) depreciation expense; and (v) amortization of internally developed intangible assets.

Adjusted EBITDA margin is computed by dividing adjusted EBITDA by revenues.

Non-GAAP net income is computed by excluding the discrete items listed under non-GAAP operating income and their related tax impacts.

Non-GAAP diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income attributable to Leidos common stockholders, adjusted for the discrete items as identified above and the related tax impacts, by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

Non-GAAP free cash flow is computed by deducting expenditures for property, equipment and software from net cash provided by (used in) operating activities.

Non-GAAP free cash flow conversion is computed by dividing non-GAAP free cash flow by non-GAAP net income attributable to Leidos common stockholders; operating cash flow conversion is computed by dividing net cash provided by (used in) operating activities by net income attributable to Leidos shareholders.

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES [CONTINUED]
(in millions, except growth percentages)

The following table presents the reconciliation of revenues to organic revenues by reportable segment and total operations:

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES [CONTINUED]
(in millions, except per share data and margin percentages)

The following tables present the reconciliation of non-GAAP operating income, net income, diluted EPS, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the three months ended September 27, 2024: 

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES [CONTINUED]
(in millions, except per share data and margin percentages)

The following tables present the reconciliation of non-GAAP operating income, net income, diluted EPS, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the three months ended September 29, 2023: 

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES [CONTINUED]
(in millions, except per share data and margin percentages)

The following tables present the reconciliation of non-GAAP operating income, net income, diluted EPS, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the nine months ended September 27, 2024:

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES [CONTINUED]
(in millions, except per share data and margin percentages)

The following tables present the reconciliation of non-GAAP operating income, net income, diluted EPS, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the nine months ended September 29, 2023:

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES [CONTINUED]
(in millions, except margin percentages)

The following tables present the reconciliation of non-GAAP operating income by reportable segment and Corporate to operating income:

LEIDOS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES [CONTINUED]
(in millions, except percentages)

The following table presents the reconciliation of non-GAAP free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities as well as the calculation of operating cash flow and non-GAAP free cash flow conversion ratios:

SOURCE Leidos