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Leidos Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 7% on demand: Revenues were $4,469 million, up 7% from $4,190 million, or 6% organically; management cited increased demand for national security and defense work. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 4%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $3.05, up 4% from $2.93; non-GAAP net income was $399 million, up 1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell: Adjusted EBITDA was $616 million, up 3%; margin was 13.8% against 14.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Health & Civil margin rose to 25.2%: Revenue of $1,301 million rose 6%; operating margin was 25.2% against 23.4%, and non-GAAP margin was 25.7% against 24.2%. Source
  • Defense Systems margin fell: Defense Systems operating margin was 6.4% against 7.1%, and non-GAAP margin 8.9% against 10.2%; the company attributed the change to material mix in early production. Source
  • Bookings of $5.9 billion: Net bookings were $5.9 billion with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.3, against 0.9 in the prior quarter. Source
  • Backlog reached $47.7 billion: Backlog ended at $47.7 billion, of which $9.1 billion was funded; total backlog rose 5% year-over-year and funded backlog rose 27% sequentially. Source
  • Free cash flow was $680 million: Non-GAAP free cash flow was $680 million after $31 million of property, equipment and software payments; free cash flow conversion was 171%. Source

“Leidos continues to deliver exceptional results through the strength of our portfolio of mission-critical work as well as the innovation, agility, and discipline of our talented workforce,”

Leidos Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues SourceFY25$17.00 - $17.25 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFY25High 13%Raised from Mid 13%
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFY25$11.45 - $11.75Raised from $11.15 - $11.45
Cash flows provided by operating activities SourceFY25Approximately $1.65 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY25 adjusted EBITDA margin guidance raised from mid 13% to high 13%. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY25 non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance raised to $11.45 to $11.75, from $11.15 to $11.45. Source
  • Guidance kept: FY25 revenue guidance kept at $17.00 to $17.25 billion. Source
  • Guidance kept: FY25 operating cash flow guidance kept at approximately $1.65 billion. Source

Quarter results and profitability

  • Revenue rose 7% on demand: Revenues were $4,469 million, up 7% from $4,190 million, or 6% organically; management cited increased demand for national security and defense work. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income was $369 million, or $2.82 per diluted share, up 2% and 5% year-over-year respectively. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 4%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $3.05, up 4% from $2.93; non-GAAP net income was $399 million, up 1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell: Adjusted EBITDA was $616 million, up 3%; margin was 13.8% against 14.2% a year earlier. Source

Segment results and growth drivers

  • National Security & Digital grew 8%: Revenue of $2,015 million rose 8%, driven by recent awards, higher Defense IT and Intelligence Community volumes and $26 million from Kudu Dynamics; margin was 9.5% against 10.0%. Source
  • Health & Civil margin rose to 25.2%: Revenue of $1,301 million rose 6%; operating margin was 25.2% against 23.4%, and non-GAAP margin was 25.7% against 24.2%. Source
  • Commercial & International revenue dipped 1%: Revenue of $571 million fell 1% on product mix in security products, partly offset by energy infrastructure engineering; operating margin was 6.7% against 7.1%. Source
  • Defense Systems revenue rose 11%: Revenue of $582 million rose 11% on higher volumes in integrated air defense, including Indirect Fires Protection Capability Increment 2 and radar surveillance systems. Source

“Despite the government shutdown, we are raising our 2025 earnings and margin guidance and holding firm on our 2025 revenue and cash guidance.”

Leidos Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell

Margins and cost lines

  • Defense Systems margin fell: Defense Systems operating margin was 6.4% against 7.1%, and non-GAAP margin 8.9% against 10.2%; the company attributed the change to material mix in early production. Source
  • Cost of revenues and SG&A rose: Cost of revenues was $3,648 million against $3,428 million, and SG&A was $286 million against $247 million. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Income tax expense was $115 million against $108 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Net income margin fell: Net income margin was 8.3% against 8.6% in the prior-year quarter. Source

Contract awards and backlog

  • Bookings of $5.9 billion: Net bookings were $5.9 billion with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.3, against 0.9 in the prior quarter. Source
  • Backlog reached $47.7 billion: Backlog ended at $47.7 billion, of which $9.1 billion was funded; total backlog rose 5% year-over-year and funded backlog rose 27% sequentially. Source
  • $2.2 billion intelligence award: A $2.2 billion, seven-year intelligence community award was described as a take-away award. Source
  • Other awards spanned civil and defense: Other awards included a $760 million NASA IDIQ subcontract, a $540 million counter terrorism software contract and a $370 million one-year DHMSM contract. Source
  • Kazakhstan air traffic modernization: Leidos will modernize Kazakhstan's air traffic control system, building on more than 20 years of support, under a 19-year agreement. Source

“Moreover, we are optimistic about our future given our alignment with the priorities of the administration and confidence that our customers will move out aggressively in search of smarter and more efficient outcomes for the nation.”

Leidos Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow reached $711 million: Operating cash flow was $711 million against $647 million a year earlier; investing used $36 million and financing used $595 million. Source
  • Free cash flow was $680 million: Non-GAAP free cash flow was $680 million after $31 million of property, equipment and software payments; free cash flow conversion was 171%. Source
  • Cash and debt at quarter end: Cash was $974 million and debt $4.7 billion; $450 million of term loan principal was repaid during the quarter. Source

Returns to shareholders

  • $153 million returned to shareholders: Returns totalled $153 million: $102 million in share repurchases and $51 million in the regular quarterly dividend. Source
  • Dividend raised 7.5% to $0.43: The Board declared $0.43 per share on October 31, 2025, up 7.5% from the prior quarter's $0.40. Source

Government context and confidence

  • Earnings guidance raised despite shutdown: Management raised FY25 earnings and margin guidance while the government shutdown was ongoing, and kept revenue and cash guidance. Source
  • Optimism on administration alignment: Management said its alignment with administration priorities makes it optimistic about the future. Source
  • Customer confidence in smarter outcomes: Management expressed confidence that customers will move out aggressively in search of smarter and more efficient outcomes for the nation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2025

  • Dividend payable December 31: The $0.43 dividend is payable December 31, 2025, to holders of record at the close of business December 15, 2025. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management named the government shutdown as a condition during the quarter, alongside its guidance update. Source
  • Regulatory: Legal reserves increased $24 million in the quarter; management cited cost management and award and incentive fee performance alongside the increase. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: In the prior quarter, management stated it was delivering on its financial commitments and deploying capital to grow shareholder value.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.