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Leidos Holdings, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 7% year over year: Revenues were $4.56 billion, up 7%, including 4% organic growth. Management attributed growth to defense tech products, energy and air traffic management, and intelligence mission support. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 2%: After adjusting for acquisition, amortization and other items, non-GAAP net income decreased 1% to $413 million, and non-GAAP diluted EPS increased 2% to $3.26. Source
  • Health revenue fell on lower exams: Health revenue was $1.09 billion, down 8%. Operating margin was 23.4%, against 25.8%, and non-GAAP margin was 23.8%, against 26.3%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 13.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $631 million, down 2%, and the margin was 13.8%, against 15.2%. Management cited program execution and cost management in the current quarter. Source
  • Backlog reached $48.7 billion: Backlog was $48.7 billion, of which $10.2 billion was funded. Trailing-twelve-month book-to-bill of 1.1 gave year-over-year growth of 5% in total backlog and 44% in funded backlog. Source
  • Free cash flow of $761 million: Operating cash flow was $793 million, a 224% conversion ratio. Free cash flow was $761 million, a 185% conversion ratio, against $457 million a year earlier. Source
  • Analogic joint venture still pending: The joint venture with Analogic Corporation remained pending at quarter-end, combining Leidos security and industrial automation businesses with Analogic. Source

“The strength of our balanced portfolio allows us to enhance our 2026 guidance for revenues, earnings, and cash.”

Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues SourceFiscal year 2026$18.20 - $18.40 billionRaised from $18.00 - $18.40 billion
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFiscal year 2026Mid 13%Kept
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFiscal year 2026$12.20 - $12.50Raised from $12.10 - $12.50
Cash flows provided by operating activities SourceFiscal year 2026Approximately $1.85 billionRaised from Approximately $1.80

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Revenue guidance low end raised to $18.20 billion; high end $18.40 billion unchanged. Source
  • Guidance raised: Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance low end raised to $12.20; high end $12.50 unchanged. Source
  • Guidance raised: Operating cash flow guidance raised to approximately $1.85 billion from approximately $1.80 billion. Source
  • New: Balance sheet at July 3, 2026 shows $943 million of assets held for sale and $163 million of liabilities held for sale; no such line appeared at the prior quarter-end. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 7% year over year: Revenues were $4.56 billion, up 7%, including 4% organic growth. Management attributed growth to defense tech products, energy and air traffic management, and intelligence mission support. Source
  • Net income fell on deal and restructuring costs: Net income was $356 million, or $2.81 per diluted share, down 9% and 7%. The figures include $29 million of costs for the Entrust acquisition and the pending Analogic joint venture. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 2%: After adjusting for acquisition, amortization and other items, non-GAAP net income decreased 1% to $413 million, and non-GAAP diluted EPS increased 2% to $3.26. Source
  • Year-ago quarter had one-time gains: Management said the prior-year quarter benefited from one-time, non-operational gains, including a $25 million insurance reimbursement for legal costs. Source

Segments and regions

  • Intelligence & Digital grew 6%: Revenue rose to $1.50 billion, including $9 million from Kudu Dynamics. Operating margin was 9.5%, against 9.6%; non-GAAP operating margin was 10.1%, unchanged. Source
  • Health revenue fell on lower exams: Health revenue was $1.09 billion, down 8%. Operating margin was 23.4%, against 25.8%, and non-GAAP margin was 23.8%, against 26.3%. Source
  • Homeland revenue up 32% with Entrust: Homeland revenue was $1.02 billion, including $141 million from Entrust. Non-GAAP operating margin rose to 12.1%, from 9.3%, on security product mix and program performance. Source
  • Homeland margin rose on mix: Management attributed the Homeland margin increase to a better mix of security products, improved program performance and lower indirect expenses across the portfolio. Source
  • Defense revenue up 6%: Defense revenue was $955 million, led by demand for several defense tech product lines. Operating margin was 8.8%, against 8.7%; non-GAAP margin was 9.9%, against 10.0%. Source

“In addition to achieving milestones for revenue and cash, we booked $5 billion of contract awards.”

Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell

Margins and costs

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 13.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $631 million, down 2%, and the margin was 13.8%, against 15.2%. Management cited program execution and cost management in the current quarter. Source
  • Net income margin fell to 7.8%: Net income margin was 7.8%, against 9.2% a year earlier. The quarter included $29 million of acquisition, integration and restructuring costs in the reconciliation. Source
  • Restructuring markdowns hit cost of revenues: Asset markdowns tied to restructuring were recorded in cost of revenues. Acquisition, integration and restructuring costs were $27 million in the statement of operations. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Bookings of $4.9 billion: Net bookings were $4.9 billion, a book-to-bill ratio of 1.1. Management also cited $5 billion of contract awards booked in the quarter. Source
  • Backlog reached $48.7 billion: Backlog was $48.7 billion, of which $10.2 billion was funded. Trailing-twelve-month book-to-bill of 1.1 gave year-over-year growth of 5% in total backlog and 44% in funded backlog. Source
  • Named awards across defense and health: Named awards include a $475 million F-16 support follow-on, a $456 million GSA Military OneSource contract, and a $350 million Air Force electronic warfare modification. Source
  • Reservist health exams continue under modification: A potential 30-month, $325 million modification keeps reservist exams running while the Defense Health Agency finalizes its long-term RHRP transition strategy. Source

“We're seeing meaningful growth emerge across our Defense Tech, Energy Infrastructure, and Cyber growth pillars.”

Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Free cash flow of $761 million: Operating cash flow was $793 million, a 224% conversion ratio. Free cash flow was $761 million, a 185% conversion ratio, against $457 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt paydown and shareholder returns: Financing used $423 million, mainly $300 million of debt paydown. Returns to shareholders totaled $127 million, including $72 million of share repurchases and $55 million of dividends. Source
  • Cash and debt at quarter-end: At July 3, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $748 million and debt was $6.0 billion. Source

Strategy and investment

  • NorthStar 2030 re-alignment costs: Restructuring costs were tied to the NorthStar 2030 re-alignment, which management listed alongside the acquisition costs in the quarter's net income figures. Source
  • Analogic joint venture still pending: The joint venture with Analogic Corporation remained pending at quarter-end, combining Leidos security and industrial automation businesses with Analogic. Source
  • Held-for-sale assets added to balance sheet: Assets held for sale were $943 million and liabilities held for sale were $163 million at July 3, 2026. The prior-quarter balance sheet had no such line. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Analogic joint venture to form: The CBP Medium Energy Mobile award will align to the Analogic joint venture once it is formed. No formation date is given. Source
  • DHA transition strategy still being finalized: Management said the Defense Health Agency is still finalizing its long-term transition strategy for the RHRP program. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Health revenue and margin declined, which management attributed to lower medical disability exam volumes. Source
  • Operational: Restructuring activities led to asset markdowns recorded in cost of revenues during the three months ended July 3, 2026. Source

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.