← Copart overview

Copart vs Leidos: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Copart Inc (CPRT)

Q3 2026
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Copart buys ACV, founder returns, but weak results and probes weigh

  • Copart's $1.9B cash purchase of ACV Auctions Copart agreed to buy ACV Auctions for $1.9 billion in cash, adding 800,000 yearly dealer vehicle sales and reducing reliance on its shrinking U.S. insurance business, where volume fell 8% in fiscal 2026. The deal should add to profit by fiscal 2028.

    The largest strategic move of the quarter, reshaping Copart's business mix and growth outlook.

  • Founder Jay Adair returns as sole CEO Founder Jay Adair came back as sole CEO with backing from SVN Capital, while Copart holds $4.2 billion in cash and no debt. Leadership stability and a strong balance sheet support the ACV deal and future investment.

    A major leadership change that restores founder-led direction and reassures investors about execution.

  • Weak Q4 profit and soft full-year growth Fourth-quarter profit fell 17.4%, earnings per share missed expectations, margins shrank, and full-year revenue grew just 0.4%. The weak results highlight pressure on Copart's core insurance auction business.

    Directly shows deteriorating financial performance that weighs on the stock.

  • CEO exit triggers probes and analyst downgrade CEO Jeff Liaw's exit led to securities fraud investigations, a director sold 80,000 shares, and Barclays cut its price target to $25, citing declining insurance volumes. These events raise governance and demand concerns.

    Adds legal and reputational risk while analyst caution reflects underlying business challenges.

August 2026
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Copart's CEO Exit, Weak Q4, and $1.9B ACV Deal Drive the Story

  • CEO exit triggers securities fraud investigations Jeff Liaw's June 29 exit as CEO sent the stock down 8%, and law firms Pomerantz and Bragar Eagel & Squire are now investigating possible securities fraud. Legal uncertainty and leadership upheaval weigh on the stock.

    New investigations tied to the CEO departure are a fresh negative overhang on CPRT.

  • Director sells 80,000 shares Director Daniel Englander sold 80,000 shares for $2.2 million, cutting his holdings by 14%. Insider selling can signal executives see limited upside, and it adds to negative sentiment.

    A fresh insider sale is a new negative signal for investors.

  • Founder Jay Adair returns as sole CEO SVN Capital backs Jay Adair, a founding member, returning as sole CEO for at least a decade. He says lost insurance volume was one account, not a broken franchise. Copart has $4.2B cash and no debt.

    New leadership confidence and a strong balance sheet are a positive counterweight to the CEO exit.

  • $1.9B ACV deal adds dealer volume as insurance shrinks Copart will pay about $1.9B cash for ACV, adding 800,000 dealer vehicle sales a year. U.S. insurance volume fell 8% in fiscal 2026, so this diversifies away from a shrinking core. Breakeven at first, accretive by fiscal 2028.

    The ACV acquisition is the biggest strategic move this period, reshaping Copart's growth path.

Latest
▼2▲1

Copart's CEO Exit, Weak Q4, and $1.9B ACV Deal Drive the Story

  • CEO exit triggers securities fraud investigations Jeff Liaw's June 29 exit as CEO sent the stock down 8%, and law firms Pomerantz and Bragar Eagel & Squire are now investigating possible securities fraud. Legal uncertainty and leadership upheaval weigh on the stock.

    New investigations tied to the CEO departure are a fresh negative overhang on CPRT.

  • Director sells 80,000 shares Director Daniel Englander sold 80,000 shares for $2.2 million, cutting his holdings by 14%. Insider selling can signal executives see limited upside, and it adds to negative sentiment.

    A fresh insider sale is a new negative signal for investors.

  • Founder Jay Adair returns as sole CEO SVN Capital backs Jay Adair, a founding member, returning as sole CEO for at least a decade. He says lost insurance volume was one account, not a broken franchise. Copart has $4.2B cash and no debt.

    New leadership confidence and a strong balance sheet are a positive counterweight to the CEO exit.

  • $1.9B ACV deal adds dealer volume as insurance shrinks Copart will pay about $1.9B cash for ACV, adding 800,000 dealer vehicle sales a year. U.S. insurance volume fell 8% in fiscal 2026, so this diversifies away from a shrinking core. Breakeven at first, accretive by fiscal 2028.

    The ACV acquisition is the biggest strategic move this period, reshaping Copart's growth path.

September 2026
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Copart's $1.9B ACV Deal and Weak Q4 Profits Shape the Story

  • Copart to buy ACV Auctions for $1.9B Copart agreed to acquire digital auction platform ACV for $1.9 billion in cash, a 45% premium. The deal adds ACV's 800k annual vehicle sales and $10B merchandise value, expanding Copart's dealer auction reach. Funded from cash, it's expected to be accretive by fiscal 2028. Shares rose 7% on the news.

    This is the biggest new event, directly explaining the stock's recent jump and future growth path.

  • Q4 profit falls 17.4% as margins shrink Copart's fiscal Q4 net income dropped 17.4% to $327.4 million, and earnings per share fell to $0.35 from $0.41. Gross profit declined 5.5%. Full-year revenue barely grew, up 0.4%. The weak profit shows the core business is under pressure, which weighs on the stock.

    This is the key counterweight: despite the deal excitement, underlying profits are shrinking.

  • Q2 revenue beat but EPS missed; stock jumped 9.5% Copart's Q2 revenue of $1.15 billion beat estimates, but GAAP EPS of $0.35 missed the $0.38 consensus. Operating margin fell to 32% from 36.7%, and free cash flow margin dropped to 24.2%. Despite the miss, the stock jumped 9.5%, likely on the revenue beat and deal news.

    This earnings report shows the mixed fundamental picture that investors are weighing alongside the acquisition.

  • Copart in talks to buy CCC Intelligent Solutions Copart is reportedly in talks to acquire CCC, a digital claims platform, competing with private equity firms. The deal would combine Copart's salvage auctions with CCC's software. But Barclays cut its price target to $25 with an Underweight rating, citing potential volume declines from insurance contract changes.

    This potential acquisition adds another strategic move, but the analyst downgrade highlights risks.

▲1▼1

Copart's $1.9B ACV Deal and Weak Q4 Profits Shape the Story

  • Copart to buy ACV Auctions for $1.9B Copart agreed to acquire digital auction platform ACV for $1.9 billion in cash, a 45% premium. The deal adds ACV's 800k annual vehicle sales and $10B merchandise value, expanding Copart's dealer auction reach. Funded from cash, it's expected to be accretive by fiscal 2028. Shares rose 7% on the news.

    This is the biggest new event, directly explaining the stock's recent jump and future growth path.

  • Q4 profit falls 17.4% as margins shrink Copart's fiscal Q4 net income dropped 17.4% to $327.4 million, and earnings per share fell to $0.35 from $0.41. Gross profit declined 5.5%. Full-year revenue barely grew, up 0.4%. The weak profit shows the core business is under pressure, which weighs on the stock.

    This is the key counterweight: despite the deal excitement, underlying profits are shrinking.

  • Q2 revenue beat but EPS missed; stock jumped 9.5% Copart's Q2 revenue of $1.15 billion beat estimates, but GAAP EPS of $0.35 missed the $0.38 consensus. Operating margin fell to 32% from 36.7%, and free cash flow margin dropped to 24.2%. Despite the miss, the stock jumped 9.5%, likely on the revenue beat and deal news.

    This earnings report shows the mixed fundamental picture that investors are weighing alongside the acquisition.

  • Copart in talks to buy CCC Intelligent Solutions Copart is reportedly in talks to acquire CCC, a digital claims platform, competing with private equity firms. The deal would combine Copart's salvage auctions with CCC's software. But Barclays cut its price target to $25 with an Underweight rating, citing potential volume declines from insurance contract changes.

    This potential acquisition adds another strategic move, but the analyst downgrade highlights risks.

Leidos Holdings Inc (LDOS)

Q3 2026
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Leidos expands AI and defense footprint, but profit falls and analyst downgrades

  • AI and defense partnerships Leidos formed a mainframe modernization partnership with Mechanical Orchard, a UK defence logistics alliance with DHL, and a CoreWeave partnership for classified AI cloud services, expanding its technology and defense footprint.

    These new partnerships show Leidos broadening its AI and defense capabilities, a key growth driver.

  • Major contract wins Leidos won missile-defense sensor work for 18 satellites, a $301M Army cyber award, an $875M Navy network deal, and a $127M Army ARTEMIS extension, adding significant new revenue opportunities.

    These large contract awards directly support future revenue growth and investor confidence.

  • Cybersecurity and AI product launches Leidos launched AI cybersecurity platform Parcata and demonstrated successful cyber detection at Valiant Shield, showcasing innovation in high-demand security areas.

    New product launches and successful demos highlight Leidos' competitive edge in cybersecurity and AI.

  • Profit decline and analyst downgrade Q2 profit fell to $354M from $391M despite 7.2% revenue growth, and J.P. Morgan downgraded the stock to Neutral with a $142 target, citing weak healthcare margins and lower earnings expectations.

    This negative news weighed on sentiment and the stock price, providing a counterweight to positive developments.

August 2026
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Leidos wins major defense contracts but profit falls and analyst downgrades

  • Major defense contract wins Leidos won several large defense contracts: missile-defense sensor work for 18 satellites, a $301M Army cyber contract, an $875M Navy network award, and a $127M Army ARTEMIS extension. These wins support future revenue growth.

    These new contracts are a key positive driver for the stock, showing strong demand for Leidos' defense services.

  • AI cybersecurity tool launch Leidos launched an AI cybersecurity tool for federal agencies, expanding its product offerings in the growing AI security market. This could open new revenue streams and strengthen its competitive position.

    This new product launch is a positive development that could drive future growth and is new information for this period.

  • Q2 profit decline despite revenue growth Leidos reported Q2 profit of $354M, down from $391M a year earlier, even though revenue grew 7.2%. This profit drop raises concerns about the company's ability to turn revenue growth into earnings.

    The decline in profit is a negative factor that weighs on investor sentiment and the stock price.

  • J.P. Morgan downgrade on margin weakness J.P. Morgan downgraded Leidos to Neutral with a $142 price target, citing weak healthcare margins and lower earnings expectations. This analyst caution adds pressure on the stock.

    The downgrade reflects concerns about profitability and can negatively impact the stock price.

Latest
▲2▼1

Leidos wins new contracts but faces healthcare margin downgrade

  • New Army ARTEMIS contract adds revenue visibility Leidos won a $127 million Army contract to extend ARTEMIS airborne intelligence operations through 2027. This concrete order supports future revenue and shows continued demand for Leidos's defense services, which helps the stock.

    This is a new contract award that directly boosts Leidos's backlog and revenue outlook.

  • New AI cyber tool for federal agencies Leidos launched UpHold Effect Agentic SOC Automation, an AI tool that helps federal cyber teams handle alerts. This new product could open a new growth area in cybersecurity for government, a plus for future revenue.

    This is a new product launch that could drive future revenue growth in a high-demand area.

  • Security screening joint venture completed Leidos completed the combination of its security screening businesses with Analogic, forming a new private company. Leidos keeps a minority stake and sharpens focus on its growth strategy, but the net financial impact is unclear.

    This is a major corporate event that changes Leidos's business mix and could affect future earnings.

  • J.P. Morgan downgrade on healthcare weakness J.P. Morgan downgraded Leidos to Neutral and cut its price target to $142, citing falling earnings expectations and weak healthcare margins. This negative analyst view can pressure the stock as investors adjust expectations.

    This is a new analyst downgrade that directly impacts investor sentiment and the stock's perceived value.

▲3▼1

Leidos racks up defense and Navy contract wins as profit slips

  • Missile-defense sensor work expands Leidos was picked to supply infrared sensors for 18 missile-tracking satellites, building on earlier payloads already in orbit. More satellite payload work means more revenue from a fast-growing defense area, which supports the stock.

    New contract win that adds demand and shows Leidos' role in missile defense.

  • AI cloud partnership for classified work Leidos and CoreWeave teamed up to build secure AI cloud services for U.S. intelligence and defense agencies, handling classified workloads. This opens a new growth area in AI for government, a plus for future revenue.

    New partnership that points to a new source of demand.

  • Q2 profit falls despite higher sales Second-quarter profit dropped to $354 million from $391 million a year earlier, even as revenue rose 7.2% to $4.56 billion. Lower profit weighs on the stock, though the company still guided to full-year revenue of $18.2-18.4 billion.

    New earnings result showing a real counterweight to the contract wins.

  • Army cyber and Navy network awards add backlog Leidos won a $301 million Army cyber-defense contract and an $875 million Navy network option year, keeping over 650,000 personnel connected. These awards extend key relationships and add revenue visibility, supporting the stock.

    New contract wins that directly add backlog and demand.

July 2026
▲5

Leidos expands federal AI and defense logistics with new partnerships

  • Mainframe modernization partnership Leidos partnered with Mechanical Orchard to bring its Imogen platform to federal agencies, helping modernize aging mainframe systems. This expands Leidos' service offerings and could lead to new contracts, supporting revenue growth and a higher stock price.

    New partnership expands Leidos' federal IT modernization business, a potential growth driver.

  • UK defence logistics alliance with DHL Leidos and DHL formed an alliance to pursue the UK MoD's Future Defence Support Services contract. If won, this major logistics deal would add significant long-term revenue and strengthen Leidos' international defense footprint, pushing the stock up.

    New alliance targets a large UK defense contract, a clear potential catalyst for future revenue.

  • Tactical cyber detection demo Leidos successfully demonstrated its CRS cyber detection system during the Valiant Shield military exercise. This showcases a new capability for military cyber resilience, which could attract future defense contracts and enhance Leidos' reputation in cyber warfare.

    New technology demonstration validates Leidos' cyber offerings, potentially leading to new business.

  • AI cybersecurity platform Parcata launched Leidos launched Parcata, an AI-driven platform that autonomously detects and patches cyber vulnerabilities in real time. This new product under the NorthStar 2030 strategy could open new revenue streams and position Leidos as a leader in AI cybersecurity.

    New product launch signals innovation and potential future revenue growth.

  • CoreWeave partnership for classified AI Leidos partnered with CoreWeave to deliver secure AI cloud services for U.S. intelligence and defense agencies. Leidos will lead mission integration and security, expanding its federal contracting opportunities in AI. The work is subject to future agreements and federal funding.

    New partnership opens access to high-growth classified AI work, a potential long-term revenue driver.

▲5

Leidos expands federal AI and defense logistics with new partnerships

  • Mainframe modernization partnership Leidos partnered with Mechanical Orchard to bring its Imogen platform to federal agencies, helping modernize aging mainframe systems. This expands Leidos' service offerings and could lead to new contracts, supporting revenue growth and a higher stock price.

    New partnership expands Leidos' federal IT modernization business, a potential growth driver.

  • UK defence logistics alliance with DHL Leidos and DHL formed an alliance to pursue the UK MoD's Future Defence Support Services contract. If won, this major logistics deal would add significant long-term revenue and strengthen Leidos' international defense footprint, pushing the stock up.

    New alliance targets a large UK defense contract, a clear potential catalyst for future revenue.

  • Tactical cyber detection demo Leidos successfully demonstrated its CRS cyber detection system during the Valiant Shield military exercise. This showcases a new capability for military cyber resilience, which could attract future defense contracts and enhance Leidos' reputation in cyber warfare.

    New technology demonstration validates Leidos' cyber offerings, potentially leading to new business.

  • AI cybersecurity platform Parcata launched Leidos launched Parcata, an AI-driven platform that autonomously detects and patches cyber vulnerabilities in real time. This new product under the NorthStar 2030 strategy could open new revenue streams and position Leidos as a leader in AI cybersecurity.

    New product launch signals innovation and potential future revenue growth.

  • CoreWeave partnership for classified AI Leidos partnered with CoreWeave to deliver secure AI cloud services for U.S. intelligence and defense agencies. Leidos will lead mission integration and security, expanding its federal contracting opportunities in AI. The work is subject to future agreements and federal funding.

    New partnership opens access to high-growth classified AI work, a potential long-term revenue driver.

Q2 2026
▲3▼1

Leidos loses key health contract, wins new defense and space work

  • Defense Health Agency plans to replace Leidos on MHS GENESIS The Defense Health Agency intends to replace Leidos as lead integrator on the MHS GENESIS military health records program. This threatens a major, multi-year revenue stream and has triggered analyst downgrades, weighing on the stock as investors reassess future margins and growth.

    This is the biggest new negative catalyst, directly hitting Leidos' revenue and profit outlook.

  • Leidos wins four State Department Evolve awards Leidos secured four awards under the State Department's $10 billion Evolve contract to modernize IT systems for diplomats worldwide. This adds a new, large, multi-year revenue opportunity, helping offset the loss of the health records work and supporting future growth.

    This is a fresh, sizable contract win that provides a positive counterweight to the negative health program news.

  • Leidos deploys Joint Management Tool with DISA and Space Command Leidos deployed a cloud-based Joint Management Tool with DISA and U.S. Space Command, giving combatant commands real-time satellite communications visibility. This showcases Leidos' software and defense modernization capabilities, reinforcing its relevance in high-growth military communications work.

    It demonstrates Leidos' strength in software-heavy defense work, a key positive driver for future demand.

  • Leidos advances DARPA regenerative fuel cell prototype Leidos demonstrated a working regenerative fuel cell under DARPA's ExCURSion program, cycling up to 1,000 times. This positions Leidos in cutting-edge energy storage technology for the military, potentially opening new long-term revenue streams and enhancing its reputation for innovation.

    It highlights Leidos' R&D strength and potential for future contracts in a novel technology area.

June 2026
▲3▼1

Leidos loses key health contract, wins new defense and space work

  • Defense Health Agency plans to replace Leidos on MHS GENESIS The Defense Health Agency intends to replace Leidos as lead integrator on the MHS GENESIS military health records program. This threatens a major, multi-year revenue stream and has triggered analyst downgrades, weighing on the stock as investors reassess future margins and growth.

    This is the biggest new negative catalyst, directly hitting Leidos' revenue and profit outlook.

  • Leidos wins four State Department Evolve awards Leidos secured four awards under the State Department's $10 billion Evolve contract to modernize IT systems for diplomats worldwide. This adds a new, large, multi-year revenue opportunity, helping offset the loss of the health records work and supporting future growth.

    This is a fresh, sizable contract win that provides a positive counterweight to the negative health program news.

  • Leidos deploys Joint Management Tool with DISA and Space Command Leidos deployed a cloud-based Joint Management Tool with DISA and U.S. Space Command, giving combatant commands real-time satellite communications visibility. This showcases Leidos' software and defense modernization capabilities, reinforcing its relevance in high-growth military communications work.

    It demonstrates Leidos' strength in software-heavy defense work, a key positive driver for future demand.

  • Leidos advances DARPA regenerative fuel cell prototype Leidos demonstrated a working regenerative fuel cell under DARPA's ExCURSion program, cycling up to 1,000 times. This positions Leidos in cutting-edge energy storage technology for the military, potentially opening new long-term revenue streams and enhancing its reputation for innovation.

    It highlights Leidos' R&D strength and potential for future contracts in a novel technology area.

▲3▼1

Leidos loses key health contract, wins new defense and space work

  • Defense Health Agency plans to replace Leidos on MHS GENESIS The Defense Health Agency intends to replace Leidos as lead integrator on the MHS GENESIS military health records program. This threatens a major, multi-year revenue stream and has triggered analyst downgrades, weighing on the stock as investors reassess future margins and growth.

    This is the biggest new negative catalyst, directly hitting Leidos' revenue and profit outlook.

  • Leidos wins four State Department Evolve awards Leidos secured four awards under the State Department's $10 billion Evolve contract to modernize IT systems for diplomats worldwide. This adds a new, large, multi-year revenue opportunity, helping offset the loss of the health records work and supporting future growth.

    This is a fresh, sizable contract win that provides a positive counterweight to the negative health program news.

  • Leidos deploys Joint Management Tool with DISA and Space Command Leidos deployed a cloud-based Joint Management Tool with DISA and U.S. Space Command, giving combatant commands real-time satellite communications visibility. This showcases Leidos' software and defense modernization capabilities, reinforcing its relevance in high-growth military communications work.

    It demonstrates Leidos' strength in software-heavy defense work, a key positive driver for future demand.

  • Leidos advances DARPA regenerative fuel cell prototype Leidos demonstrated a working regenerative fuel cell under DARPA's ExCURSion program, cycling up to 1,000 times. This positions Leidos in cutting-edge energy storage technology for the military, potentially opening new long-term revenue streams and enhancing its reputation for innovation.

    It highlights Leidos' R&D strength and potential for future contracts in a novel technology area.