Inference Investigation

Claim investigated: Annual report filings appear in February/March timeframe (2015-03-25, 2018-02-23, 2019-02-19) consistent with fiscal year-end reporting cycles Entity: Leidos Original confidence: inferential Result: STRENGTHENED → SECONDARY

Assessment

The inference about Leidos's February/March annual report filing pattern is well-supported by three data points (2015-03-25, 2018-02-23, 2019-02-19) and aligns with standard corporate fiscal year-end practices. However, the claim lacks specificity about which type of SEC filings these are (10-K, 10-Q, etc.) and doesn't account for the apparent data gaps between 2015-2018.

Reasoning: Multiple consistent filing dates in late February/early March across different years provide strong circumstantial evidence of a calendar year-end fiscal cycle. This pattern is standard for most publicly traded companies and matches typical 10-K annual report timing (filed within 60-90 days of fiscal year-end).

Underreported Angles

• The apparent filing gap between 2015-2018 coincides precisely with Leidos's major corporate transformation period, including the $4.6B Lockheed Martin IS&GS acquisition in 2016, which likely generated extensive SEC disclosure requirements that may not be captured in current datasets
• Leidos's fiscal year alignment appears to follow calendar year-end rather than federal government fiscal year (October 1-September 30), which could create reporting misalignments for a major federal contractor
• The March 2014 filing cluster represents Leidos's initial public company obligations following the SAIC split, making subsequent February/March filings part of an established corporate calendar rather than coincidental timing

Public Records to Check

• SEC EDGAR: Leidos Holdings Inc 10-K annual reports 2014-2022 Would confirm exact fiscal year-end dates and whether February/March filings are consistently 10-K annual reports

• SEC EDGAR: Leidos Holdings Inc 8-K current reports 2016 acquisition Would reveal whether the apparent 2015-2018 filing gap reflects missing data or actual reduced disclosure during acquisition period

• SEC EDGAR: Leidos proxy statements DEF 14A 2015-2019 Annual shareholder meeting materials typically filed in March-April timeframe would confirm corporate calendar alignment

Significance

NOTABLE — Understanding Leidos's fiscal year cycle is important for analyzing government contractor financial reporting patterns and potential timing misalignments with federal budget cycles, though it represents standard corporate practice rather than anomalous behavior.