** Shares of defense contractor Leidos LDOS.N down 3% at $123 premarket

** Jefferies downgrades LDOS to "hold" from "buy", cuts price target to $140 from $185

** New PT still implies an upside of 10.4% from the stock's last close

** Brokerage says growth outlook looks limited, with uncertainty on the VBA (Veterans Benefits Administration)contract and no meaningful defense tech uplift

** Co is a key contractor providing healthcare-related IT services to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

** Eight of 19 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, 11 "hold"; their median PT is $179 - data compiled by LSEG

** As of last close, stock down 29.7% YTD