Science Applications International

To advance technology and innovation by being the indispensable partner for every critical U.S. national security mission.

Science Applications International SWOT Analysis

Updated: October 6, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

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The SAIC SWOT analysis reveals a solid foundation built on a massive contract backlog and entrenched government relationships. However, this stability is challenged by thin margins and tepid organic growth, signaling a critical need for strategic evolution. The primary battleground is clear: winning the war for cleared AI and cyber talent is non-negotiable to seize the immense opportunities in digital modernization and space. The key priorities underscore a pivotal moment for SAIC. The company must transition from a reliable incumbent to an indispensable innovator. Success hinges on sharpening its competitive edge in high-growth technology areas, improving contract execution to boost its book-to-bill ratio, and fundamentally differentiating itself as the premier, conflict-free technology integrator for the nation's most complex challenges. This strategic focus is essential to drive both growth and shareholder value.

Leidos Booz Allen Hamilton CACI International General Dynamics Northrop Grumman

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To advance technology and innovation by being the indispensable partner for every critical U.S. national security mission.

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Strengths

BACKLOG: Robust $23.1B contract backlog provides revenue visibility.
RELATIONSHIPS: Deep, multi-decade ties with DoD and intelligence.
CLEARANCES: Vast pool of cleared employees is a major barrier to entry.
PORTFOLIO: Diverse capabilities across cloud, cyber, space, and AI.
SCALE: Ability to prime and manage billion-dollar integration programs.

Weaknesses

MARGINS: Lower operating margins (~9%) vs. product-focused peers.
GROWTH: Flat to low-single-digit organic revenue growth recently.
TALENT: Intense competition for cleared AI/cyber talent impacts hiring.
RECOMPETES: Recent high-profile recompete losses create uncertainty.
DEBT: Moderate debt load from past acquisitions limits flexibility.

Opportunities

MODERNIZATION: $100B+ federal IT modernization budget is a key tailwind.
AI/ML: Massive demand for AI integration in defense and intelligence.
SPACE: Growth in space domain and satellite systems integration work.
CYBER: Heightened geopolitical tensions driving cybersecurity spending.
JADC2: Opportunity to be a key integrator in DoD's priority program.

Threats

BUDGET: Federal budget uncertainty and continuing resolutions delay awards.
COMPETITION: Intense price pressure from Leidos, BAH, and CACI.
IN-SOURCING: Government trend to in-source work previously contracted.
TECH GIANTS: Amazon/Microsoft becoming direct competitors for cloud work.
TALENT: Rising salary demands for cleared tech experts squeezing margins.

Key Priorities

GROWTH: Capture high-margin contracts in AI, space, and cyber domains.
TALENT: Win the war for cleared tech talent via culture and comp.
EXECUTION: Improve recompete win rate and achieve book-to-bill >1.1x.
DIFFERENTIATION: Solidify position as the premier vendor-agnostic tech integrator.

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Science Applications International OKR

Updated: October 6, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The SAIC OKR plan is a focused and potent framework designed to address the company's core challenges of growth and talent retention. It rightly elevates capturing high-margin tech contracts and winning the talent war to primary objectives, directly confronting the weaknesses identified in the strategic analysis. The key results are specific, outcome-oriented, and ambitious, shifting the focus from merely fulfilling contracts to actively shaping markets and dominating strategic niches like generative AI. This plan provides a clear, measurable path to transforming SAIC from a steady government services provider into a high-growth technology leader. Its successful execution will not only drive financial performance but also solidify its position as an indispensable partner in national security innovation.

Leidos Booz Allen Hamilton CACI International General Dynamics Northrop Grumman

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To advance technology and innovation by being the indispensable partner for every critical U.S. national security mission.

ACCELERATE GROWTH

Win the future by dominating high-margin tech frontiers.

CAPTURE: Win prime contracts for two new $500M+ programs in the AI, space, or cyber modernization domains.
INNOVATE: Launch a secure, accredited generative AI platform for intelligence analysis, securing 3 agency pilots.
PROPOSAL: Increase new business proposal win rate from 25% to 35% through enhanced capture intelligence.
PIPELINE: Grow qualified pipeline of new business in strategic growth areas by $5B from $28B to $33B.

WIN TALENT WAR

Become the #1 destination for cleared tech innovators.

RETENTION: Reduce voluntary attrition for cleared employees with critical AI/cyber skills from 18% to below 12%.
HIRING: Decrease average time-to-fill for critical cleared technical roles by 30%, from 90 to 63 days.
UPSKILL: Certify 500 current employees in advanced cloud, AI/ML, or cybersecurity disciplines via SAIC University.
BRAND: Achieve a top 3 ranking on key industry 'Best Place to Work' lists for technology professionals.

DRIVE EXECUTION

Deliver excellence, securing our foundation for growth.

BOOKINGS: Achieve a trailing twelve-month book-to-bill ratio of 1.15x or greater across the entire company.
RECOMPETE: Increase recompete contract win rate from 85% to over 92%, securing our core revenue base.
MARGINS: Increase operating margins from 9.1% to 9.5% through improved program management and efficiency.
DELIVERY: Achieve 'Exceptional' CPARS ratings on 75% of our top 20 largest programs to ensure incumbency.

LEAD INTEGRATION

Solidify our brand as the premier mission integrator.

THOUGHT: Publish three influential white papers on vendor-agnostic multi-cloud, trusted AI, and JADC2.
PARTNERSHIPS: Establish formal strategic partnerships with 3 emerging tech firms to bring novel capabilities.
AWARENESS: Increase positive media mentions related to innovation and tech integration leadership by 25%.
CLIENTS: Secure 10 new client testimonials specifically citing our integration expertise as the key differentiator.

METRICS

Book-to-Bill Ratio: >1.15x
Revenue Growth (Organic): >4%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin: >9.5%

VALUES

Integrity
Passion
Innovation
Inclusion
Empowerment

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Science Applications International Retrospective

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

SAIC Q3 FY2024 Earnings Report and Transcript
SAIC Investor Relations Website (saic.com/investors)
SAIC 2023 Annual Report (10-K Filing)
Reputable financial news sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters)
Competitor financial reports (Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton)

Leidos Booz Allen Hamilton CACI International General Dynamics Northrop Grumman

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To advance technology and innovation by being the indispensable partner for every critical U.S. national security mission.

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What Went Well

CASHFLOW: Generated strong free cash flow, exceeding expectations.
MARGINS: Maintained stable adjusted EBITDA margins despite pressures.
SPACE: Secured key wins in the growing national security space market.
DEBT: Continued to de-lever the balance sheet, improving flexibility.
STRATEGY: Clear communication of strategy under new CEO Toni Townes-Whitley.

Not So Well

GROWTH: Organic revenue growth remains sluggish, near flat year-over-year.
BOOKINGS: Book-to-bill ratio slightly below the target of 1.0 for the quarter.
RECOMPETES: Lost a significant recompete contract, impacting future revenue.
HIRING: Hiring for cleared technical roles remains a significant challenge.
CIVILIAN: Softness in parts of the civilian portfolio due to budget timing.

Learnings

PRICING: Must be more aggressive and creative on pricing for key recompetes.
DIFFERENTIATION: Technology differentiators are key to winning, not just price.
TALENT: Talent retention is as critical as new hiring in this environment.
M&A: Strategic, capability-focused M&A is needed to accelerate growth.
FORECASTING: Budget resolutions create lumpiness in quarterly awards.

Action Items

SALES: Overhaul capture process for large, strategic recompete bids.
HR: Launch new retention and upskilling programs for cleared AI talent.
INNOVATION: Increase investment in solutions for secure cloud and GenAI.
BD: Focus business development on higher-growth space and intel markets.
FINANCE: Model scenarios for extended government continuing resolutions.

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Organization	SWOT Analysis	OKR Plan	Top 6	Retrospective

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Science Applications International Market

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

SAIC Q3 FY2024 Earnings Report and Transcript
SAIC Investor Relations Website (saic.com/investors)
SAIC 2023 Annual Report (10-K Filing)
Reputable financial news sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters)
Competitor financial reports (Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton)

Founded: 1969 (spun off in 2013)
Market Share: Approx. 3-5% of addressable federal services market.
Customer Base: U.S. Federal Government (DoD, Intelligence Community, Civilian).
Category:
Government Technology Integrator
SIC Code: 7373 Computer Integrated Systems Design
NAICS Code: 541512 Computer Systems Design Services
Location: Reston, Virginia
Zip Code: 20190
Congressional District: VA-11 FAIRFAX
Employees: 24000

Competitors

Leidos View Analysis

Booz Allen Hamilton View Analysis

CACI International View Analysis

General Dynamics View Analysis

Northrop Grumman View Analysis

Products & Services

No products or services data available

Distribution Channels

Science Applications International Business Model Analysis

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

SAIC Q3 FY2024 Earnings Report and Transcript
SAIC Investor Relations Website (saic.com/investors)
SAIC 2023 Annual Report (10-K Filing)
Reputable financial news sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters)
Competitor financial reports (Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton)

Problem

Gov't agencies need to modernize IT.
National security threats are evolving.
Legacy systems are costly and vulnerable.

Solution

Systems integration of new technologies
Secure cloud migration and management
AI/ML and data analytics solutions
Cybersecurity and mission engineering

Key Metrics

Book-to-bill ratio
Contract win rates (new & recompete)
Revenue growth & operating margin
Employee retention (cleared talent)

Unique

Vendor-agnostic, conflict-free integrator
Deeply embedded mission domain knowledge
Massive scale of cleared workforce

Advantage

Incumbency and long-term relationships
Security clearances as a barrier to entry
Portfolio of prime contract vehicles

Channels

Direct sales teams to gov't agencies
Government-wide contract vehicles (GWACs)
Industry partnerships and alliances

Customer Segments

U.S. Department of Defense (all branches)
U.S. Intelligence Community (IC)
Federal Civilian Agencies (e.g., NASA)
Allied Governments (e.g., Five Eyes)

Costs

Labor costs (cleared tech professionals)
Facilities & IT infrastructure (SCIFs)
Business development & proposal costs
Subcontractor and technology vendor costs

Science Applications International Product Market Fit Analysis

Updated: October 6, 2025

SAIC accelerates critical government missions by engineering and integrating advanced technology. It transforms legacy systems into secure, AI-enabled platforms, ensuring our nation's defense, space, and intelligence agencies can achieve decision dominance. This vendor-agnostic approach reduces risk while maximizing mission effectiveness, making SAIC an indispensable partner for national security in a rapidly evolving world.

Accelerating mission readiness through digital transformation.

Ensuring decision dominance with secure, AI-enabled insights.

Reducing risk by integrating proven, cutting-edge technology.

Before State

Siloed legacy government systems
Data inaccessible for decision-making
Reactive cybersecurity posture

After State

Integrated, secure multi-cloud environment
AI-driven insights for mission success
Proactive, resilient cyber defense

Negative Impacts

Slow response to emerging threats
Inefficient mission operations
High sustainment costs for old tech

Positive Outcomes

Accelerated decision-making cycle
Enhanced mission effectiveness
Reduced total cost of ownership

Key Metrics

Book-to-Bill Ratio

>1.1x

Contract Win Rate

>50% on new business

Employee Retention Rate (cleared)

>85%

Customer Satisfaction (CPARS scores)

'Very Good' to 'Exceptional'

Requirements

Deep understanding of mission context
Cleared personnel with tech expertise
Ability to integrate diverse technologies

Why Science Applications International

Agile engineering and DevSecOps practices
Strategic partnerships with tech leaders
Leveraging SAIC's Innovation Factory

Science Applications International Competitive Advantage

Conflict-free, vendor-agnostic approach
Trusted, long-term government partner
Scale to manage complex integrations

Proof Points

Modernized systems for all DoD branches
Key partner in NASA's space missions
Securing critical civilian agency data

Science Applications International Market Positioning

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

SAIC Q3 FY2024 Earnings Report and Transcript
SAIC Investor Relations Website (saic.com/investors)
SAIC 2023 Annual Report (10-K Filing)
Reputable financial news sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters)
Competitor financial reports (Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton)

Strategic pillars derived from our vision-focused SWOT analysis

Lead in secure cloud, AI, and systems integration.

Drive organic growth in defense, space, and intelligence.

Be the top destination for cleared technology professionals.

Optimize operations for margin expansion and reinvestment.

What You Do

Integrates advanced technology for critical government missions.

Target Market

U.S. defense, space, civilian, and intelligence agencies.

Differentiation

Vendor-agnostic technology integration
Deep mission domain expertise
Highly cleared workforce

Revenue Streams

Cost-plus contracts
Fixed-price contracts
Time-and-materials contracts

Science Applications International Operations and Technology

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

SAIC Q3 FY2024 Earnings Report and Transcript
SAIC Investor Relations Website (saic.com/investors)
SAIC 2023 Annual Report (10-K Filing)
Reputable financial news sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters)
Competitor financial reports (Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton)

Company Operations

Organizational Structure: Matrix structure with sector-focused business units.
Supply Chain: Manages complex network of technology vendors and subcontractors.
Tech Patents: Focus on systems integration IP and trade secrets, not patents.
Website: https://www.saic.com

Top Clients

Board Members

Science Applications International Competitive Forces

Threat of New Entry

LOW: Significant barriers include the need for extensive past performance, high security clearances, and access to massive contract vehicles.

Supplier Power

MODERATE: Tech giants (MSFT, AWS) have pricing power for cloud/software, but SAIC's vendor-agnostic model mitigates single-supplier risk.

Buyer Power

HIGH: The U.S. Government is the primary buyer with immense power to dictate terms, pricing (LPTA), and scope through the RFP process.

Threat of Substitution

LOW: High switching costs, security requirements, and deep integration make substituting a prime contractor for a critical mission difficult.

Competitive Rivalry

HIGH: Intense rivalry among a few large players (Leidos, BAH, CACI) and numerous smaller firms competing on price and niche capabilities.

Analysis of AI Strategy

Updated: October 6, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The SAIC AI SWOT analysis positions the company at a crucial intersection of opportunity and challenge. Its unique access to government data and trusted mission integration expertise are formidable strengths, creating a deep competitive moat. However, a critical weakness in sourcing cleared, elite AI talent threatens to undermine this advantage. The path forward is clear: SAIC must pivot from being a mere implementer of AI to a leader in mission-specific, trusted AI platforms. The strategic priorities correctly identify the need to build a dedicated AI talent pipeline and develop a secure MLOps platform as foundational. By focusing on high-impact generative AI pilots for intelligence and championing ethical AI, SAIC can solidify its role as the indispensable partner, transforming national security capabilities and driving significant, high-margin growth in the AI era.

Leidos Booz Allen Hamilton CACI International General Dynamics Northrop Grumman

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To advance technology and innovation by being the indispensable partner for every critical U.S. national security mission.

Strengths

DATA: Access to unique, large-scale government datasets for model training.
TRUST: Status as a trusted partner allows AI deployment in sensitive areas.
INTEGRATION: Core competency in integrating AI into complex legacy systems.
MISSION: Deep understanding of mission context for relevant AI application.
SECURITY: Expertise in securing AI/ML models and data pipelines (AI sec).

Weaknesses

TALENT: Shortage of personnel with both high-level clearances and AI PhDs.
LEGACY: Difficulty deploying modern AI on aging government infrastructure.
SPEED: Government acquisition cycles are too slow for rapid AI iteration.
ETHICS: Navigating complex ethical and bias concerns in military AI.
SCALE: Proving AI ROI at scale across massive government enterprises.

Opportunities

GENERATIVE: Use GenAI to automate intel reports, coding, and analysis.
AUTONOMY: Develop AI for autonomous vehicles and command & control systems.
PREDICTIVE: Implement AI for predictive maintenance on military platforms.
CYBER: AI-powered network defense to detect and respond to threats faster.
JADC2: Become the AI integration backbone for the Joint All-Domain C2.

Threats

ADVERSARIAL: Competitors (state actors) developing superior military AI.
COMMERCIAL: Tech giants out-innovating and poaching top AI talent.
REGULATION: Unclear or restrictive government policies on AI in warfare.
BIAS: Risk of deploying biased AI models that lead to mission failure.
DEPENDENCE: Over-reliance on commercial AI APIs creates vulnerabilities.

Key Priorities

TALENT: Build an elite, cleared AI/ML team through hiring and upskilling.
PLATFORM: Create a secure, reusable AI/ML Ops platform for government.
GENERATIVE: Pilot generative AI solutions for high-impact intel analysis.
DIFFERENTIATE: Lead in trusted/ethical AI implementation for defense.

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Science Applications International Financial Performance

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

SAIC Q3 FY2024 Earnings Report and Transcript
SAIC Investor Relations Website (saic.com/investors)
SAIC 2023 Annual Report (10-K Filing)
Reputable financial news sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters)
Competitor financial reports (Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton)

Profit: $267M Net Income (TTM)

Market Cap: $6.0B

Stock Performance

Annual Report: Available on SAIC investor relations site

Debt: $2.5B Total Debt (approx.)

ROI Impact: Shareholder returns tied to contract wins and margin performance.

SWOT Index

Composite strategic assessment with 10-year outlook

/ 100

Market Leader

ICM Index

STRATEGIC ADVISOR ASSESSMENT

SAIC's ambition to be an indispensable national security partner is societally significant. However, its achievability is tempered by intense competition and talent constraints, reflected in a modest SWOT balance. The OKRs are strong and category-shaping but not yet world-shaping. High AI leverage potential is a key asset. The resulting index places SAIC as a solid Market Leader, but predicts modest near-term growth as it navigates a strategic pivot toward higher-margin, differentiated offerings in a competitive market.

SWOT Factors

Upside: 66.7 Risk: 70.0

OKR Impact

AI Leverage

Top 3 Strategic Levers

Win the war for cleared AI/ML talent to unlock differentiation.

Secure multiple $500M+ prime contracts in high-growth domains.

Improve recompete win rate to >92% to protect the core business.

AI Disclosure

This report was created using the Alignment Method—our proprietary process for guiding AI to reveal how it interprets your business and industry. These insights are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.

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