Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Trading 7.2% Higher – Time to Buy?

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)’s stock price traded up 7.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $50.48 and last traded at $50.36. 5,158,253 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 13% from the average session volume of 4,554,345 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.96.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Kratos Defense & Security Solutions this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Kratos received about $400 million in new funding tied to hypersonic systems and other national security programs, a major boost to revenue visibility and backlog. Kratos Receives Approximately $400 Million in New Funding for Hypersonic System and Other Programs
• Positive Sentiment: The company also secured an approximately $100 million sole-source prime award for a space domain awareness system, further expanding its defense contract pipeline. Kratos Receives Approximate $100 Million Sole Source Prime Space Domain Awareness System Program Award
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentary point to Kratos benefiting from broader U.S. defense industrial base expansion and rising demand for autonomous warfare and military modernization. How Is KTOS Benefiting From the US Defense Industrial Base Expansion?
• Neutral Sentiment: Market chatter also linked KTOS with a broader rally in drone and defense-tech stocks, suggesting sector momentum is helping support the move. Drone Stocks Are Back In Play: Why RCAT, AVAV, KTOS, UMAC Stocks Are Climbing

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KTOS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wedbush initiated coverage on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $85.00 price objective for the company. Clear Str raised shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Truist Financial upgraded shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $100.00 to $80.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $99.00 to $82.00 in a report on Friday, June 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $101.29.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Trading Up 7.2%

The company has a current ratio of 5.63, a quick ratio of 5.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $55.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $76.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 296.24 and a beta of 1.07.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The aerospace company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $371.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $345.00 million. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a return on equity of 2.82% and a net margin of 2.08%.The firm’s revenue was up 22.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.12 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, CFO Deanna H. Lund sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.85, for a total transaction of $264,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 285,405 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,083,654.25. This trade represents a 1.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider David M. Carter sold 4,000 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.45, for a total transaction of $201,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 66,238 shares in the company, valued at $3,341,707.10. This trade represents a 5.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 161,453 shares of company stock valued at $9,466,223 in the last three months. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 245.2% during the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 601,674 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $45,673,000 after purchasing an additional 427,396 shares during the period. M&T Bank Corp raised its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 6,900.4% in the fourth quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 176,831 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $13,423,000 after purchasing an additional 174,305 shares during the period. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 435.1% during the fourth quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 43,011 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $3,265,000 after purchasing an additional 34,973 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 93.0% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 964,973 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $88,170,000 after purchasing an additional 465,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 65.2% during the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 714,083 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $54,206,000 after buying an additional 281,811 shares during the period. 75.92% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology-driven company that specializes in national security and defense solutions for government and military customers. The firm’s core capabilities span unmanned systems, satellite communications, missile defense, cyber security, and directed-energy weapons. Through its integrated approach, Kratos delivers mission-critical products and services designed to enhance operational readiness and support force modernization initiatives.

In the unmanned systems arena, Kratos develops high-performance aerial platforms used as target drones, low-cost attritable aircraft and experimental stealth demonstrators.