Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Trading 7.2% Higher – Here’s Why

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on KTOS shares. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Wedbush started coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $85.00 price target on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane increased their price objective on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Truist Financial raised Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $100.00 to $80.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $101.29.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 5.08 and a current ratio of 5.63. The firm has a market cap of $8.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 278.78 and a beta of 1.07. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $54.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.18.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, insider Stacey G. Rock sold 4,675 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $233,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 9,600 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $480,000. The trade was a 32.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Deanna H. Lund sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.85, for a total value of $264,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 285,405 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,083,654.25. This represents a 1.72% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 148,036 shares of company stock worth $8,455,857. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp raised its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 7,600.0% in the 4th quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 385 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 380 shares during the last quarter. Vision Retirement LLC lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 288.2% in the 1st quarter. Vision Retirement LLC now owns 427 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. 75.92% of the stock is 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.