Royce & Associates LP Grows Stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)

Royce & Associates LP increased its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 626,090 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after purchasing an additional 11,380 shares during the quarter. Royce & Associates LP owned approximately 0.41% of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions worth $14,588,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KTOS. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the 1st quarter worth approximately $46,177,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 14.9% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,972,406 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $256,813,000 after acquiring an additional 1,807,580 shares in the last quarter. Hood River Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 108.7% during the first quarter. Hood River Capital Management LLC now owns 2,556,787 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $46,994,000 after purchasing an additional 1,331,499 shares during the last quarter. Bamco Inc. NY increased its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 13.2% during the first quarter. Bamco Inc. NY now owns 4,374,077 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $80,396,000 after purchasing an additional 511,538 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Archon Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 1,102.5% in the 1st quarter. Archon Capital Management LLC now owns 450,487 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $8,280,000 after purchasing an additional 413,026 shares during the last quarter. 75.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

KTOS has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com downgraded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. B. Riley lowered shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $24.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. JMP Securities upped their price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and set a $25.00 price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Friday, September 13th. Finally, Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $27.00 target price (up from $25.00) on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Thursday, September 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $25.40.

Insider Transactions at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In other news, CEO Eric M. Demarco bought 11,980 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 21st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $20.89 per share, for a total transaction of $250,262.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,070,244 shares in the company, valued at $22,357,397.16. This trade represents a 1.13 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 3,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.00, for a total value of $87,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 265,499 shares in the company, valued at $6,637,475. This trade represents a 1.30 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 71,620 shares of company stock valued at $1,700,220 in the last ninety days. 2.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Trading Down 3.4 %

Shares of KTOS stock opened at $24.42 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $24.07 and its 200 day moving average price is $21.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.69 billion, a PE ratio of 244.22 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 3.22 and a quick ratio of 2.61. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a 1-year low of $16.71 and a 1-year high of $28.62.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc operates as a technology company that addresses the defense, national security, and commercial markets. It operates through two segments, Kratos Government Solutions and Unmanned Systems. The company offers ground systems for satellites and space vehicles, including software for command and control, telemetry, and tracking and control; jet-powered unmanned aerial drone systems, hypersonic vehicles, and rocket systems; propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, spacecraft, and launch systems; command, control, communication, computing, combat, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance; and microwave electronic products for missile, radar, missile defense, space, and satellite; counter unmanned aircraft systems, directed energy, communication and other systems, and virtual and augmented reality training systems for the warfighter.