Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) Receives Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, five have issued a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $26.40.

KTOS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $25.00 price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Friday, September 13th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. B. Riley downgraded shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $24.00 to $26.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Truist Financial reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $27.00 price objective (up previously from $25.00) on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Thursday, September 26th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, insider Steven S. Fendley sold 7,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.37, for a total transaction of $163,590.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 363,417 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,493,055.29. This represents a 1.89 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Thomas E. Iv Mills sold 11,516 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.98, for a total value of $322,217.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 12,315 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $344,573.70. This represents a 48.32 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 79,781 shares of company stock worth $2,027,665 over the last quarter. Insiders own 2.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in KTOS. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 15.0% during the third quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 665,285 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $15,501,000 after purchasing an additional 86,567 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 12.2% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,798,859 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $70,951,000 after acquiring an additional 304,088 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 27.9% in the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 21,258 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $495,000 after acquiring an additional 4,638 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 0.8% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,556,544 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $82,883,000 after purchasing an additional 29,278 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 239.5% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 273,100 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $6,363,000 after purchasing an additional 192,667 shares during the last quarter. 75.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Price Performance

KTOS opened at $25.87 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $25.67 and a 200 day moving average of $23.06. The stock has a market cap of $3.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 258.73 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a quick ratio of 2.61, a current ratio of 3.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has a 52-week low of $16.71 and a 52-week high of $28.71.

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.