Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Shares Down 3.3% – Here’s What Happened

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) shares traded down 3.3% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $52.87 and last traded at $53.54. 3,789,895 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 4,612,046 shares. The stock had previously closed at $55.35.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Citizens Jmp reduced their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $125.00 to $105.00 and set a “market outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 8th. 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. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on 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. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $99.00 to $75.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $100.44.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $10.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 314.94 and a beta of 1.07. 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 business’s 50 day simple moving average is $56.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $77.69.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The aerospace company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.03. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a return on equity of 2.82% and a net margin of 2.08%.The company had revenue of $371.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $345.00 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.12 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side 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 other news, Director Scot B. Jarvis sold 5,417 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.90, for a total value of $411,150.30. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 75,123 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,701,835.70. This represents a 6.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 6,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.13, for a total value of $338,845.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 221,550 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,549,401.50. The trade was a 2.85% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders sold 161,453 shares of company stock worth $9,561,063. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Greenleaf Trust increased its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 3,830 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. LVW Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. LVW Advisors LLC now owns 3,665 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $278,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 7.3% during the fourth quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,698 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $129,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 5,918 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $449,000 after acquiring an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 6.9% during the fourth quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,945 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $148,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.92% of the company’s stock.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Company Profile

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.