Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Reaches New 1-Year High Following Analyst Upgrade

Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) hit a new 52-week high on Monday after Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on the stock from $25.00 to $30.00. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a hold rating on the stock. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions traded as high as $28.76 and last traded at $28.76, with a volume of 83675 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $26.84.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on the stock. B. Riley lowered shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $24.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Truist Financial reissued a “buy” rating and set a $27.00 target price (up from $25.00) on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Thursday, September 26th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $22.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, September 23rd. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and set a $25.00 price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Friday, September 13th. Finally, JMP Securities upped their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $26.40.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, insider Steven S. Fendley sold 7,000 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.37, for a total transaction of $163,590.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 363,417 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,493,055.29. This trade represents a 1.89 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Benjamin M. Goodwin sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.71, for a total value of $138,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 37,327 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,034,331.17. This represents a 11.81 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 66,765 shares of company stock valued at $1,663,507 in the last quarter. 2.27% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in KTOS. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC increased its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 665,285 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $15,501,000 after acquiring an additional 86,567 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 12.2% in the third 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 last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC raised its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 27.9% during the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 21,258 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $495,000 after purchasing an additional 4,638 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in 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 lifted its stake in 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 currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Down 3.7 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 272.70 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. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $25.58 and a two-hundred day moving average of $22.96.

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.