Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Reaches New 52-Week High After Analyst Upgrade

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading 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 trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $26.84.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on KTOS. Truist Financial restated a “buy” rating and issued a $27.00 price target (up from $25.00) on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note 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 stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $25.00 price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Friday, September 13th. B. Riley downgraded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $24.00 to $26.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, JMP Securities upped their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $26.40.

Insider Transactions at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, SVP Benjamin M. Goodwin sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.71, for a total transaction of $138,550.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 37,327 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,034,331.17. This represents a 11.81 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,355 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.96, for a total value of $33,820.80. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 58,085 shares in the company, valued at $1,449,801.60. The trade was a 2.28 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 66,765 shares of company stock valued at $1,663,507 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 2.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC raised its holdings 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 valued at $15,501,000 after buying an additional 86,567 shares during the period. L & S Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the third quarter worth $1,220,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the third quarter worth $607,000. Verition Fund Management LLC increased its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 232.9% in the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 58,703 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $1,368,000 after purchasing an additional 41,070 shares during the period. Finally, Toth Financial Advisory Corp purchased a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the third quarter worth $678,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.92% of the company’s stock.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Performance

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 business has a 50 day simple moving average of $25.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $22.91. The firm has a market cap of $4.27 billion, a PE ratio of 282.80 and a beta of 1.07.

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.