Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Hits New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $31.16 and last traded at $30.74, with a volume of 1028241 shares. The stock had previously closed at $29.37.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on KTOS. B. Riley upgraded shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $26.00 to $35.00 in a report on Monday. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $27.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. StockNews.com upgraded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on 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. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $28.30.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $4.95 billion, a PE ratio of 327.63 and a beta of 1.07. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $24.01. The company has a quick ratio of 2.61, a current ratio of 3.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13.

Insider Activity at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, VP De Burgreen Maria Cervantes sold 19,528 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.00, for a total transaction of $585,840.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 51,121 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,533,630. This represents a 27.64 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Stacey G. Rock sold 4,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.96, for a total value of $115,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 57,267 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,658,452.32. This represents a 6.53 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 96,928 shares of company stock valued at $2,611,696 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 2.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. American Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 12.8% during the third quarter. American Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,694,948 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $62,792,000 after buying an additional 305,925 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew 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 purchasing an additional 304,088 shares during the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. purchased a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the 3rd quarter valued at about $6,310,000. Driehaus Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 51.5% in the second quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 721,543 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $14,438,000 after purchasing an additional 245,422 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 6.1% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,032,888 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $93,966,000 after purchasing an additional 233,051 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.92% of the company’s stock.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Company Profile

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.