Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Upgraded at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Key Points

• JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from neutral to overweight and assigned an $82 price target, implying about 39.5% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst sentiment on KTOS remains broadly positive, with a Moderate Buy consensus and an average price target of $98.17 despite some mixed target adjustments from other firms.
• The company recently reported better-than-expected quarterly results, posting $0.16 EPS on $371 million in revenue, while the stock was noted as up 7.2% and trading at $58.78 on Friday.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday. The firm presently has a $82.00 target price on the aerospace company's stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s target price would suggest a potential upside of 39.50% from the stock's previous close.

Several other research firms have also commented on KTOS. Clear Str upgraded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. 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 report on Friday, May 8th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $80.00 price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Sunday, May 10th. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $98.17.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Up 7.2%

NASDAQ KTOS opened at $58.78 on Friday. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has a 52 week low of $39.00 and a 52 week high of $134.00. The company has a quick ratio of 5.08, a current ratio of 5.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $62.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $80.29. The firm has a market cap of $11.02 billion, a PE ratio of 345.76 and a beta of 1.04.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The aerospace company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 business had revenue of $371.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $345.00 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.12 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 22.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions will post 0.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 6,500 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.07, for a total value of $578,955.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 234,292 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,868,388.44. This trade represents a 2.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Scott I. Anderson sold 15,000 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.11, for a total value of $1,336,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 51,334 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,574,372.74. The trade was a 22.61% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 217,564 shares of company stock worth $14,576,994. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in KTOS. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 22.6% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 190,481 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $5,655,000 after purchasing an additional 35,098 shares during the last quarter. Amundi purchased a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the first quarter worth approximately $791,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 64.4% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,315 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 515 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 178.0% during the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 3,570 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $108,000 after purchasing an additional 2,286 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 11.7% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 393,614 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $11,686,000 after purchasing an additional 41,265 shares during the last quarter. 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 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.

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