Benchmark Reaffirms "Buy" Rating for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS)

Benchmark restated their buy rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $25.00 target price on the aerospace company's stock.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $20.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $23.00 price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $22.00 to $20.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $21.14.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Price Performance

Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock traded down $0.49 on Thursday, reaching $17.28. 1,018,744 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,302,980. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 2.03. The firm has a market cap of $2.59 billion, a PE ratio of -287.95 and a beta of 0.80. The firm's 50 day moving average is $18.17 and its 200-day moving average is $18.42. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has a one year low of $12.12 and a one year high of $21.60.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The aerospace company reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.09 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $273.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $253.39 million. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a negative net margin of 0.86% and a positive return on equity of 3.01%. The company's revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.03 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions will post 0.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.05, for a total transaction of $27,075.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 90,713 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,637,369.65. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.05, for a total transaction of $27,075.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 90,713 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,637,369.65. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Deanna H. Lund sold 6,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.00, for a total transaction of $120,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 214,765 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,295,300. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 41,538 shares of company stock valued at $763,479 over the last quarter. 2.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KTOS. Simplicity Wealth LLC bought a new position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the 1st quarter valued at $2,610,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 44.6% in the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 116,026 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $2,133,000 after purchasing an additional 35,790 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 45.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 274,512 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $5,046,000 after purchasing an additional 86,407 shares during the last quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the 1st quarter worth $853,000. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 1st quarter worth about $264,000. 75.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.