Essex Investment Management Co. LLC Sells 106,297 Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. $KTOS

Essex Investment Management Co. LLC lowered its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) by 30.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 244,055 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 106,297 shares during the period. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions comprises about 3.4% of Essex Investment Management Co. LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its biggest holding. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC owned 0.14% of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions worth $22,299,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. purchased a new position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Rakuten Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd bought a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the third quarter worth $32,000. Whittier Trust Co. bought a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the third quarter worth $38,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position 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 buying an additional 515 shares during the last quarter. 75.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, CFO Deanna H. Lund sold 5,000 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.87, for a total value of $484,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 274,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,637,603.21. The trade was a 1.79% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,676 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.18, for a total value of $201,421.68. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 63,393 shares in the company, valued at $7,618,570.74. The trade was a 2.58% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 916,815 shares of company stock valued at $75,023,021. Corporate insiders own 2.37% of the company’s stock.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Performance

NASDAQ KTOS opened at $98.81 on Tuesday. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a twelve month low of $23.90 and a twelve month high of $134.00. The company has a quick ratio of 3.68, a current ratio of 4.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The stock has a market cap of $16.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 760.14 and a beta of 1.09. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $93.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $82.22.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on KTOS shares. Citigroup reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Monday, January 12th. B. Riley Financial boosted their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $105.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Noble Financial reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Citizens Jmp lifted their price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $93.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $95.28.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

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.