Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Here’s Why

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)’s share price hit a new 52-week low on Friday . The company traded as low as $45.58 and last traded at $46.4640, with a volume of 397166 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $46.96.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wedbush assumed coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $85.00 price objective on the stock. BTIG Research reduced their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $115.00 to $100.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 7th. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $82.00 target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $80.00 price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $100.00 to $89.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $101.29.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Down 2.0%

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $54.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $75.76. 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 company has a market capitalization of $8.63 billion, a PE ratio of 270.76 and a beta of 1.07.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The aerospace company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $371.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $345.00 million. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a return on equity of 2.82% and a net margin of 2.08%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.12 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, CFO Deanna H. Lund sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.10, for a total value of $310,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 295,200 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $18,331,920. This represents a 1.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.13, for a total transaction of $338,845.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 221,550 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,549,401.50. This trade represents a 2.85% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 148,036 shares of company stock worth $8,455,857. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 245.2% during the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 601,674 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $45,673,000 after purchasing an additional 427,396 shares in the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp boosted its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 6,900.4% in the fourth quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 176,831 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $13,423,000 after purchasing an additional 174,305 shares during the period. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 435.1% in the fourth quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 43,011 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $3,265,000 after purchasing an additional 34,973 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 65.2% in the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 714,083 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $54,206,000 after purchasing an additional 281,811 shares in the last quarter. Finally, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG purchased a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,821,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.