Polianta Ltd Takes Position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. $KTOS

Polianta Ltd bought a new position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 32,100 shares of the aerospace company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,600,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,446,230 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $337,565,000 after buying an additional 148,622 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 3.9% during the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,311,095 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $251,345,000 after buying an additional 124,607 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 7.4% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,046,194 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $278,331,000 after acquiring an additional 209,189 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp raised its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 13.6% during the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,072,700 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $189,383,000 after acquiring an additional 247,652 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 7,701.6% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,593,549 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $120,966,000 after acquiring an additional 1,573,123 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.92% of the company’s stock.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Up 5.9%

Shares of NASDAQ:KTOS opened at $60.77 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.27 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $70.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 357.47 and a beta of 1.08. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a 12-month low of $43.09 and a 12-month high of $134.00. The company has a current ratio of 5.54, a quick ratio of 5.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The aerospace company reported $0.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.07. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a return on equity of 3.07% and a net margin of 2.03%.The firm had revenue of $458.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $410.36 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.11 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 30.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Steven S. Fendley sold 35,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.23, for a total value of $2,038,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 309,087 shares in the company, valued at $17,998,136.01. The trade was a 10.17% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 6,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.13, for a total value of $338,845.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 221,550 shares in the company, valued at $11,549,401.50. This trade represents a 2.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders have sold 144,036 shares of company stock worth $8,034,017. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

KTOS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $134.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. BNP Paribas Exane lifted their target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $100.00 to $89.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $99.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Citigroup restated a “market outperform” rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $101.29.

More Kratos Defense & Security Solutions News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kratos Defense & Security Solutions this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Results exceeded expectations. Kratos reported second-quarter EPS of $0.21, up from $0.11 a year earlier and above the $0.14 analyst consensus. Revenue increased 30.5% year over year to $458.8 million, surpassing estimates of approximately $410 million. Kratos Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Management highlighted stronger second-half growth. The company cited increased capacity, program funding and bookings across hypersonics, jet engines, unmanned systems and counter-drone technologies. Kratos also views engines for low-cost cruise missiles as a significant future growth opportunity. KTOS Q2 Earnings Call Highlights
• Positive Sentiment: A new U.S. Army development contract adds strategic support. Kratos will develop an Enhanced Seeker for the Javelin missile system, expanding its role in precision weapons and missile technology. Kratos Receives U.S. Army Contract
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains supportive. Piper Sandler upgraded KTOS, and BTIG raised its price target to $104 while maintaining a Buy rating, reinforcing investor confidence following the earnings report. Kratos Upgraded at Piper Sandler
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation remains a risk. With a high earnings multiple and relatively modest profitability, KTOS could be vulnerable if program launches, capacity expansion or defense bookings fall short of expectations.
• Negative Sentiment: Cantor Fitzgerald reduced its price target to $100 from $115, although it retained an Overweight rating. Separately, CFO Deanna Lund sold 5,000 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan; the sale was a small reduction in her holdings but may provide a minor counterpoint to the bullish news. KTOS Insider Sale

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions 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.