Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Upgraded by B. Riley to "Buy" Rating

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at B. Riley from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note issued on Monday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a $35.00 target price on the aerospace company's stock, up from their previous target price of $26.00. B. Riley's price target suggests a potential upside of 13.31% from the stock's previous close.

A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on KTOS. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $22.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. JMP Securities boosted their price objective on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a "market outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. StockNews.com raised shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $27.00 price target (up previously from $25.00) on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Thursday, September 26th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $27.30.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Performance

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock traded up $1.52 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $30.89. 3,179,998 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,091,577. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.67 billion, a PE ratio of 308.93 and a beta of 1.07. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has a fifty-two week low of $16.71 and a fifty-two week high of $31.19. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $26.75 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $23.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 2.61 and a current ratio of 3.22.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,355 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.96, for a total value of $33,820.80. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 58,085 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,449,801.60. This trade represents a 2.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Stacey G. Rock sold 4,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.96, for a total transaction of $91,840.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 51,063 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,172,406.48. This represents a 7.26 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 104,886 shares of company stock valued at $2,809,800. Insiders own 2.27% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of KTOS. American Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 12.8% in the 3rd quarter. American Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,694,948 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $62,792,000 after acquiring an additional 305,925 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 12.2% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,798,859 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $70,951,000 after acquiring an additional 304,088 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the third quarter worth $6,310,000. Driehaus Capital Management LLC grew its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 51.5% in the second quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 721,543 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $14,438,000 after acquiring an additional 245,422 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 6.1% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,032,888 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $93,966,000 after buying an additional 233,051 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.92% of the company's stock.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Company Profile

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.