Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Hits New 12-Month High - Time to Buy?

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $31.16 and last traded at $30.74, with a volume of 1028241 shares. The stock had previously closed at $29.37.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Truist Financial restated a "buy" rating and set a $27.00 target price (up previously from $25.00) on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $22.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, September 23rd. JMP Securities increased their price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a "market outperform" rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, B. Riley raised shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $26.00 to $35.00 in a report on Monday. Five 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's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $27.30.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 308.93 and a beta of 1.07. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $26.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $23.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 3.22 and a quick ratio of 2.61.

Insider Transactions at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,355 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.96, for a total value of $33,820.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 58,085 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,449,801.60. This represents a 2.28 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP De Burgreen Maria Cervantes sold 19,528 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.00, for a total value of $585,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 51,121 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,533,630. This represents a 27.64 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 104,886 shares of company stock worth $2,809,800. 2.27% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. ORG Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 32,975 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $870,000 after purchasing an additional 621 shares during the last quarter. BancFirst Trust & Investment Management acquired a new position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 4th quarter valued at about $647,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 249,781 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $5,820,000 after acquiring an additional 3,770 shares in the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC grew its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 15.0% in the 3rd quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 665,285 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $15,501,000 after acquiring an additional 86,567 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 12.2% in 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. 75.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.