JPMorgan Chase & Co. Raises Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Price Target to $23.00

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Free Report) had its target price raised by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $20.00 to $23.00 in a report published on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a neutral rating on the aerospace company's stock.

KTOS has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $23.00 price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $20.00 to $27.00 in a report on Friday, April 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. JMP Securities initiated coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Tuesday. They issued a market outperform rating and a $27.00 target price for the company. Finally, Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $25.00 price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $23.38.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Price Performance

Shares of KTOS stock traded up $0.26 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $21.80. 1,398,911 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,292,015. The company has a market capitalization of $3.27 billion, a PE ratio of 82.85 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a current ratio of 3.02, a quick ratio of 2.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has a 12-month low of $12.88 and a 12-month high of $22.77. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $18.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $18.89.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 7th. The aerospace company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.05 by $0.06. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a negative net margin of 0.06% and a positive return on equity of 3.43%. The company had revenue of $277.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $250.48 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.01 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 19.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions will post 0.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 3,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.40, for a total value of $60,900.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 292,944 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,097,225.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 3,500 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction on Friday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.40, for a total transaction of $60,900.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 292,944 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,097,225.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.05, for a total value of $27,075.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 90,713 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,637,369.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 61,038 shares of company stock valued at $1,209,659. Insiders own 2.27% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KTOS. Arkadios Wealth Advisors raised its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 57,081 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,158,000 after purchasing an additional 743 shares during the period. Register Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 0.4% during the first quarter. Register Financial Advisors LLC now owns 190,604 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $3,503,000 after acquiring an additional 750 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 2.1% in the third quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 36,332 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $546,000 after acquiring an additional 751 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 6.4% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 13,395 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $201,000 after acquiring an additional 808 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 64,027 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,177,000 after buying an additional 982 shares in the last quarter. 75.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.