Hodges Capital Management Inc. Takes $6.80 Million Position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)

Hodges Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 370,000 shares of the aerospace company's stock, valued at approximately $6,800,000. Hodges Capital Management Inc. owned approximately 0.25% of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,628,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,990,920 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $80,978,000 after acquiring an additional 195,615 shares during the period. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 56.4% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,026,556 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $45,459,000 after acquiring an additional 1,091,380 shares during the period. Profit Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,608,000. Finally, Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 54.6% in the 4th quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 188,105 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $3,817,000 after acquiring an additional 66,442 shares during the period. 75.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of KTOS traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $20.01. The stock had a trading volume of 4,160,527 shares, compared to its average volume of 941,300. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 2.47 and a current ratio of 3.02. The firm has a market cap of $3.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 77.54 and a beta of 1.05. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $20.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $19.08. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a 12-month low of $13.13 and a 12-month high of $22.77.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 7th. The aerospace company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.05 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $277.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $250.48 million. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a positive return on equity of 3.43% and a negative net margin of 0.06%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 19.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.01 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on KTOS shares. JMP Securities started coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Tuesday, May 28th. They set a "market outperform" rating and a $27.00 target price on the stock. BTIG Research started coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Wednesday. They set a "neutral" rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $22.00 to $20.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 28th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $25.00 target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Friday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $23.50.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.18, for a total value of $27,270.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 67,030 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,218,605.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, Director Bradley L. Boyd sold 1,720 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.64, for a total value of $37,220.80. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,280 shares of the company's stock, valued at $70,979.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.18, for a total value of $27,270.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 67,030 shares in the company, valued at $1,218,605.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 159,720 shares of company stock valued at $3,391,521. 2.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions 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.