Van ECK Associates Corp Purchases 145,462 Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)

Van ECK Associates Corp raised its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS - Free Report) by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 889,562 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 145,462 shares during the quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp owned 0.59% of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions worth $21,358,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in KTOS. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 113.1% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 311,594 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $5,727,000 after buying an additional 165,356 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank raised its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 627.9% in the 1st quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 49,636 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $912,000 after purchasing an additional 42,817 shares during the last quarter. Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 13.2% in the first quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 287,600 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $5,286,000 after purchasing an additional 33,500 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 14.9% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,972,406 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $256,813,000 after purchasing an additional 1,807,580 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 272.8% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 432,526 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $8,655,000 after purchasing an additional 316,500 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.92% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on KTOS shares. Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $25.00 price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Friday, September 13th. JMP Securities reiterated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $27.00 price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. B. Riley downgraded shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their target price for the company from $24.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $27.00 price objective (up previously from $25.00) on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $22.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, September 23rd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $25.10.

Insider Activity at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 2,423 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.00, for a total transaction of $60,575.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 59,453 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,486,325. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 2,423 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.00, for a total transaction of $60,575.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 59,453 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,486,325. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 3,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.09, for a total value of $70,315.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 276,091 shares in the company, valued at $5,546,668.19. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 76,091 shares of company stock valued at $1,739,101. 2.27% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NASDAQ:KTOS traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $23.11. 556,412 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,114,495. The company has a quick ratio of 2.56, a current ratio of 3.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a one year low of $16.71 and a one year high of $25.91. The company has a market cap of $3.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 328.43 and a beta of 1.02. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $23.49 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.55.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The aerospace company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.09 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $300.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $276.08 million. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a return on equity of 3.92% and a net margin of 0.89%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 16.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.05 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.31 EPS for the current year.

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.