Herbst Group LLC Sells 10,100 Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. $KTOS

Herbst Group LLC reduced its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) by 46.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,800 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 10,100 shares during the quarter. Herbst Group LLC’s holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions were worth $588,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of KTOS. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp boosted its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 7,600.0% during the fourth quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 385 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 380 shares during the last quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp boosted its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 115.4% during the fourth quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp now owns 420 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Vision Retirement LLC grew its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 288.2% in the 1st quarter. Vision Retirement LLC now owns 427 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. 75.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of KTOS opened at $60.77 on Monday. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a 1 year low of $43.09 and a 1 year high of $134.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 5.54 and a quick ratio of 4.99. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $52.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.15. The firm has a market cap of $11.41 billion, a PE ratio of 357.47 and a beta of 1.08.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The aerospace company reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.07. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a return on equity of 3.07% and a net margin of 2.03%.The company had revenue of $458.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $410.36 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.11 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 30.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.48 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “hold (c)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group set a $105.00 target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Wednesday. Wedbush initiated coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $85.00 target price on the stock. BTIG Research boosted their price target on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $100.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $99.00 to $82.00 in a report on Friday, June 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $101.29.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, insider Jonah Adelman sold 31,348 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.06, for a total value of $1,788,716.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 8,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $456,480. The trade was a 79.67% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Deanna H. Lund sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.74, for a total transaction of $318,700.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 290,161 shares in the company, valued at $18,494,862.14. The trade was a 1.69% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 144,036 shares of company stock worth $8,034,017 over the last three months. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Kratos Defense & Security Solutions this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Results exceeded expectations. Kratos reported second-quarter EPS of $0.21, up from $0.11 a year earlier and above the $0.14 analyst consensus. Revenue increased 30.5% year over year to $458.8 million, surpassing estimates of approximately $410 million. Kratos Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Management highlighted stronger second-half growth. The company cited increased capacity, program funding and bookings across hypersonics, jet engines, unmanned systems and counter-drone technologies. Kratos also views engines for low-cost cruise missiles as a significant future growth opportunity. KTOS Q2 Earnings Call Highlights
• Positive Sentiment: A new U.S. Army development contract adds strategic support. Kratos will develop an Enhanced Seeker for the Javelin missile system, expanding its role in precision weapons and missile technology. Kratos Receives U.S. Army Contract
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains supportive. Piper Sandler upgraded KTOS, and BTIG raised its price target to $104 while maintaining a Buy rating, reinforcing investor confidence following the earnings report. Kratos Upgraded at Piper Sandler
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation remains a risk. With a high earnings multiple and relatively modest profitability, KTOS could be vulnerable if program launches, capacity expansion or defense bookings fall short of expectations.
• Negative Sentiment: Cantor Fitzgerald reduced its price target to $100 from $115, although it retained an Overweight rating. Separately, CFO Deanna Lund sold 5,000 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan; the sale was a small reduction in her holdings but may provide a minor counterpoint to the bullish news. KTOS Insider Sale

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Profile

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology-driven company that specializes in national security and defense solutions for government and military customers. The firm’s core capabilities span unmanned systems, satellite communications, missile defense, cyber security, and directed-energy weapons. Through its integrated approach, Kratos delivers mission-critical products and services designed to enhance operational readiness and support force modernization initiatives.

In the unmanned systems arena, Kratos develops high-performance aerial platforms used as target drones, low-cost attritable aircraft and experimental stealth demonstrators.