Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) Trading Down 7.9% on Insider Selling

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) was down 7.9% during trading on Friday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock traded as low as $97.34 and last traded at $97.3450. Approximately 2,192,522 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 44% from the average daily volume of 3,913,056 shares. The stock had previously closed at $105.67.

Specifically, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.08, for a total transaction of $132,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 62,121 shares in the company, valued at $5,471,617.68. The trade was a 2.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 6,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.91, for a total transaction of $590,915.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 213,325 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,393,375.75. The trade was a 2.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Citizens Jmp upped their price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Citigroup reissued a “market outperform” rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Monday, January 12th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $112.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. BNP Paribas Exane set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Finally, Noble Financial reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $93.83.

Trending Headlines about Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

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

• Positive Sentiment: Prometheus Energetics (a JV including Kratos) broke ground on a new solid‑rocket‑motor manufacturing campus in Indiana — expands Kratos’ propulsion/energetics supply chain and capacity, supporting longer‑term revenue opportunities. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Kratos expanded its role in hypersonics, satellites and autonomy programs — operational wins in high‑priority defense areas that strengthen the multi‑year growth thesis. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: The company was awarded a contract to streamline development of hypersonic materials — a technical/contract win that reinforces market positioning in hypersonics. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary ahead of earnings points to expected double‑digit revenue growth across unmanned and defense segments — supports the growth outlook entering the upcoming reporting cycle. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Reported short‑interest data in recent filings appears effectively zero/ambiguous — likely a reporting quirk and not an immediate market driver. Neutral
• Negative Sentiment: UBS initiated coverage with a “neutral” rating and a $79 price target (well below recent levels) — a published target materially below the market can weigh on investor sentiment and trigger near‑term selling. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sales were disclosed this week (SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares; Phillip D. Carrai sold 6,500 shares). While insiders retain large holdings, these filings can be interpreted as near‑term profit taking and may add downward pressure on the stock. Read More. Read More.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 4.30 and a quick ratio of 3.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 759.33 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $95.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $83.80.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 7,701.6% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,593,549 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $120,966,000 after acquiring an additional 1,573,123 shares during the last quarter. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury grew its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 5.2% during the fourth quarter. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury now owns 71,408 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $5,421,000 after acquiring an additional 3,539 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 12,628 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $958,000 after purchasing an additional 1,091 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 5.8% in the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 7,572 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $575,000 after buying an additional 416 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.92% of the company’s stock.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

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.