Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NASDAQ:KTOS)

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) was the target of unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Traders bought 4,566 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 155% compared to the typical daily volume of 1,789 call options.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:KTOS opened at $17.77 on Thursday. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has a one year low of $12.12 and a one year high of $21.60. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $18.23 and a 200-day moving average of $18.43. The company has a market capitalization of $2.66 billion, a PE ratio of -296.12 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 2.03.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The aerospace company reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.09 by $0.03. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a positive return on equity of 3.01% and a negative net margin of 0.86%. The company had revenue of $273.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $253.39 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.03 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions will post 0.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $22.00 to $20.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Benchmark upped their price objective on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $20.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $23.00 price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Truist Financial increased their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $20.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $21.14.

Insider Transactions at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In related news, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.19, for a total transaction of $63,665.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 290,118 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,277,246.42. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, April 15th. The stock was 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $1,218,605.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Phillip D. Carrai sold 3,500 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction on Monday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.19, for a total value of $63,665.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 290,118 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,277,246.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 41,538 shares of company stock worth $763,479. Corporate insiders own 2.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Simplicity Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the first quarter valued at $2,610,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 44.6% in the first quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 116,026 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,133,000 after purchasing an additional 35,790 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 45.9% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 274,512 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $5,046,000 after purchasing an additional 86,407 shares in the last quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the first quarter worth $853,000. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the first quarter worth $264,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.92% of the company’s stock.

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.