Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. Purchases 12,212 Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. $KTOS

Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. raised its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) by 53.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,942 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after acquiring an additional 12,212 shares during the quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd.’s holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions were worth $2,464,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in KTOS. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 190,481 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $5,655,000 after purchasing an additional 35,098 shares in the last quarter. Amundi bought a new stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 1st quarter worth approximately $791,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 64.4% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,315 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 515 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 178.0% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 3,570 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $108,000 after purchasing an additional 2,286 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 11.7% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 393,614 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $11,686,000 after acquiring an additional 41,265 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.92% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.93, for a total value of $86,895.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 64,447 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,733,414.71. This trade represents a 2.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Stacey G. Rock sold 4,675 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $233,750.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 9,600 shares in the company, valued at approximately $480,000. This trade represents a 32.75% 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. In the last quarter, insiders sold 148,036 shares of company stock valued at $8,455,857. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

KTOS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Truist Financial raised Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $99.00 to $75.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 7th. BTIG Research dropped their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $115.00 to $100.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, Citizens Jmp cut their price objective on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $125.00 to $105.00 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $101.29.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:KTOS opened at $49.68 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 5.08 and a current ratio of 5.63. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $54.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.18. The firm has a market cap of $9.32 billion, a PE ratio of 292.24 and a beta of 1.07. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a one year low of $46.01 and a one year high of $134.00.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The aerospace company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.03. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a return on equity of 2.82% and a net margin of 2.08%.The business had revenue of $371.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $345.00 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.12 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 22.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.48 EPS for the current year.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Kratos announced a new 167,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in York, Pennsylvania, expanding its production footprint and boosting capacity for military-grade hardware used in hypersonic, air defense, missile, radar, and counter-UAS programs. The company also plans to invest more than $7 million in new equipment, which should improve throughput and support future defense orders. Kratos Opens New 167,000-Square-Foot Manufacturing Facility in Pennsylvania, Expanding Existing Footprint in the State
• Positive Sentiment: The new facility follows news that Kratos received approximately $400 million in Department of War funding tied to hypersonic systems and other national security programs, a major contract/funding win that improves backlog visibility and strengthens the company’s growth outlook. Kratos Receives Approximately $400 Million in New Funding for Hypersonic System and Other Programs
• Positive Sentiment: Market commentary also remained constructive, with a Seeking Alpha piece arguing that Kratos’ valuation is supported by strong backlog, book-to-bill trends, and multi-year growth visibility, while Jim Cramer reportedly reiterated a bullish view in a lightning round appearance. Kratos: The Numbers That Matter Aren’t The Ones You’re Watching
• Neutral Sentiment: There is also ongoing investor attention on insider selling over the past several months, which may temper enthusiasm even as the company’s operating momentum improves.

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.