Bard Associates Inc. Reduces Stock Position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. $KTOS

Bard Associates Inc. lowered its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) by 11.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 81,758 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 10,215 shares during the period. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions comprises approximately 2.0% of Bard Associates Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Bard Associates Inc.’s holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions were worth $7,470,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KTOS. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 29.6% during the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 5,086,494 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $236,268,000 after acquiring an additional 1,162,577 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 8.3% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,949,763 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $183,490,000 after purchasing an additional 301,135 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 29.5% in the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,068,863 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $280,402,000 after purchasing an additional 698,778 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 7.4% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,046,194 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $278,331,000 after purchasing an additional 209,189 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hood River Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 13.3% during the second quarter. Hood River Capital Management LLC now owns 2,755,446 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $127,990,000 after purchasing an additional 324,140 shares in the last quarter. 75.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Trading Down 2.2%

Shares of NASDAQ:KTOS opened at $87.53 on Friday. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a 52-week low of $25.78 and a 52-week high of $134.00. The stock has a market cap of $16.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 673.36 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a quick ratio of 3.46, a current ratio of 4.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $100.19 and a 200-day moving average price of $86.70.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The aerospace company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.04. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a return on equity of 3.34% and a net margin of 1.63%.The firm had revenue of $345.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $327.51 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.13 earnings per share. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’s revenue for the quarter was up 21.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.31 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, insider David M. Carter sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.36, for a total transaction of $341,440.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 81,964 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,996,447.04. This trade represents a 4.65% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Scot B. Jarvis sold 5,000 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.60, for a total value of $443,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 85,417 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,567,946.20. The trade was a 5.53% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 579,731 shares of company stock valued at $50,949,306. 2.37% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on KTOS shares. Citizens Jmp lifted 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. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. JonesTrading began coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Monday, January 5th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price objective on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Finally, BTIG Research increased their price target on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $95.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. 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 stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $98.28.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Company 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.