Short Interest in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) Increases By 7.1%

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS – Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,580,000 shares, an increase of 7.1% from the April 15th total of 2,410,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 796,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.2 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on KTOS shares. Canaccord Genuity Group raised shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $11.50 to $14.00 in a report on Friday, February 24th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $20.00 target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a report on Monday, April 10th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $15.79.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Trading Up 1.3 %

KTOS opened at $13.57 on Tuesday. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has a twelve month low of $8.90 and a twelve month high of $16.23. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $13.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.48. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 2.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -61.68 and a beta of 0.80.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS – Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The aerospace company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.03 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $231.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $223.53 million. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a negative net margin of 3.00% and a positive return on equity of 1.68%. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’s revenue was up 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.04 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions will post 0.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

In other news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 7,211 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.00, for a total value of $100,954.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 42,760 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $598,640. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Kratos Defense & Security Solutions news, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 7,211 shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.00, for a total value of $100,954.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 42,760 shares in the company, valued at $598,640. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Benjamin M. Goodwin sold 8,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.77, for a total transaction of $102,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 14,370 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $183,504.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 484,014 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $4,916,000 after purchasing an additional 9,623 shares in the last quarter. Capital Fund Management S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 36.4% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Fund Management S.A. now owns 95,288 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $968,000 after purchasing an additional 25,420 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 224,582 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $2,282,000 after purchasing an additional 2,449 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 3rd quarter worth $808,000. Finally, Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in the 3rd quarter worth $474,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.56% of the company’s stock.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc provides mission critical products, services and solutions for United States national security priorities. Its products include microwave electronic products, satellite communications, modular systems, and rocket support operating. The company was founded on December 19, 1994 and is headquartered in Round Rock, TX.