Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $5.04 Million Holdings in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)

Principal Financial Group Inc. lessened its position in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) by 40.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 274,239 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 182,561 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.18% of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions worth $5,041,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KTOS. UBS Group AG grew its stake in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 8.7% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 168,420 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,530,000 after acquiring an additional 13,475 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 3.3% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 849,947 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $12,766,000 after buying an additional 26,877 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 2.8% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 250,101 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $3,757,000 after buying an additional 6,907 shares during the last quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions by 140.1% during the third quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC now owns 144,356 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,168,000 after buying an additional 84,228 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new position in shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during the third quarter valued at approximately $778,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.92% of the company’s stock.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:KTOS traded up $0.04 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $20.52. 149,485 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,240,904. The company has a quick ratio of 2.47, a current ratio of 3.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has a 12 month low of $13.13 and a 12 month high of $22.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 78.77 and a beta of 1.05. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $20.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $19.08.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ:KTOS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 7th. The aerospace company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.05 by $0.06. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions had a positive return on equity of 3.43% and a negative net margin of 0.06%. The business had revenue of $277.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $250.48 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.01 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 19.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. will post 0.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on KTOS shares. BTIG Research began coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Raymond James raised Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $20.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $25.00 target price on shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Friday, June 28th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions from $22.00 to $20.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, JMP Securities initiated coverage on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a research note on Tuesday, May 28th. They issued a “market outperform” rating and a $27.00 target price on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $23.50.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Steven S. Fendley sold 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.97, for a total transaction of $153,790.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 391,160 shares in the company, valued at $8,593,785.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, insider Steven S. Fendley sold 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.97, for a total transaction of $153,790.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 391,160 shares in the company, valued at $8,593,785.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Marie Mendoza sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.18, for a total value of $27,270.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 67,030 shares in the company, valued at $1,218,605.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 165,720 shares of company stock worth $3,511,521 over the last ninety days. 2.27% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.