Kratos Defense & Security Bolsa (NASDAQ: KTOS)

Kratos Defense & Security (NASDAQ:KTOS) Bolsa

KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY

Kratos Defense & Security

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms, and systems. The company has two segments; The Kratos Government Solutions (KGS) segment is comprised of an aggregation of KGS operating segments, including its microwave electronic products, space, training, and cybersecurity, C5ISR/modular systems, turbine technologies, and defense and rocket support services operating segments and The Unmanned Systems segment consists of unmanned aerial, unmanned ground, unmanned seaborne and related command, control, and communications system businesses. The company derives a majority of its revenue from the Kratos Government Solutions segment.

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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. - Common Stock

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc

U.S. stocks settled lower on Friday, with the Dow Jones index falling more than 100 during the session.
U.S. major indices also closed lower last week, with the S&amp;P 500 falling about 0.5% and the Nasdaq down around 0.3%. The Dow also declined almost 0.2% in the week.
Wall Street analysts make new stock picks on a daily basis. Unfortunately for investors, not all analysts have particularly impressive track records at predicting market movements. Even when it comes to one single stock, analyst ratings and price targets can vary widely, leaving investors confused about which analyst&#8217;s opinion to trust.
Benzinga&#8217;s Analyst Ratings API is a collection of the highest-quality stock ratings curated by the Benzinga news desk via direct partnerships with major sell-side banks. Benzinga displays overnight ratings changes on a daily basis three hours prior to the U.S. equity market opening. Data specialists at investment dashboard provider Toggle.ai recently uncovered that the analyst insights Benzinga Pro subscribers and Benzinga readers regularly receive can successfully be used as trading indicators to outperform the stock market.
Top Analyst Picks: Fortunately, any Benzinga reader can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. One of the ways traders can sort through Benzinga&#8217;s extensive database of analyst ratings is by analyst accuracy. Here&#8217;s a look at the most recent stock picks from each of the five most accurate Wall Street analysts, according to Benzinga <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock</a> Ratings.
Analyst: Doug Anmuth
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Analyst Firm: JP Morgan</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 86%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained a Neutral rating on Pinterest, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>) and raised the price target from $30 to $35 on May 9. This analyst sees around 15% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 8, Pinterest reported better-than-expected first-quarter sales results and issued second-quarter sales guidance with its midpoint above estimates.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Jay McCanless
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Analyst Firm: Wedbush</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 86%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained a Neutral rating on Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) and cut the price target from $13 to $12 on May 9. This analyst sees around 4% surge in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 8, Rocket Companies posted in-line earnings for the first quarter.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Lloyd Walmsley 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Analyst Firm: UBS</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 86%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained a Buy rating on Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) and increased the price target from $103 to $107 on May 8. This analyst sees around 24% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 7, Uber Technologies reported worse-than-expected first-quarter sales results.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Alexander Paris
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Analyst Firm: Barrington Research</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 85%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained an Outperform rating on Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTI#NYSE">UTI</a>) and raised the price target from $35 to $36 on May 8. This analyst sees around 10% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 7, Universal Technical Institute reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results and raised its FY25 sales guidance above estimates.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Josh Sullivan
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Analyst Firm: Benchmark</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 85%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained a Buy rating on Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) and boosted the price target from $38 to $40 on May 8. This analyst sees around 16% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 7, Kratos Defense &amp; Security posted upbeat quarterly earnings.</li>
</ul>
Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45315727/top-3-industrials-stocks-that-may-collapse-in-may">Top 3 Industrials Stocks That May Collapse In May</a> </li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Price Target

Pre-Market Outlook

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

PINS

UBER

5 Stock Picks Last Week From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

RBC Capital analyst Ken Herbert maintains Kratos Defense &amp; Security (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $35 to $38.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on Kratos Defense & Security, Raises Price Target to $38

Benchmark analyst Josh Sullivan maintains Kratos Defense &amp; Security (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $38 to $40.

Benchmark Maintains Buy on Kratos Defense & Security, Raises Price Target to $40

Kratos Defense &amp; Security (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) affirms FY2025 sales outlook from $1.26 billion-$1.28 billion to $1.26 billion-$1.28 billion vs $1.28 billion estimate.

Guidance

Kratos Defense & Security Affirms FY2025 Sales Guidance of $1.26B-$1.28B vs $1.28B Est

Kratos Defense &amp; Security (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) sees Q2 sales of $300.000 million-$310.000 million vs $314.59 million analyst estimate.

Kratos Defense & Security Sees Q2 Sales $300.000M-$310.000M vs $314.59M Est

Kratos Defense &amp; Security (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.12 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.09 by 33.33 percent. This is a 9.09 percent increase over earnings of $0.11 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $302.60 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $292.91 million by 3.31 percent. This is a 9.16 percent increase over sales of $277.20 million the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Kratos Defense & Security Q1 Adj. EPS $0.12 Beats $0.09 Estimate, Sales $302.60M Beat $292.91M Estimate

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Earnings Scheduled For May 7, 2025

Kratos Defense &amp; Security (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) is gearing up to announce its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, 2025-05-07. Here's a quick overview of what investors should know before the release.
Analysts are estimating that Kratos Defense &amp; Security will report an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.09.
Investors in Kratos Defense &amp; Security are eagerly awaiting the company's announcement, hoping for news of surpassing estimates and positive guidance for the next quarter.
It's worth noting for new investors that stock prices can be heavily influenced by future projections rather than just past performance.
<h3>Earnings Track Record</h3>
The company's EPS beat by $0.03 in the last quarter, leading to a 5.25% increase in the share price on the following day.
Here's a look at Kratos Defense &amp; Security's past performance and the resulting price change:

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>Q4 2024</th>
<th>Q3 2024</th>
<th>Q2 2024</th>
<th>Q1 2024</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EPS Estimate</td>
<td>0.10</td>
<td>0.08</td>
<td>0.08</td>
<td>0.05</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS Actual</td>
<td>0.13</td>
<td>0.11</td>
<td>0.14</td>
<td>0.11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Change %</td>
<td>5.0%</td>
<td>9.0%</td>
<td>-2.0%</td>
<td>6.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1746540121_0.png" alt="eps graph" />
<h3>Tracking Kratos Defense &amp; Security's Stock Performance</h3>
Shares of Kratos Defense &amp; Security were trading at $35.88 as of May 05. Over the last 52-week period, shares are up 79.03%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are likely bullish going into this earnings release. 
<h3>Analyst Insights on Kratos Defense &amp; Security</h3>
For investors, grasping market sentiments and expectations in the industry is vital. This analysis explores the latest insights regarding Kratos Defense &amp; Security.
The consensus rating for Kratos Defense &amp; Security is Neutral, based on 4 analyst ratings. With an average one-year price target of $32.5, there's a potential 9.42% downside.
<h3>Analyzing Ratings Among Peers</h3>
In this analysis, we delve into the analyst ratings and average 1-year price targets of and Kratos Defense &amp; Security, three key industry players, offering insights into their relative performance expectations and market positioning.
<h3>Key Findings: Peer Analysis Summary</h3>
In the peer analysis summary, key metrics for and Kratos Defense &amp; Security are highlighted, providing an understanding of their respective standings within the industry and offering insights into their market positions and comparative performance.

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Consensus</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
<th>Gross Profit</th>
<th>Return on Equity</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Kratos Defense &amp; Security</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>3.40%</td>
<td>$69.80M</td>
<td>0.29%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Key Takeaway:
Kratos Defense &amp; Security is positioned in the middle among its peers for Consensus rating. It ranks in the middle for Revenue Growth. In terms of Gross Profit, it is at the bottom compared to its peers. For Return on Equity, Kratos Defense &amp; Security is also at the bottom among its peers.
<h3>Unveiling the Story Behind Kratos Defense &amp; Security</h3>
Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms, and systems. The company has two segments; The Kratos Government Solutions (KGS) segment is comprised of an aggregation of KGS operating segments, including its microwave electronic products, space, training, and cybersecurity, C5ISR/modular systems, turbine technologies, and defense and rocket support services operating segments and The Unmanned Systems segment consists of unmanned aerial, unmanned ground, unmanned seaborne and related command, control, and communications system businesses. The company derives a majority of its revenue from the Kratos Government Solutions segment.
<h3>A Deep Dive into Kratos Defense &amp; Security's Financials</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Reflecting a smaller scale, the company's market capitalization is positioned below industry averages. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: Kratos Defense &amp; Security's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 31 December, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 3.4%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Industrials sector.
Net Margin: Kratos Defense &amp; Security's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 1.38%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Kratos Defense &amp; Security's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 0.29%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): Kratos Defense &amp; Security's ROA is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.2%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Debt Management: Kratos Defense &amp; Security's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.21, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KTOS/earnings">To track all earnings releases for Kratos Defense &amp; Security visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

An Overview of Kratos Defense & Security's Earnings

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On Wednesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest executed significant trades involving Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), and Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NASDAQ">SHOP</a>). 
The Palantir Trade
Ark Invest made a notable move by selling shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) across ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#BATS">ARKW</a>) and ARK Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>). The sale involved 19,005 shares in ARKW and 3,375 shares in ARKX. With Palantir&#8217;s stock closing at $118.44, the total value of the shares sold amounted to approximately $2.65 million. Palantir has been in the spotlight due to its recent defense contracts and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/45113101/palantir-stock-is-up-55-ytd-heading-into-earnings-next-week-whats-going-on">upcoming earnings report</a> on May 5. The company has been actively involved in the TITAN program, delivering systems to the U.S. Army, which has contributed to its stock&#8217;s 55% year-to-date increase. 
The AMD Trade
Ark Invest also increased its stake in Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) through ARK Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#BATS">ARKK</a>) and ARKW. The firm purchased 106,769 shares in ARKK and 12,349 shares in ARKW, totaling a value of approximately $11.56 million, with AMD&#8217;s stock closing at $97.35. This move comes amid industry discussions about Huawei&#8217;s development of an AI chip, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/45052912/whats-going-on-with-advanced-micro-devices-stock-monday">potentially challenging competitors</a>. Despite this, AMD continues to be a key player in the semiconductor industry. Notably, Ark has made AMD purchases <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/04/45089384/cathie-wood-bets-against-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-ahead-of-crucial-earnings-report-loads-up-on-this-amazon-rival">throughout this week</a> so far. The company loaded up on $3.79 million worth of shares on Monday and another $747,923 worth on Tuesday.
The Shopify Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s purchase of 12,632 shares of Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NASDAQ">SHOP</a>) through its ARKW ETF reflects a strategic investment in the e-commerce sector. With SHOP&#8217;s stock closing at $95.00, the transaction was valued at approximately $1.2 million. Shopify faces new challenges due to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44640798/trump-ends-de-minimis-exemptions-shopify-bigcommerce-and-lightspeed-face-new-headwinds">changes in trade policies</a>, impacting e-commerce platforms. Despite these headwinds, Shopify remains a significant player in the digital commerce landscape. 
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP) &#8211; Sold 354,188 shares in ARKK.</li>
<li>Pacific Biosciences of California Inc. (PACB) &#8211; Bought 345,607 shares in ARKK.</li>
<li>10X Genomics Inc. (TXG) &#8211; Bought 184,619 shares in ARKK.</li>
<li>Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. (KTOS) &#8211; Sold 75,284 shares in ARKQ and 7,842 shares via ARKX.</li>
<li>Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) &#8211; Bought 6,933 shares in ARKQ.</li>
</ul>
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings places Palantir Momentum in the 99th percentile and Growth in the 86th percentile. How do other potent rivals compare? Find out here.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="803" height="105" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/30215237/Screenshot-2025-05-01-at-10.40.03.png" alt="" class="wp-image-896057" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/30215237/Screenshot-2025-05-01-at-10.40.03.png 803w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/30215237/Screenshot-2025-05-01-at-10.40.03-300x39.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/30215237/Screenshot-2025-05-01-at-10.40.03-768x100.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 803px) 100vw, 803px" /></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Ira Lichi on Shutterstock.com
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Cathie Wood Sells Palantir Shares Worth $2.65 Million Ahead Of Earnings, Doubles Down On This Chip Giant

Rocket Lab USA Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>) has been tapped by defense contractor Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) to carry out a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/b44965385/rocket-lab-awarded-new-haste-launch-contract-for-the-dod-by-kratos">hypersonic flight test </a>for the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the MACH-TB 2.0 program.
The mission, set to occur no sooner than early 2026, will lift off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 2 located on Wallops Island, Virginia. 
It represents the initial full-scale test flight granted by Kratos through the $1.45 billion MACH-TB 2.0 initiative, aimed at accelerating the development and evaluation of hypersonic technologies.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44629352">Rocket Lab Unveils Advanced Space-Grade Radios For Deep Space Missions</a>
Rocket Lab joined the MACH-TB 2.0 roster in January, following its successful support of multiple hypersonic tests under the original MACH-TB program in 2023. 
The company previously executed three missions for the Department of Defense, two of which launched just three weeks apart from the same Virginia site.
&#8220;In less than two years since its first launch, HASTE has quickly emerged as a leading commercial test platform of hypersonic systems. With our operational speed and cadence, and the ability to serve multiple mission profiles all in one platform, HASTE is helping to move the needle on hypersonic innovation,&#8221; said founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck.
For the upcoming test, Rocket Lab will deploy its HASTE launch vehicle, a suborbital adaptation of the company's Electron rocket. 
Designed for high-speed performance and flexible payload capacity, HASTE features lightweight carbon composite construction, additively manufactured engines, and a reconfigured Kick Stage tailored to support larger hypersonic experiment loads. 
The rocket can propel test systems at speeds exceeding 7.5 kilometers per second, allowing trials of air-breathing propulsion, glide bodies, and atmospheric reentry systems.
Beyond the MACH-TB program, HASTE has been added to several international defense frameworks. It is now listed under the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44814484/rocket-lab-stock-is-ripping-higher-tuesday-heres-why">U.S. Air Force's $46 billion Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract</a> (EWAAC), granting Rocket Lab eligibility to compete for further defense-related launch services.
Price Action: RKLB shares traded higher by 8.21% at $21.96 at the last check on Thursday.
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Why Is Rocket Lab Stock Trading Higher On Thursday?

Rocket Lab USA Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>) shares are trading higher Thursday after the company announced it was selected by Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) to provide a hypersonic test flight for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/b44965385/rocket-lab-awarded-new-haste-launch-contract-for-the-dod-by-kratos">U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)</a>. 
What To Know: Rocket Lab was awarded a new Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) launch contract for the DOD by Kratos under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program.&nbsp;
The launch agreement represents the first full-scale flight test to be awarded by Kratos under the&nbsp;MACH-TB 2.0 contract, which is a&nbsp;$1.45 billion&nbsp;program designed to quickly expand opportunities to test hypersonic technologies.
&#8220;In less than two years since its first launch, HASTE has quickly emerged as a leading commercial test platform of hypersonic systems. With our operational speed and cadence, and the ability to serve multiple mission profiles all in one platform, HASTE is helping to move the needle on hypersonic innovation,&#8221; said Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab.
&#8220;I&#8217;m confident this will be the first of many new opportunities to serve the nation through the MACH-TB program, and we&#8217;re proud to be working alongside Kratos to bring this test flight to the launch pad on a rapid timeline.&#8221;
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The news comes after Rocket Lab&#8217;s HASTE was selected to support hypersonic test launches as part of two major government defense initiatives in the U.S. and U.K. earlier this month. 
The U.S. Air Force selected Rocket Lab to participate in its $46 billion Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition contract, which runs through 2031 and aims to accelerate the procurement of innovative technologies, engineering services and technical solutions. 
The U.K.&#8217;s Ministry of Defence also selected Rocket Lab under a $1.3 billion framework aimed at accelerating the development of advanced hypersonic capabilities.
Rocket Lab is scheduled to report earnings results for the first quarter after the market close on May 8. Analysts are anticipating a loss of 12 cents per share and revenue of $121.49 million, according to estimates from&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.
RKLB Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/rklb">Rocket Lab shares</a> were up 6.63% at $21.63 at the time of publication Thursday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Photo: courtesy of Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab Stock Is Shooting Higher Thursday: What's Fueling The Launch?

Truist Securities analyst Michael Ciarmoli maintains Kratos Defense &amp; Security (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $32 to $38.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Kratos Defense & Security, Raises Price Target to $38

Kratos Receives ~$30M Sole Source Air Defense System Hardware Production Award

Kratos Defense &amp; Security's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NYSE">KTOS</a>) short percent of float has risen 37.83% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 7.03 million shares sold short, which is 4.7% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.23 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Kratos Defense &amp; Security Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743096620_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Kratos Defense &amp; Security has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Kratos Defense &amp; Security's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Kratos Defense &amp; Security's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.61%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

What Does the Market Think About Kratos Defense & Security?

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Added To S&P SmallCap 600 Index

JPMorgan analyst Seth M. Seifman raised the price forecast for Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) to $33.00 from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ktos/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$27.00 while maintaining a Neutral rating</a>.
The analyst shared key takeaways related to a call with Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco and CFO Deanna Lund.
Seifman says that Kratos is advancing steadily in its tactical drone initiatives, with a significantly lower risk of program setbacks.
The analyst writes that Marine Corps leadership appears supportive, and he anticipates positive developments driven by multiple upcoming catalysts.
The analyst notes that Kratos is poised to play a pivotal role in the DoD's push to enhance U.S. hypersonic weapons capabilities.
The analyst says that the company has already secured a leadership position in hypersonic testing through its MACH-TB 2.0 contract, which is expected to scale to several hundred million dollars in annual sales.
The analyst adds that Kratos&#8217; core businesses in Satellite Communications and Target Drones are showing strong performance and are positioned for continued growth beyond drones.
This month, the company announced its OpenEdge 2500 achieved&nbsp;Digital IF <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44226643/why-kratos-defense-security-solutions-stock-is-moving-higher-monday" rel="noreferrer noopener">Interoperability Consortium (DIFI) compliance</a>.
The Kratos Defense OpenEdge 2500 system helps satellite antenna makers digitally enable their products by converting radio frequency signals into Internet protocol data streams.&nbsp;The company noted that the signal can be easily incorporated for use in modern communications networks.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;ARK Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>) and&nbsp;ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>).
Price Action: KTOS shares are down 2.7% at $30.84 at last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43993896/kratos-defense-security-shares-fall-after-q4-revenues-miss-estimates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kratos Defense &amp; Security Shares Fall After Q4 Revenues Miss Estimates</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Mid Cap

ARKQ

Kratos Analyst Sees Growth Potential As Tactical Drones, Hypersonics Gain Traction

JP Morgan analyst Seth Seifman maintains Kratos Defense &amp; Security (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $27 to $33.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Kratos Defense & Security, Raises Price Target to $33

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VSTS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$260.0K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RHI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$32.5K</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$53.1K</td>
<td>475</td>
<td>228</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KTOS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$58.5K</td>
<td>222</td>
<td>150</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MMM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/17/25</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$45.3K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$50.8K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>93</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$28.7K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>89</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UBER</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$32.8K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$94.7K</td>
<td>142</td>
<td>72</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>POWL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$26.5K</td>
<td>43</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For VSTS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VSTS#NYSE">VSTS</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 58 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 4000 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $260.0K, with a price of $65.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4001 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RHI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RHI#NYSE">RHI</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 58 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.5K, with a price of $130.0 per contract. There were 19 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2113 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LMT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 184 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 118 contract(s) at a $370.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $53.1K, with a price of $450.0 per contract. There were 475 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 228 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding KTOS (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 149 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 150 contract(s) at a $32.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $58.5K, with a price of $390.0 per contract. There were 222 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 150 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MMM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 212 day(s) on October 17, 2025. Parties traded 75 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.3K, with a price of $607.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 667 day(s) on January 15, 2027. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $200.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.8K, with a price of $2540.0 per contract. There were 2065 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 93 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For VRT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRT#NYSE">VRT</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 58 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 30 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.7K, with a price of $958.0 per contract. There were 1009 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 89 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UBER (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 29 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.8K, with a price of $820.0 per contract. There were 1388 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 75 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 58 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 36 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $94.7K, with a price of $2630.0 per contract. There were 142 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 72 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding POWL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POWL#NASDAQ">POWL</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 29 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $180.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.5K, with a price of $1325.0 per contract. There were 43 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 26 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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