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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions(KTOS)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
3-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$39.17
10/19/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for KTOS

10/19/2026: KTOS (3-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is a focused aerospace and defense company primarily serving the US government through its expertise in autonomous drones and satellite communication infrastructure. The company has a leading position in developing affordable, attritable unmanned aerial systems, which serves as its primary growth opportunity. While Kratos benefits from high demand for modern defense technologies, it faces significant risks related to its concentration of government revenue and intense competition from much larger, well-capitalized industry prime contractors. The stock is generally best suited for growth-oriented investors capable of managing the volatility inherent in defense contracting. Investors should monitor progress in mass-production scaling for its key drone programs and commercial adoption of its satellite software.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitKratos offers exposure to high-growth areas like autonomous drones and space-based software.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often reacts strongly to new contract awards and defense procurement milestones.
Value investorWeak fitThe company is valued primarily on its future growth potential rather than current cash yield or low P/E multiples.
Dividend investorWeak fitKratos does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitDefense contracting and R&D-heavy companies are subject to significant volatility and government contract risks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is highly sensitive to defense budget headlines and contract announcements.
Valuation riskMedium / highAs a growth-oriented stock, it often trades at premium multiples, leaving it vulnerable to earnings misses.
Competition risk (Defense Primes)HighLarge prime contractors can outspend Kratos on R&D and lobby for competing solutions.
Business qualityMediumThe company has improved its operational focus but remains heavily reliant on specific government cycles.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors should not expect any income from this holding.
Execution riskMedium / highSuccessfully transitioning from drone prototypes to mass production requires significant operational scale.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 136.37%
Avg. Invested days 51
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 5.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/19/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
KTOS receives a 3-star rating, supported by strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
KTOS has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+35.0%) and solid revenue growth (+18.5%) are partially offset by weak cash generation (FCF margin -10.2%), soft profitability (net margin 1.6%), modest insider ownership of 1.29%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
KTOS's financial health is supported by solid liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 38.6%). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is KTOS's strongest growth driver at +35.0% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+18.5%, solid) is also solid, while free-cash-flow growth (-1516.5%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 85.6% and approximately 98.7% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 1.29% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 12.80%
State Street Corp 4.83%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.50%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.25%
First Trust Advisors L.P. 3.20%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
KTOS generates approximately $221 of gross profit, $21 of operating income, and $-102 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Negative free cash flow explains the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 35.29%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
KTOS has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Small / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 7.59B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 237.76
1Y Target Price 98.33
Price to earnings Ratio 237.76
1Y Target Price 98.33
Volume (30-day avg) 4.5M shares
Beta 1.11
52 Weeks Range 37.84 - 134.00
Updated Date 10/18/2026
52 Weeks Range 37.84 - 134.00
Updated Date 10/18/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.17

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Unmanned Aerial SystemsXQ-58A Valkyrie and aerial target drones.The company makes money by building and selling drones that act as lower-cost targets or 'wingmen' for larger jets.
Space & SatelliteOpenSpace software and hardware.They sell the technology that allows satellite operators to control their networks using software instead of physical equipment.
GeographyUnited States defense contracts.The vast majority of revenue comes from the US government, making the company reliant on US defense spending.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 237.76
Forward PE 45.25
Enterprise Value 7.42B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.98
Enterprise Value 7.42B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.98
Enterprise Value to Revenue 4.87
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 63.98
Shares Outstanding 187.72M
Shares Floating 185.26M
Shares Outstanding 187.72M
Shares Floating 185.26M
Percent Insiders 1.29
Percent Institutions 85.56

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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