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Kratos Defense (KTOS)
NASDAQ:KTOS

Kratos Defense (KTOS) AI Stock Analysis

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Kratos Defense

(NASDAQ:KTOS)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$37.00
▲( 2.75% Upside)
Kratos Defense's stock score reflects a robust financial performance with a focus on revenue growth and a solid balance sheet. The earnings call provides a positive outlook with significant growth opportunities, despite challenges with contract costs and cash flow. Technical analysis shows moderate momentum, but the high valuation presents a risk.
Positive Factors
Hypersonic Technologies
KTOS beat expectations and announced the first flight of the low-cost hypersonic Dark Fury franchise, aligning with Congress and Pentagon needs for affordable mass.
Tactical Drone Business
The Apollo, Athena, and Thanatos drones are now all under contract, indicating progress in the tactical drone business.
Negative Factors
Space Business Uncertainty
Uncertainty remains around the space business and pace of awards at Kratos Unmanned Systems, impacting the overall outlook.
Valuation Challenges
The valuation of Kratos Unmanned Systems is challenging to justify due to the lack of a significant program of record.

Kratos Defense (KTOS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Kratos Defense Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. operates as a government contractor of the U.S. Department of Defense. The company operates through two segments, Kratos Government Solutions and Unmanned Systems. The Kratos Government Solutions segment offers microwave electronic products, space and satellite communications, training and cybersecurity/ warfare, C5ISR/ modular systems, turbine technologies, and defense and rocket support services. The Unmanned Systems segment provides unmanned aerial systems, and unmanned ground and seaborne systems. It serves national security related agencies, the department of defense, intelligence agencies, and classified agencies, as well as international government agencies and domestic and international commercial customers. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyKratos Defense makes money through a diverse revenue model that includes the sale of products and services across its various business segments. The company's key revenue streams are driven by contracts with the U.S. government and its agencies, including the Department of Defense. Kratos also generates income from commercial customers and international clients. Significant partnerships with defense contractors and technology firms contribute to its earnings by enhancing its capability to deliver comprehensive solutions in areas like unmanned aerial systems, space and satellite communications, and defense electronics. By focusing on innovation and advanced technology development, Kratos secures both long-term contracts and project-based revenue streams.

Kratos Defense Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Kratos Defense shows positive revenue growth and a stable equity position, but struggles with low profitability margins and volatile cash flows.
Income Statement
70
Positive
Kratos Defense has shown a consistent revenue growth trend, increasing from $717.5M in 2019 to $1.14B in 2024. The gross profit margin has improved slightly over the years, reaching 25.26% in 2024. However, the net profit margin remains low at 1.43% in 2024, despite improvements from negative figures in previous years. EBIT and EBITDA margins have been relatively stable, though not exceptionally strong for the industry.
Balance Sheet
50
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects a strong equity base with stockholders' equity at $976M in 2023, but a high debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, indicating moderate leverage. The company has reduced its total debt significantly by 2024, but the absence of data for total assets and stockholders' equity for 2024 limits further analysis. The equity ratio was about 59.79% in 2023, suggesting a solid financial structure.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis reveals volatility, with operating cash flow fluctuating significantly over the years. Free cash flow has been inconsistent, with notable improvements in recent years but still facing challenges. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is not impressive due to the low net income figures, and the free cash flow to net income ratio remains unsteady.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
1.14B1.04B898.30M811.50M747.70M
Gross Profit
287.20M268.60M226.00M225.10M203.20M
EBIT
29.00M31.10M5.50M27.90M29.30M
EBITDA
96.40M79.50M26.50M62.80M64.40M
Net Income Common Stockholders
16.30M-8.90M-34.10M500.00K79.60M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
329.30M72.80M81.30M349.40M380.80M
Total Assets
1.95B1.63B1.55B1.59B1.56B
Total Debt
282.00M321.40M301.80M339.50M348.50M
Net Debt
-47.30M248.60M220.50M-9.90M-32.30M
Total Liabilities
597.70M634.00M604.00M629.20M622.70M
Stockholders Equity
1.35B976.00M936.30M945.10M925.30M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-8.50M12.80M-71.10M-15.70M10.70M
Operating Cash Flow
49.70M65.20M-25.70M30.80M46.60M
Investing Cash Flow
-69.70M-43.80M-177.40M-52.10M-87.30M
Financing Cash Flow
277.60M-30.70M-63.30M-9.30M247.70M

Kratos Defense Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price36.01
Price Trends
50DMA
32.85
Positive
100DMA
31.39
Positive
200DMA
27.78
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.72
Positive
RSI
60.16
Neutral
STOCH
66.40
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KTOS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 36.01 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 34.81, above the 50-day MA of 32.85, and above the 200-day MA of 27.78, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.72 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 60.16 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 66.40 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for KTOS.

Kratos Defense Risk Analysis

Kratos Defense disclosed 67 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Kratos Defense reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Kratos Defense Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$7.73B142.633.94%5.21%
72
Outperform
$5.68B27.9311.61%0.63%4.50%9.90%
71
Outperform
$5.48B271.811.45%7.32%
HXHXL
65
Neutral
$4.13B33.927.87%1.19%5.37%29.15%
64
Neutral
$4.39B11.815.20%249.38%3.96%-12.36%
59
Neutral
$2.80B-4.45%5.66%52.71%
SPSPR
37
Underperform
$4.37B81.63%-2.91%-109.95%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KTOS
Kratos Defense
36.01
14.47
67.18%
AVAV
AeroVironment
169.07
-30.70
-15.37%
HXL
Hexcel
51.40
-18.60
-26.57%
MRCY
Mercury Systems
47.20
16.02
51.38%
MOG.A
Moog
180.14
7.28
4.21%
SPR
Spirit AeroSystems
37.12
6.04
19.43%

Kratos Defense Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -0.14%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 31, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mix of positive developments and challenges. Kratos reported strong revenue growth and a record opportunity pipeline, driven by its hypersonic and drone segments. However, increased costs on fixed price contracts and cash flow challenges were noted, along with potential disruptions due to facility moves.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Opportunity Pipeline
Kratos' opportunity pipeline stands at approximately $12.6 billion, an all-time high for the company, indicating a large and increasing number of opportunities.
Significant Organic Revenue Growth
Kratos reported approximately 10% 2025 and 13% to 15% 2026 year-over-year organic revenue growth, supported by a Q1 book-to-bill ratio of 1.2:1.
Strong Hypersonic Franchise Performance
Kratos' Dark Fury hypersonic vehicle has successfully flown its initial mission at hypersonic speed, achieving all expectations under a customer-funded contract.
Expansion in Drone and Tactical Systems
Kratos is currently bidding on numerous large multi-hundred million dollar single award opportunities in the drone area, including international contracts.
Financial Performance Exceeds Estimates
Revenues for the first quarter were $302.6 million, above the estimated range of $285 million to $295 million, with adjusted EBITDA at $26.7 million, above the estimated range of $20 million to $24 million.
Negative Updates
Increased Subcontractor and Material Costs
Continued increased subcontractor and material costs on certain multiyear fixed price contracts in the Unmanned Systems business impacted margins.
Cash Flow Used in Operations
First quarter '25 cash flow used in operations was $29.2 million, with free cash flow used in operations at $51.8 million after $22.6 million of capital expenditures.
Challenges with Fixed Price Contracts
Kratos is facing challenges with certain 5-year fixed price contracts due to inflation and labor cost increases, particularly impacting the target drone business.
Facility Move in Israel
The expected downtime due to the Microwave Products facility move in Israel is impacting estimated Q2 shipments and margins.
Company Guidance
During the Kratos Defense & Security Solutions' First Quarter 2025 Conference Call, the company provided several key metrics and guidance regarding its financial and operational outlook. Kratos anticipates approximately 10% organic revenue growth for 2025 and 13% to 15% for 2026, driven by a robust opportunity pipeline valued at approximately $12.6 billion, marking an all-time high for the company. The Q1 book-to-bill ratio was 1.2:1, consistent with the last twelve months. Kratos' first-quarter revenue was $302.6 million, exceeding the estimated range, and adjusted EBITDA was $26.7 million, also surpassing expectations. The conference call emphasized the potential for significant contributions from the company's hypersonic franchise, jet engines, and propulsion systems, along with notable opportunities in integrated air and missile defense. The fiscal 2025 CRA, which allows for reprogramming of funds, has brought clarity and increased confidence in Kratos' future growth trajectory. Additionally, Kratos' investment in manufacturing and production capabilities is expected to support anticipated customer orders and requirements.

Kratos Defense Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Kratos Defense Holds Annual Shareholder Meeting
Neutral
May 19, 2025

On May 14, 2025, Kratos Defense held its Annual Meeting with shareholders representing 133,981,220 shares. During the meeting, stockholders elected directors to serve until the next annual meeting, ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2025, and approved the compensation of the company’s named executive officers.

The most recent analyst rating on (KTOS) stock is a Buy with a $30.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kratos Defense stock, see the KTOS Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.