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$KTOS · NASDAQ

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

🇺🇸 Industrials Aerospace & Defense
$47.53
▲ 1.80%
Market Cap$8.7B
P/E (TTM)273.47
52W Range$43.09 – $134.00
Volume4.3M
Beta1.11

Key Statistics

Revenue$1.5B30.5%
Net Income$30.9M7.4%
Gross Margin23.0%
Net Margin2.0%
P/E Ratio273.47
Forward P/E41.61
PEG Ratio36.41
P/S Ratio5.7x

Financial Performance

EBITDA$87.0M
Free Cash Flow$-118.3M
Operating Margin-0.2%
ROE1.1%
Total Debt$193.6M
Total Cash$1.4B
Dividend Yield
EPS (TTM)$0.17

The Signal Report

PREMIUM
Moat Rating
🛡️ Narrow Moat
★★☆☆☆
Switching Costs ●●○○○
Intangible Assets ●●○○○
Network Effect ●●●●○
Cost Advantage ●●○○○
Efficient Scale ●●○○○
Confidence: Medium
Fair Value
$104.20
+119.2% upside
Based on 20 analyst targets
🤖 Pulse AI Analysis

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS) presents a complex valuation picture, with a high P/E ratio but strong revenue growth and a substantial backlog in critical defense segments like unmanned systems and hypersonics. Despite being a pure-play in high-growth defense tech, its 'None' moat ...

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Recent Performance & Catalysts

Latest Earnings Beat estimates with EPS of $0.21 vs $0.15 in August 2026, though a prior quarter's EPS was N/A vs est $0.20.
Revenue Growth Strong 30.5% TTM revenue growth, with analysts projecting continued acceleration from new contracts.
Upcoming Catalysts:
  • Increased Pentagon budget for autonomous systems and hypersonics.
  • Growing backlog ($2.0B) and pipeline ($14.3B).
  • Key contract wins like the Marine Corps' CCA program (Valkyrie XQ-58A) and hypersonic testbed systems ($1.45B).
  • Expanding international demand for unmanned systems.

Core Strengths & Moat Sources

Switching Costs: Specific military systems may incur moderate integration costs for customers, but the competitive nature of government contracts means systems can be replaced or upgraded, limiting high switching costs.
Intangible Assets: Proprietary technology in advanced drones, satellite communication, and training systems offers some advantages, but the rapid evolution of military requirements necessitates continuous innovation to maintain relevance.
Network Effects: There is no significant network effect observed in Kratos's defense product offerings, as the value of its products does not inherently increase with a larger user base.
Cost Advantage: Specialized R&D and manufacturing are capital-intensive. The highly competitive government procurement environment limits Kratos's ability to establish a sustainable cost advantage over rivals.
Efficient Scale: Kratos operates in highly specialized segments within the defense industry. It has not yet achieved a scale that inherently deters new competition or guarantees above-average returns without constant innovation and contract wins.

Main Risks

  • High P/E ratio (372.29 TTM, 56.81 forward) implies significant future growth is already priced in, making it vulnerable to any operational missteps or market corrections.
  • Dependence on government contracts, which are subject to political changes, budget cuts, and prolonged procurement cycles.
  • Negative free cash flow ($-118.3M) indicates significant ongoing investment required for growth, which could strain liquidity if not managed effectively.
  • Intense competition in the defense sector, particularly in emerging areas like drones and hypersonics, where technology rapidly evolves.

🐂 Bulls Say

  • Kratos is a pure-play on the Pentagon's most significant procurement shift towards affordable, attritable drone swarms and hypersonics, with substantial budget allocations.
  • Record backlog of $2.0B and a $14.3B pipeline signal strong future revenue generation and long-term growth.
  • Recent large contract wins, such as the $1.45B for hypersonic testbed systems and Valkyrie XQ-58A selection, validate its technological leadership.
  • Significant undervaluation with the stock down over 40% YTD despite accelerating business momentum, offering a compelling contrarian entry point.

🐻 Bears Say

  • Negative operating margin (-0.2%) and negative free cash flow ($-118.3M) raise concerns about profitability and cash generation despite revenue growth.
  • The 'None' moat rating suggests a lack of sustainable competitive advantages, potentially leading to increased competition and margin pressure over time.
  • High P/E ratio and elevated forward P/E imply aggressive growth expectations, making the stock highly sensitive to any missed earnings or slowdowns.
  • The defense sector's reliance on government spending can introduce volatility and unpredictability, impacting long-term planning and revenue stability.

Financial Health

Kratos's balance sheet shows a strong cash position of $1.4B, providing flexibility for investments and operations. However, the negative free cash flow suggests that current growth is capital-intensive, requiring careful management to avoid liquidity issues despite the relatively low debt of $193.6M.

Analyst Note

Kratos offers a compelling, albeit speculative, investment in the evolving defense technology landscape, heavily influenced by shifting Pentagon priorities towards autonomous combat and hypersonics.

Business Strategy & Outlook

Kratos's strategy focuses on leading innovation in unmanned aerial systems, hypersonics, and satellite communication solutions, aligning with critical national security priorities. The company aims to leverage its proprietary technology and robust R&D to secure lucrative government contracts and expand its market share in these high-growth defense segments.

P/E (TTM)
273.47
Forward P/E
41.61
PEG Ratio
36.41
Analyst Consensus
strong buy

Wall Street Consensus

strong buy
Mean Target$104.20+119.2%
High$150.00
Low$60.00
Strong Buy
4
Buy
14
Hold
2

Total Returns

1 Year-34.3%
5 Year+117.3%
10 Year+727.2%
Year to Date-41.4%

Company Profile

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a technology company, provides technology, hardware, products, system, and software for the defense, national security, and commercial markets in the United States, other North America, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, and Internationally. The company operates through Kratos Government Solutions and Unmanned Systems segments. It offers virtualized ground systems for satellites and space vehicles, including software for command and control, telemetry, and tracking and control; jet powered unmanned aerial drone systems and hypersonic vehicles and rocket systems; propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems

SectorIndustrials
IndustryAerospace & Defense
Employees4,300
HeadquartersSan Diego, CA
ExchangeNasdaqGS
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Earnings & Revenue Forecast

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. reported earnings results for the periods shown below. 7 of the last 8 quarters have reported results.

2026/Q4 (Est) Forecast
Revenue Est $496.8M
EPS Est $0.20
2026/Q3 (Est) Forecast
Revenue Est $469.4M
2026-08 ✓ Beat
Revenue Actual $458.8M
EPS Actual $0.21
EPS Forecast $0.15
EPS Surprise +40.0%
2026-05 ✓ Beat
Revenue Actual $371.0M
EPS Actual $0.16
EPS Forecast $0.13
EPS Surprise +23.1%
2026-02 ✓ Beat
Revenue Actual $371.0M
EPS Actual $0.18
EPS Forecast $0.15
EPS Surprise +20.0%
2025-11 ✓ Beat
Revenue Actual $347.6M
EPS Actual $0.14
EPS Forecast $0.12
EPS Surprise +16.7%
2025-08 ✓ Beat
Revenue Actual $351.5M
EPS Actual $0.11
EPS Forecast $0.09
EPS Surprise +22.2%
2025-05 ✓ Beat
Revenue Actual
EPS Actual $0.12
EPS Forecast $0.09
EPS Surprise +33.3%
Kratos and GE Now Second-Source the JASSM's Engine. Small Jets Are the Bottleneck

Kratos and GE Now Second-Source the JASSM's Engine. Small Jets Are the Bottleneck

Sep 9, 20265 minutes

Kratos (KTOS) and GE Aerospace won the Air Force EMD award making the F143-ZZ-100 the second-source engine for the JASSM…

Kratos Is Building the Pentagon's Drone Army — and Wall Street Is Still Pricing It Like a Parts Supplier

Kratos Is Building the Pentagon's Drone Army — and Wall Street Is Still Pricing It Like a Parts Supplier

Jul 31, 20266 minutes

Kratos Defense (KTOS) sits at the center of the Pentagon's most significant procurement shift since the Cold War — from …

Kratos Is Getting Destroyed This Year — And That's Exactly Why You Should Pay Attention

Kratos Is Getting Destroyed This Year — And That's Exactly Why You Should Pay Attention

Jul 8, 2026

Kratos Defense has been obliterated in 2026 — stock down 36% year-to-date, market cap under $10B despite a record $2.01B…

The Drone Company Trading at 65% Off Its Highs While the Pentagon Bets Its Future on Autonomous Combat

The Drone Company Trading at 65% Off Its Highs While the Pentagon Bets Its Future on Autonomous Combat

Jun 29, 2026

Kratos Defense ($KTOS) is the behind-the-scenes force powering the Pentagon's autonomous drone revolution — XQ-58 Valkyr…

KTOS Is Down 29% While the Business Is Accelerating — The Valkyrie Drone Army Bet Nobody's Pricing In

KTOS Is Down 29% While the Business Is Accelerating — The Valkyrie Drone Army Bet Nobody's Pricing In

Jun 16, 20263 min read

Kratos Defense ($KTOS) is down 29% YTD to $56.15 despite $1.415B in TTM revenue (+22.6% YoY), a $2.01B backlog, and a st…

Pentagon Drone Spending Nears $3 Billion a Year: Four Companies With Multi-Year Backlogs

Pentagon Drone Spending Nears $3 Billion a Year: Four Companies With Multi-Year Backlogs

Jun 11, 20267 min read

The US government is pouring billions into drone programs — Kratos, AeroVironment, Red Cat, and Ondas are the four names…

Kratos Is Quietly Building the Pentagon's Drone Army — $KTOS Is the Purest Defense AI Play

Kratos Is Quietly Building the Pentagon's Drone Army — $KTOS Is the Purest Defense AI Play

May 26, 20263 minutes

Kratos Defense ($KTOS) is emerging as the Pentagon's go-to supplier for jet-powered drones and autonomous combat aircraf…

This Signal Report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Moat ratings reflect The Signal's independent analysis framework. The Signal may hold positions in securities covered. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.