Key Takeaways
- The Kratos share price sits at $57.17, up 1.76% on the day but down 13.38% over the past week — a reminder of how volatile defence stocks can be.
- Market capitalisation is $10.73 billion, with a 52 week range of $43.09–$134.00.
- Total revenue rose 18.53% year-on-year, and earnings per share grew 23.33% — strong operational momentum despite the share price pullback.
- Kratos raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to between $1.75 billion and $1.81 billion.
- The analyst average target is $105.62, with roughly 85–90% of analysts rating KTOS stock a Buy.
- A backlog of over $2 billion and a proposal pipeline of $15 billion underpin long-term growth in unmanned systems and national security programmes.
- Kratos does not currently pay a dividend, so there is no ex dividend date to track — this is a growth-focused holding, not an income one.
What Is Kratos Stock?
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions shares are trading at $57.17 as of 23 August 2026, up 1.76% on the day but down 13.38% over the past week. For investors and traders trying to understand the kratos share price, that kind of move is easier to judge in context: KTOS shares are tied to national security spending, unmanned systems adoption, government contract flow, and the firm’s ability to turn its pipeline into funded programmes.
Built for investors and traders following the defence sector and growth stocks, this guide covers the kratos stock price today, historical returns, valuation metrics, business segments, analyst sentiment, recent volatility, upcoming events, key risks, and practical trading considerations that tend to move KTOS shares. In a sector where contract wins, budget shifts, and security priorities can quickly reshape sentiment, understanding those drivers helps readers judge the stock’s volatility, growth potential, and whether recent price swings reflect noise, momentum, or a change in the investment case.
Kratos Share Price Today: KTOS Stock Price, Market Cap and Key Metrics
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker KTOS. The current kratos stock price is $57.17, having risen 1.76% in the past 24 hours. However, the stock has fallen 13.38% over the previous week, reflecting the kind of short-term volatility that is common across defence security stocks.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current Price | $57.17 |
| 24-Hour Change | +1.76% |
| Day’s Range | $55.25 – $60.09 |
| 52 Week Range | $43.09 – $134.00 |
| Trading Volume | ~4–5 million shares |
| Market Cap | $10.73 billion |
| Exchange | Nasdaq |
The company operates in the Aerospace & Defense sector, focused on defence and national security programmes. Intraday moves in the kratos share price are typically driven by broader market sentiment, defence sector headlines, contract announcements, quarterly earnings surprises, and geopolitical events that shift spending priorities toward space, cyber, or unmanned systems.
Company Overview: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. is a mission-critical products and services provider for national security customers. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the technology company was founded in 1994 and now employs approximately 4,300 people. CEO Eric DeMarco has guided the firm through a sustained period of growth across both its government and unmanned segments.
The company operates through two core segments.
Kratos Government Solutions (KGS)
The KGS segment refers to Kratos Government Solutions KGS, which offers virtualized ground systems for satellite command and control, microwave electronic products, training solutions including augmented reality training systems, directed energy technologies, and related command and control infrastructure for national security related agencies and classified agencies. This segment also supports communications system businesses serving intelligence surveillance requirements, wireless facilities, and space vehicles through its KGS operating segments.
Unmanned Systems
The unmanned systems segments focus on unmanned aerial, unmanned ground, and unmanned seaborne platforms, including tactical drones, counter unmanned aircraft systems, and target drones for test and training ranges — highly relevant to modern military operations.
| Segment | Example Products | Main Customers |
|---|---|---|
| Kratos Government Solutions (KGS) | Microwave electronics, satellite communications, virtualised ground systems, cyber security, training simulators | US DoD, international government agencies, national security agencies |
| Unmanned Systems | Tactical drones (Valkyrie), target drones, autonomous ground/sea platforms | US military ranges, international commercial customers, allied governments |
Kratos defense competes in specialised mission areas alongside other defense security solutions inc-style integrated platforms, but has carved out a niche in affordable, rapid-development unmanned systems and electronic products for both commercial markets and government programmes. The US segment serves the bulk of revenues, though Kratos also supports customers across other North America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East through its international expansion.
Kratos Stock Price History: How Has KTOS Performed?
Investors study historical performance to understand volatility, assess risk, and compare growth against benchmarks like the S&P 500. For kratos defense stock, trailing returns paint a mixed but ultimately compelling picture for long-term holders.
| Time Frame | KTOS Return | S&P 500 Return | Relative Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD 2026 | +24.69% | +12.11% | Outperform by ~12.5pp |
| 1-Year | +11.75% | +20.47% | Underperform by ~8.7pp |
| 3-Year | ~+274.9% | +74.4% | Strong outperformance |
| 5-Year | +160.22% | ~+75–80% | Significant outperformance |
The main drivers of historical gains include expansion in unmanned systems such as the Valkyrie programme, increasing national security spending, a widening backlog across both segments, and improving profitability as R&D investments begin to scale. Total revenue increased 18.53% since last quarter a year ago, and earnings per share increased 23.33% over the same period — both reflecting genuine operational momentum rather than short-term hype.
That said, the stock has undergone a significant correction from a 52-week high of $134.00 down to current levels near $57. KTOS reached an all-time high of $1,635.00 on 6 March 2000, during the dot-com era, and the stock has shown volatility tied to capital expenditure cycles and profit-taking throughout its history. The wide 52 week range is a useful reminder that despite long-term gains, sharp drawdowns are part of the investing experience with KTOS.
Why Is KTOS Down Today? Understanding the Recent Pullback
This is one of the most common questions investors ask when the kratos defense & security stock moves sharply. The weekly decline of 13.38% against a modest daily gain of 1.76% typically reflects a combination of factors rather than a single cause: profit-taking after a strong year-to-date run, sector-wide rotation out of high-multiple defence names, valuation concerns given an elevated trailing P/E, and reaction to mixed analyst commentary (some price targets have been trimmed even as the overall market stays broadly bullish). None of this changes the underlying fair value case — it simply illustrates why short-term price action in growth-stage defence names can diverge sharply from the longer-term trend.
Fundamentals, Valuation and Fair Value of KTOS
Fair value represents a stock’s intrinsic worth based on earnings, free cash flow, growth prospects, and comparable data. For investors evaluating the kratos defense and security solutions stock, comparing the current market price to estimated fair value helps determine whether the shares are overvalued or fairly priced.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalisation | $10.73B |
| Trailing P/E | ~330x |
| Forward P/E | ~60–90x |
| Price-to-Sales (TTM) | ~6–8x |
| Price-to-Book | ~3–5x |
| Profit Margin (LTM) | 2.03% |
| Analyst Avg Target | $105.62 |
| Target Range | $60 – $150 |
Revenue for Q2 FY26 was $458.8 million, and net income for the same quarter was $4.4 million. The company raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to between $1.75 billion and $1.81 billion, signalling confidence in its growth trajectory. In FY2025, Kratos reported total revenue of approximately $1.347 billion with net income of around $22 million.
The elevated trailing P/E reflects heavy investment in R&D, production scaling, and newer platforms such as rocket systems, launch systems, propulsion systems, and supersonic systems for missile defence programmes. These investments compress current margins but position the company for future earnings growth. Balance sheet health is solid, with low debt-to-equity and strong liquidity, which matters when competing for large government contracts. Per SEC filings, the company continues reinvesting cash into production capacity rather than returning capital to shareholders.
Business Drivers Behind the Kratos Share Price
Beyond market technicals, the kratos share price depends on fundamental business catalysts. US and allied national security budgets — particularly allocations toward space, cyber, and unmanned systems — provide multi-year revenue visibility. Kratos defense has a backlog of over $2 billion and a proposal pipeline reaching $15 billion, offering meaningful optionality if even a fraction converts into funded upcoming events and contract awards.
The Kratos Government Solutions segment stabilises revenues through recurring, multi-year contracts in satellite infrastructure, other systems for space domain awareness, and microwave electronics. The KGS segment consists of programmes supporting hypersonic vehicles testing, loitering munitions guidance, and command-and-control platforms for both domestic and international government agencies — all areas where spending is accelerating.
The Unmanned Systems segment remains the company’s primary growth engine. Kratos’ manufacturing strategy focuses on scaling production of numerous jet engines and tactical drones, targeting capital expenditure of $125 million to $135 million for production scaling in 2026. Recent milestones include a JASSM engine award with GE, expanding Kratos’s role in missile defense propulsion. Demand for space vehicles, counter unmanned aircraft systems, and ground-based directed energy solutions reinforces the pipeline. The company also continues exploring opportunities in Round Rock and Oklahoma City facilities to support production of unmanned aerial platforms at scale across commercial markets.
Analyst Sentiment: Is KTOS a Good Stock to Buy?
Analysts have maintained a Buy rating for KTOS as of 13 August 2026. There are 23 analyst ratings for KTOS, with the vast majority recommending a Buy position. The average price target is $105.62, and the highest price target is $150.00 — implying significant potential upside from the current price near $57.
| Rating Category | % of Analysts | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Buy / Strong Buy | ~85–90% | Consensus is bullish on growth and backlog conversion |
| Hold | ~10–15% | Some caution around near-term valuation and execution |
| Sell | ~0% | Virtually no Sell recommendations |
Recent rating actions include Canaccord Genuity raising its target to $135, while Goldman Sachs trimmed its target to $89 — reflecting divergent views on how quickly the company can convert its pipeline into revenue.
How to Trade Kratos Defense Stock
To trade Kratos Defense, investors typically use ticker KTOS on Nasdaq during standard US market hours. Given the volatility described above, limit orders are generally advisable around earnings releases or contract news, when bid-ask spreads tend to widen. Long-term investors focus on backlog growth and fair value estimates, while short-term traders react to contract awards and defence budget headlines — each capable of moving KTOS shares sharply in either direction.
Upcoming Events and Risks for the Kratos Share Price
Upcoming events and key considerations can cause meaningful short-term swings in the kratos share price, even when long-term fundamentals remain strong. It’s worth tracking several catalysts and reminders before making any decision.
Events to monitor include the next quarterly earnings report (expected early November 2026), major contract award timelines in missile defense and unmanned systems, and US Congressional defence budget decisions affecting national security appropriations. The ex dividend date is not applicable here, as Kratos does not currently pay a dividend.
Positive Catalysts to Watch
- Upside earnings surprises against consensus estimates
- Securing multi-year contracts within Kratos Government Solutions or Unmanned Systems
- Favourable legislation boosting R&D funding for defence technology
- Successful production ramp-ups of tactical drones and space vehicles
- Conversion of even a small portion of the $15 billion proposal pipeline
A Few Things to Keep in Mind (Not Reasons to Panic, but Worth Watching)
As a precaution, investors should note a few structural considerations rather than treat them as dangers: potential defence spending cuts or programme delays, supply-chain disruptions affecting electronic products and drone components, and increased competition from larger primes. Company-specific execution reminders — such as cost overruns in scaling production or delays fielding new defense security solutions — could pressure margins in the near term. Take note of both catalysts and these caveats before making any investment decision on KTOS stock, and always size any position according to your own risk tolerance.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kratos Share Price
What is the current Kratos share price?
As of 23 August 2026, KTOS trades around $57.17 per share on the Nasdaq exchange, with a market capitalisation of $10.73 billion.
Why is KTOS down today?
Despite a small daily gain, KTOS has fallen 13.38% over the past week. This typically reflects profit-taking after a strong year-to-date run, sector rotation, and valuation concerns tied to its elevated trailing P/E — rather than any single company-specific event.
Is KTOS a good stock to buy?
With a trailing P/E above 300x but an average analyst target of $105.62, most analysts see meaningful upside and roughly 85–90% rate the stock a Buy. However, the elevated valuation means strong execution on backlog conversion and margin improvement is essential. This makes KTOS stock better suited to growth-focused investors comfortable with volatility than to those seeking near-term income.
Does Kratos pay dividends?
No. Kratos reinvests free cash flow into R&D, production facilities, and new platform investments, which is why there is no ex dividend date to track. This makes the stock better suited for growth-focused investors than income seekers.
Final Thoughts on the Kratos Share Price
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions remains one of the more closely watched names in the defence technology space, combining steady Kratos Government Solutions revenue with a fast-growing Unmanned Systems division. The recent weekly pullback in the kratos share price is a useful reminder that even fundamentally strong growth stories can see sharp short-term swings — but with a $2 billion-plus backlog, a $15 billion pipeline, and broad analyst support, KTOS remains firmly on many investors’ watchlists heading into the rest of 2026.
