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KTOSKratos Defense & Security SolutSell5.3·$59.87-5.57%
KTOS · Why this verdict

Why Kratos Defense & Security Solut (KTOS) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score5.3/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

6.2/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
P/S5.0
Fwd P/E2.1
PEG10.0
Analyst target9.0
  • Forward P/E: 54.5x
  • PEG: 0.42

Quality

2.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE0.4
ROA0.4
Gross margin0.6
Op margin0.7
Net margin1.0
Current ratio7.4
FCF quality0.0
Moat4.9
Piotroski F4.4
  • Earnings quality RED FLAG: -363% FCF/NI
  • No competitive moat
  • Quality concerns

Growth

9.1/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth8.1
EPS growth10.0
  • Strong growth: 23% YoY

Momentum

4.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.5
MACD10.0
OBV1.0
MA position4.5
Volume1.2
  • Volume distribution (falling OBV)
  • Below 200-MA, MA slope flat

Sentiment

7.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
LLM sentiment5.0
Analyst rating7.5
Price target10.0
  • Analyst upside: 93%

Insider

3.4/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality3.0
insider conviction2.0
holder change5.1
  • Notable insider selling — $12,745,139 (0.116% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.0/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank1.5
quality rank2.5
growth rank5.6

Technical

4.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger4.6
support resistance5.5
52w position0.0
gap6.0

Risk (lower is worse)

3.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest6.0
days to cover7.8
volatility0.0
put call0.0
implied vol0.0
max pain risk3.0
beta6.9
debt equity0.0
news risk6.0
  • Elevated put/call: 2.90
  • High IV: 88%
  • Above max pain $40
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH, 2 MED (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

7.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history10.0
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0
news activity8.0
  • Perfect beat streak: 4Q

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Quality below minimum threshold.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L1:HARD_BLOCK
Passed (6)
  • ASYMMETRY:5.2>=1.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:59d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
  • MOMENTUM:4.2<4.5
  • DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK
Warning (1)
  • 8K_CSUITE_CHANGE:5.02 (officer departure/appointment)
Reward-to-Risk
5.23
Upside
+73.9%
Downside
14.1%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupRECOVERY Death cross but MACD improving, RSI 60

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityMODERATE Balanced profile

Investment implication

The L1 gate blocked the positive-verdict path: a hard-floor threshold was breached, so dimensional pillars — including Growth at 9.1 could not lift the engine output above the verdict floor. Failed gate signal: MOMENTUM:4.2<4.5.

The strongest dimensions are Growth at 9.1, Catalyst at 7.6, and Sentiment at 7.4; the weakest are Quality at 2.2, Risk (lower is worse) at 3.3, and Insider at 3.4. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 5.23 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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