Don’t miss what’s happening with drone makers… the power of the parabola… nine trade ideas from Jonathan Rose… huge one-year returns… why Louis Navellier is joining Keith Kaplan next TuesdayVIEW IN BROWSERDrone maker stocks are surging.Take Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS). It’s up 40% over the last month, and 80% over the last six months.Drones are being used extensively in the Russia-Ukraine war by both sides. They’re playing a significant role in surveillance, targeting, and even conducting str ...

Several drone stocks surged on July 11 after the United States Department of Defense (DoD) released a memo with highly bullish implications for the industry. In the memo titled “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance," Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared his vision for increased U.S. drone production and use. Let’s dive into some of the specifics of the memo and the defense stocks that were among the biggest beneficiaries. Get Red Cat alerts:Hegseth’s Small-Drone Focus Helps Shares of RCAT Blast Off ...

Group 1 - The U.S. government is shifting funding from traditional fighter planes to drone manufacturers, creating excitement among investors [1] - Kratos Defense & Security has seen a 13% increase in stock price following a Pentagon memo emphasizing the need for advanced uncrewed systems [1] - The company has a history of volatility in the defense sector, with a steady business in electronics systems and target practice drones for the military [3] Group 2 - Kratos has developed "loyal wingman" drones, such as the Valkyrie, designed to enhance combat capabilities alongside piloted F-35s [4] - The U.S. Secretary of Defense has issued memos prioritizing drone development to compete with Russia and China, which could benefit Kratos' programs [5] - Kratos shares have nearly doubled in 2025 and increased by 240% over the past five years, but the stock appears expensive based on current business [6] Group 3 - If the Valkyrie or similar drones are integrated into the Air Force fleet, there is significant potential for further stock price growth [7] - Investors are advised to be cautious and consider keeping Kratos stock as a small part of a diversified portfolio due to associated risks [7]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that Kratos (KTOS) has consistently surpassed earnings estimates and is well-positioned for future earnings reports [1][4] - In the last two quarters, Kratos has exceeded earnings estimates by an average of 38.89% [1] - For the last reported quarter, Kratos earned $0.12 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.09 per share by 33.33% [2] Group 2 - Recent estimates for Kratos have been increasing, indicating a positive outlook for the company's earnings [4][7] - The Zacks Earnings ESP for Kratos is +2.31%, suggesting analysts are optimistic about the company's earnings prospects [7] - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [5][6]

Group 1 - The new NATO defense spending plan may nearly double the market size for U.S. defense contractors over the next decade, according to BTIG analyst Andre Madrid [1] - NATO members, except for Spain, agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, up from the previous 2% target, with 3.5% allocated for core defense areas and 1.5% for infrastructure and industrial capacity [1][2] - Madrid's team estimates that NATO's defense budget could reach $3 trillion annually by 2035, with total military equipment spending potentially hitting $8.8 trillion over the next decade [1] Group 2 - U.S. defense companies currently account for about two-thirds of European military equipment imports, a ratio expected to remain stable [1] - Companies such as General Dynamics (GD.US) and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS.US) are highlighted as top picks to benefit from increased defense spending [1] - The existing 2% defense spending commitment was reinforced after the 2014 Ukraine conflict and has gained momentum following the escalation in 2022, with 23 NATO members expected to meet this target by 2025 [2]

Core Insights - The space and defense industry is dominated by major players like Lockheed Martin and RTX, but emerging companies like Kratos and Voyager are gaining attention for their innovative technologies and partnerships [1] Group 1: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions - Kratos is developing next-generation technologies such as autonomous jet fighters and hypersonic missile systems, with a significant contract for a hypersonic missile test bed worth up to $1.45 billion awarded in early 2025 [2][6] - The company emphasizes being "first to market" and affordability, which enhances its technological reputation and commercial viability [3] - Kratos has a record opportunity pipeline valued at $12.6 billion, nearly 10 times its expected revenues for 2025, indicating strong potential for revenue growth [5] - The company reported a non-adjusted net income per share of $0.03 last quarter, and its forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 86x, reflecting high growth expectations despite current production limitations [6] Group 2: Voyager Technologies - Voyager generates equal revenue from space and defense solutions, with significant contributions from NASA (26%) and Lockheed (17%) [8] - The company is leading the development of Starlab, a NASA-backed space station project, with an initial award of $217 million, but faces competition and funding uncertainties for future phases [9] - Voyager's stock has seen volatility since going public, with shares dropping from an initial high of $73.95 to $39 as of June 30 [7] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - Both Kratos and Voyager are smaller defense companies with significant long-term potential, with Kratos being viewed as the safer investment due to its established backlog, while Voyager presents a more speculative opportunity in the space sector [10]

Core Viewpoint - Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has successfully completed a public offering of common stock, raising $575 million in gross proceeds to support its strategic initiatives in the defense and national security sectors [1][2][3] Group 1: Financial Details - The offering consisted of 14,935,065 shares at a public price of $38.50 per share, with net proceeds approximately $556 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions [1][2] - The funds will be allocated for investments in national security priorities, customer acquisitions, and general corporate purposes, including debt repayment [2] Group 2: Strategic Positioning - The company is positioned to capitalize on a global recapitalization of advanced strategic weapon systems, with expectations of significant opportunities in the next 12 months [3] - Kratos aims to leverage its innovative capabilities to develop cost-effective solutions for mission-critical needs in defense and national security [4] Group 3: Business Focus - Kratos specializes in various areas including virtualized ground systems, unmanned aerial drone systems, hypersonic vehicles, and advanced propulsion systems [4] - The company emphasizes affordability and rapid development to meet customer requirements, aiming to be a leading contractor in high-probability win scenarios [4]

Group 1 - Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc announced a sale of $500 million in stock, leading to a 2.6% decline in shares to $41.25 [1] - The stock has fallen from a recent high of $46.52 on June 23, marking a 19-year peak, while year-to-date performance shows a 49.5% increase [1] - Stifel maintained a "buy" rating, indicating confidence in Kratos' potential for growth through incremental investments [1] Group 2 - Options trading for Kratos stock has increased significantly, with 4,893 calls and 1,839 puts exchanged, tripling the average volume [2] - The most popular options are the July 42.50 call and the July 40 put, with new positions being opened for both [2] Group 3 - Short interest in Kratos stock is at 6.4% of its available float, indicating a notable level of bearish sentiment [3] - It would take more than three days for short sellers to cover their positions based on the average trading pace of Kratos [3]

Core Viewpoint - Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has announced an underwritten offering of 12,987,013 shares of common stock at a price of $38.50 per share, aiming to raise approximately $483.75 million in net proceeds for various strategic initiatives [1][2]. Group 1: Offering Details - The offering price is set at $38.50 per share, with expected net proceeds of approximately $483,750,000 after underwriting discounts and commissions [1]. - Kratos has granted underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 1,948,052 shares [1]. - The offering is anticipated to close on June 27, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions [1]. Group 2: Use of Proceeds - The net proceeds will be utilized for investments and capital expenditures to support national security priorities, including existing programs and high-probability pipeline opportunities [2]. - Funds will also be allocated for targeted acquisitions and general corporate purposes, including debt repayment and offering-related expenses [2]. Group 3: Management and Regulatory Information - Baird, RBC Capital Markets, Truist Securities, and Raymond James are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering, with additional co-managers involved [3]. - The offering is conducted under an automatic shelf registration statement filed with the SEC, which became effective on February 21, 2024 [4].

Core Viewpoint - Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. plans to offer $500 million of its common stock in an underwritten offering to fund investments in national security priorities and for general corporate purposes [1][2]. Group 1: Offering Details - The offering consists of $500 million in common stock, with an additional 30-day option for underwriters to purchase up to $75 million more [1]. - The offering is subject to market conditions and other factors [1]. - The offering will be conducted under an effective shelf registration statement filed with the SEC [4]. Group 2: Use of Proceeds - Net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund investments and capital expenditures for national security programs and high-probability pipeline opportunities [2]. - Funds will also be allocated for customer and program targeted acquisitions, as well as general corporate purposes, including debt repayment [2]. Group 3: Management and Underwriters - Baird, RBC Capital Markets, Truist Securities, and Raymond James are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering [3]. Group 4: Company Overview - Kratos specializes in technology, products, systems, and software for defense, national security, and commercial markets, focusing on affordability and rapid development [6]. - The company aims to be a leader in innovative solutions, particularly in areas such as unmanned aerial systems, hypersonic vehicles, and virtualized ground systems for satellites [6].