Growth Potential of Kratos and Rocket Lab in Defense Sector
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 21 2026
0mins
Should l Buy KTOS?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Market Positioning of Kratos: Kratos focuses on unmanned systems and missile defense, with approximately 68% of its revenue coming from the U.S. government last year, indicating a strong reliance on defense contracts, and it is expected to enhance its market competitiveness through partnerships with Northrop Grumman.
- Major Contract Awarded: Kratos secured a $1.45 billion contract for the MACH-TB 2.0 program, the largest in its history, which is projected to double its revenue to approximately $400 million by 2026, marking a significant expansion in its hypersonic technology business.
- Transformation of Rocket Lab: Rocket Lab has transitioned from a commercial launch company to a defense contractor, winning an $816 million contract last year to design and manufacture 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency, showcasing its rapid growth potential in the defense market.
- Profitability Comparison: Analysts project Rocket Lab's 2028 EPS to be $0.29, valuing it at 264 times that estimate, while Kratos is priced at 68 times its projected EPS of $1.34, indicating that Kratos offers more attractive profitability and valuation, making it suitable for growth-seeking investors.
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Analyst Views on KTOS
Wall Street analysts forecast KTOS stock price to rise
13 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 71.940
Low
80.00
Averages
108.69
High
150.00
Current: 71.940
Low
80.00
Averages
108.69
High
150.00
About KTOS
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. is a technology, products, system and software company addressing the defense, national security, and commercial markets. It operates through two segments: Kratos Government Solutions (KGS) and Unmanned Systems (US). The KGS segment includes its microwave electronic products, space, satellite and cyber, training solutions, command, control, communication, computing, combat, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR)/modular systems, turbine technologies, and defense and rocket support services operating segments. The US segment consists of its unmanned aerial, unmanned ground, unmanned seaborne and related command, control and communications system businesses. Its KGS and US segments provide products, solutions and services for mission-critical National Security programs. KGS and US customers primarily include National Security-related agencies, the DoD, intelligence agencies and classified agencies, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Kratos Defense Shares Continue Decline Amid Market Focus
- Stock Decline: Shares of Kratos Defense have continued to slide, dropping 7.1% as of 12:25 p.m. ET, with a total decline exceeding 22% over the past month, indicating market concerns about its future performance amidst military actions in the Middle East.
- Insider Trading: Stacey Rock, president of Kratos' Turbine Technologies Division, sold 4,000 shares last week as part of a prearranged trading plan from June, which raises questions about investor confidence, although he still owns nearly 22,000 shares.
- Valuation Correction: Despite Kratos' stock nearly tripling last year and peaking at a 300% increase in 2025, it currently trades at a high price-to-sales ratio of over 7.5, raising concerns about its valuation even as sales are expected to grow by over 20% next year.
- Long-term Investment Potential: While Kratos is viewed as a speculative investment, the anticipated rapid growth in earnings suggests it could be a worthwhile long-term hold within a diversified portfolio.
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- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current stock price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, aiding in market trend assessment and potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade in 'units' rather than shares, which can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, reflecting changes in market interest for the ETF.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs highlights significant inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), directly impacting the buying and selling strategies of the underlying assets held within the ETFs.
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- Technological Integration Progress: VisionWave Holdings Inc. is developing an integrated multi-domain intelligence platform that encompasses autonomous systems and AI infrastructure, aiming to enhance its competitiveness in defense, energy, and intelligent monitoring sectors while expanding into broader intelligence applications.
- Collaboration and Innovation: GE Aerospace and Palantir Technologies have entered into a multi-year partnership aimed at enhancing military aviation readiness for the U.S. Air Force by optimizing production processes through AI technology, thereby improving overall operational efficiency and mission readiness.
- Emerging Market Opportunities: Kratos Defense has been selected by SKY Perfect JSAT to develop a 5G Non-Terrestrial Network ground system, marking a significant step towards the satellite industry's transition to 5G technology, which is expected to drive market expansion and cost reductions in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Rocket Lab Secures $190 Million Contract for Hypersonic Rocket Launches
- Record Contract Value: Rocket Lab has secured a $190 million contract with the Department of Defense to conduct 20 hypersonic rocket launches over four years, marking the company's largest launch agreement to date and enhancing its market position.
- Increased Launch Frequency: The contract sets the launch cost at $9.5 million each, significantly up from the previous $8.4 million, reflecting the ongoing demand for small rocket launches and is expected to substantially boost the company's profit margins.
- Success Rate Assurance: Rocket Lab has already completed seven HASTE missions with a 100% success rate, providing strong confidence for the execution of the new contract and further solidifying its technological edge in hypersonic weapon development.
- Enhanced Market Competitiveness: With the increase in launch prices, Rocket Lab's launch division gross margin has surpassed 40%, exceeding the 31% margin of its satellite manufacturing division, indicating a significant improvement in profitability that may exceed Wall Street analysts' expectations.
See More
Department of Defense Awards Rocket Lab $190 Million Contract
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- Increased Launch Frequency: This contract represents Rocket Lab's 20th launch under the HASTE program, following seven successful missions, demonstrating the company's strong performance in the small rocket launch market and further solidifying its market position.
- Margin Growth: With launch prices increasing from $7.5 million in 2023 to $8.4 million in 2024, the $9.5 million price for HASTE launches will push Rocket Lab's gross margin above 40%, significantly higher than its satellite division's 31%, laying a strong foundation for future profitability.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Although Wall Street analysts do not expect Rocket Lab to turn profitable before next year, the significant increase in profit margins alongside the upcoming Neutron rocket launch could shift market expectations, attracting more investor interest.
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Global Drone Market Enters Transformative Expansion Phase
- Market Size Surge: According to Barclays' latest report, the global drone market is projected to reach $250 billion by 2035, doubling from approximately $20 billion in 2020, highlighting drones' position as a core growth engine in the tech sector.
- AI Integration: The drone industry is undergoing a transformation labeled as 'Physical AI,' shifting focus from traditional manufacturing to compute, data centers, and software, which is expected to significantly lower long-term operating costs while transforming defense contractors into tech firms.
- New Frontier for Capital Expenditure: While individual drones often cost below $50,000, the broader ecosystem required for deploying autonomous swarms is creating a massive new frontier for capital expenditure, with future scaling increasingly reliant on AI capital expenditure and access to critical minerals.
- Geopolitical Implications: As the drone industry rapidly evolves, the ability to deploy low-cost, high-impact technology at scale is providing strategic advantages for global security, prompting investors to closely monitor the minerals and energy bottlenecks that could influence the pace of innovation.
See More
Kratos Defense Shares Continue Decline Amid Market Focus
- Stock Decline: Shares of Kratos Defense have continued to slide, dropping 7.1% as of 12:25 p.m. ET, with a total decline exceeding 22% over the past month, indicating market concerns about its future performance amidst military actions in the Middle East.
- Insider Trading: Stacey Rock, president of Kratos' Turbine Technologies Division, sold 4,000 shares last week as part of a prearranged trading plan from June, which raises questions about investor confidence, although he still owns nearly 22,000 shares.
- Valuation Correction: Despite Kratos' stock nearly tripling last year and peaking at a 300% increase in 2025, it currently trades at a high price-to-sales ratio of over 7.5, raising concerns about its valuation even as sales are expected to grow by over 20% next year.
- Long-term Investment Potential: While Kratos is viewed as a speculative investment, the anticipated rapid growth in earnings suggests it could be a worthwhile long-term hold within a diversified portfolio.
See More
XMMO Stock Performance Analysis and ETF Dynamics
- Price Fluctuation Analysis: XMMO's 52-week low is $97.50 and high is $152.42, with the last trade at $141.55, indicating price volatility near the high point which may influence investor buying decisions.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current stock price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, aiding in market trend assessment and potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade in 'units' rather than shares, which can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, reflecting changes in market interest for the ETF.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs highlights significant inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), directly impacting the buying and selling strategies of the underlying assets held within the ETFs.
See More
Integrated AI System Accelerates Defense Decision-Making
- Market Growth Potential: The global autonomous defense platforms market is projected to grow from $69.8 billion in 2026 to $198.9 billion by 2034, reflecting a robust annual growth rate of approximately 14%, indicating strong demand and investment in autonomous systems within the defense sector.
- Technological Integration Progress: VisionWave Holdings Inc. is developing an integrated multi-domain intelligence platform that encompasses autonomous systems and AI infrastructure, aiming to enhance its competitiveness in defense, energy, and intelligent monitoring sectors while expanding into broader intelligence applications.
- Collaboration and Innovation: GE Aerospace and Palantir Technologies have entered into a multi-year partnership aimed at enhancing military aviation readiness for the U.S. Air Force by optimizing production processes through AI technology, thereby improving overall operational efficiency and mission readiness.
- Emerging Market Opportunities: Kratos Defense has been selected by SKY Perfect JSAT to develop a 5G Non-Terrestrial Network ground system, marking a significant step towards the satellite industry's transition to 5G technology, which is expected to drive market expansion and cost reductions in the Asia-Pacific region.
See More
Rocket Lab Secures $190 Million Contract for Hypersonic Rocket Launches
- Record Contract Value: Rocket Lab has secured a $190 million contract with the Department of Defense to conduct 20 hypersonic rocket launches over four years, marking the company's largest launch agreement to date and enhancing its market position.
- Increased Launch Frequency: The contract sets the launch cost at $9.5 million each, significantly up from the previous $8.4 million, reflecting the ongoing demand for small rocket launches and is expected to substantially boost the company's profit margins.
- Success Rate Assurance: Rocket Lab has already completed seven HASTE missions with a 100% success rate, providing strong confidence for the execution of the new contract and further solidifying its technological edge in hypersonic weapon development.
- Enhanced Market Competitiveness: With the increase in launch prices, Rocket Lab's launch division gross margin has surpassed 40%, exceeding the 31% margin of its satellite manufacturing division, indicating a significant improvement in profitability that may exceed Wall Street analysts' expectations.
See More
Department of Defense Awards Rocket Lab $190 Million Contract
- Record Contract Value: Rocket Lab has secured a $190 million contract from the Department of Defense for the HASTE program, which involves 20 suborbital rocket launches at a cost of $9.5 million each, marking the company's largest launch agreement to date and expected to significantly boost revenue and profit margins.
- Increased Launch Frequency: This contract represents Rocket Lab's 20th launch under the HASTE program, following seven successful missions, demonstrating the company's strong performance in the small rocket launch market and further solidifying its market position.
- Margin Growth: With launch prices increasing from $7.5 million in 2023 to $8.4 million in 2024, the $9.5 million price for HASTE launches will push Rocket Lab's gross margin above 40%, significantly higher than its satellite division's 31%, laying a strong foundation for future profitability.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Although Wall Street analysts do not expect Rocket Lab to turn profitable before next year, the significant increase in profit margins alongside the upcoming Neutron rocket launch could shift market expectations, attracting more investor interest.
See More
Global Drone Market Enters Transformative Expansion Phase
- Market Size Surge: According to Barclays' latest report, the global drone market is projected to reach $250 billion by 2035, doubling from approximately $20 billion in 2020, highlighting drones' position as a core growth engine in the tech sector.
- AI Integration: The drone industry is undergoing a transformation labeled as 'Physical AI,' shifting focus from traditional manufacturing to compute, data centers, and software, which is expected to significantly lower long-term operating costs while transforming defense contractors into tech firms.
- New Frontier for Capital Expenditure: While individual drones often cost below $50,000, the broader ecosystem required for deploying autonomous swarms is creating a massive new frontier for capital expenditure, with future scaling increasingly reliant on AI capital expenditure and access to critical minerals.
- Geopolitical Implications: As the drone industry rapidly evolves, the ability to deploy low-cost, high-impact technology at scale is providing strategic advantages for global security, prompting investors to closely monitor the minerals and energy bottlenecks that could influence the pace of innovation.
See More
