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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions vs Leonardo DRS, Inc. Common Stock: why the prices moved differently

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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS)

Q3 2026
▲3▼1

Kratos Q3: Record Drone Investment, Major Contracts, But Cash Burn Weighs

  • Record UK Drone Investment The UK made a record investment in drones, boosting demand for Kratos' unmanned systems. This shows growing international demand for its core products, which supports future revenue and profit growth.

    It highlights a major new demand driver for Kratos' drone business.

  • Major Sole-Source Contracts Kratos won a $36 million air defense award and a roughly $100 million space tracking deal, both without competing bids. These contracts provide predictable revenue and validate Kratos' specialized technology.

    It shows significant new contract wins that directly add to backlog and revenue.

  • Strong Q2 Results and Raised Guidance Kratos reported Q2 revenue up 30.5% to $458.8 million, beating expectations, and raised full-year guidance to $1.75–$1.81 billion. Backlog grew to $2.08 billion with book-to-bill above 1, signaling robust demand.

    It confirms accelerating financial performance and positive momentum.

  • Cash Burn and Rich Valuation Despite operational wins, heavy capital spending led to negative free cash flow of $18.9 million in Q2, and the stock remains richly valued. Shares fell about 41% year-to-date, reflecting investor concerns over cash use and valuation.

    It provides the key counterweight: strong operations but financial risks pressuring the stock.

September 2026
▲3

Kratos wins new engine, drone and Navy radar work

  • Spartan J85 engines picked for Boeing's JDAM LR bomb program Kratos will use its Auburn Hills, Michigan plant to build TDI-J85 engines for Boeing's long-range JDAM bomb, and has already started buying long-lead parts for a big 2027 production run. More engine orders mean more future revenue, which supports the stock.

    A brand-new contract win that adds a named production program and future revenue for Kratos.

  • Navy radar sustainment deal worth up to $175 million Kratos won a single-award Phase 1 agreement, ceiling about $175 million, to build a sustainment capability for the Navy's AN/SPY-1 radar under Project Anaconda. It fits Kratos's electronics business and could lead to later phases, adding long-term revenue visibility.

    A new, concrete award that expands Kratos's defense electronics work and future revenue.

  • Elroy Air's cargo drone draws more orders, Kratos builds it Elroy Air's Chaparral cargo drone flew its first FAA-authorized autonomous flights, and Bristow added 10 early delivery slots, for 15 total and up to 100 pre-ordered. Kratos is the exclusive U.S. manufacturer, so these orders feed its Sacramento production line starting late 2026.

    New order momentum for a drone Kratos manufactures, pointing to future production revenue.

  • Cash burn is the counterweight to the contract wins Kratos is spending heavily to ramp production and buy long-lead parts, and had negative free cash flow of $18.9 million in the second quarter. The new awards are real, but turning them into profit depends on execution and funding that build-out.

    Gives the fair counterweight: growth orders are real, but cash use and execution risk remain.

Latest
▲3

Kratos wins new engine, drone and Navy radar work

  • Spartan J85 engines picked for Boeing's JDAM LR bomb program Kratos will use its Auburn Hills, Michigan plant to build TDI-J85 engines for Boeing's long-range JDAM bomb, and has already started buying long-lead parts for a big 2027 production run. More engine orders mean more future revenue, which supports the stock.

    A brand-new contract win that adds a named production program and future revenue for Kratos.

  • Navy radar sustainment deal worth up to $175 million Kratos won a single-award Phase 1 agreement, ceiling about $175 million, to build a sustainment capability for the Navy's AN/SPY-1 radar under Project Anaconda. It fits Kratos's electronics business and could lead to later phases, adding long-term revenue visibility.

    A new, concrete award that expands Kratos's defense electronics work and future revenue.

  • Elroy Air's cargo drone draws more orders, Kratos builds it Elroy Air's Chaparral cargo drone flew its first FAA-authorized autonomous flights, and Bristow added 10 early delivery slots, for 15 total and up to 100 pre-ordered. Kratos is the exclusive U.S. manufacturer, so these orders feed its Sacramento production line starting late 2026.

    New order momentum for a drone Kratos manufactures, pointing to future production revenue.

  • Cash burn is the counterweight to the contract wins Kratos is spending heavily to ramp production and buy long-lead parts, and had negative free cash flow of $18.9 million in the second quarter. The new awards are real, but turning them into profit depends on execution and funding that build-out.

    Gives the fair counterweight: growth orders are real, but cash use and execution risk remain.

August 2026
▲4

Kratos beats Q2, raises guidance, wins new drone and engine contracts

  • Q2 beat and raised guidance Kratos reported second-quarter revenue of $458.8 million, up 30.5% from a year ago, and earnings of 21 cents a share, both well above expectations. Management raised full-year revenue guidance to $1.75-$1.81 billion. Beating targets and raising the outlook tells investors the business is growing faster than expected, which supports the stock.

    The earnings beat and guidance raise are the core new financial event driving the stock.

  • Backlog and bookings show scale-up Backlog rose to $2.08 billion with $492.2 million of new bookings in the quarter, a book-to-bill above 1. Over the past year bookings totaled $1.99 billion. A growing backlog means future revenue is already contracted, giving investors more confidence in the growth story.

    Backlog and bookings are the concrete evidence that demand is converting into future revenue.

  • New engine and drone contract wins Kratos and GE Aerospace won a U.S. military designation and development contract for the F143 (GEK800) engine, and Kratos with Northrop Grumman won the Marine Corps MUX TACAIR contract for Missionized Valkyrie aircraft. New program awards expand Kratos's role in missiles and uncrewed systems, supporting future revenue.

    These are fresh contract awards that add new programs and validate Kratos's technology.

  • Drone tariffs and Pentagon procurement surge Trump imposed 100% tariffs on large foreign drones, favoring U.S. makers like Kratos, while the Pentagon pushes contractors to rapidly scale drone and missile production. This policy support boosts demand for Kratos's attritable drones, though the cash cost of ramping production and supply-chain execution remain real risks.

    Policy tailwinds and procurement demand are a major new external force lifting Kratos's outlook.

▲4

Kratos beats Q2, raises guidance, wins new drone and engine contracts

  • Q2 beat and raised guidance Kratos reported second-quarter revenue of $458.8 million, up 30.5% from a year ago, and earnings of 21 cents a share, both well above expectations. Management raised full-year revenue guidance to $1.75-$1.81 billion. Beating targets and raising the outlook tells investors the business is growing faster than expected, which supports the stock.

    The earnings beat and guidance raise are the core new financial event driving the stock.

  • Backlog and bookings show scale-up Backlog rose to $2.08 billion with $492.2 million of new bookings in the quarter, a book-to-bill above 1. Over the past year bookings totaled $1.99 billion. A growing backlog means future revenue is already contracted, giving investors more confidence in the growth story.

    Backlog and bookings are the concrete evidence that demand is converting into future revenue.

  • New engine and drone contract wins Kratos and GE Aerospace won a U.S. military designation and development contract for the F143 (GEK800) engine, and Kratos with Northrop Grumman won the Marine Corps MUX TACAIR contract for Missionized Valkyrie aircraft. New program awards expand Kratos's role in missiles and uncrewed systems, supporting future revenue.

    These are fresh contract awards that add new programs and validate Kratos's technology.

  • Drone tariffs and Pentagon procurement surge Trump imposed 100% tariffs on large foreign drones, favoring U.S. makers like Kratos, while the Pentagon pushes contractors to rapidly scale drone and missile production. This policy support boosts demand for Kratos's attritable drones, though the cash cost of ramping production and supply-chain execution remain real risks.

    Policy tailwinds and procurement demand are a major new external force lifting Kratos's outlook.

July 2026
▲3▼1

Kratos Rides Drone Demand and Expansion, But Cash Burn Weighs

  • Record UK Drone Investment The UK announced a record £5 billion drone investment, boosting demand for Kratos' drone and defense products. This large spending plan supports future revenue growth and investor optimism.

    Highlights a major demand catalyst from a key ally.

  • Sole-Source Defense Contracts Kratos won a $36 million sole-source air defense contract and a ~$100 million sole-source space tracking award. These deals provide near-term revenue visibility and validate Kratos' niche capabilities.

    Shows concrete contract wins that drive revenue.

  • Capacity Expansion and Tech Milestones Kratos expanded Spartan engine output toward 3,000 units, added 100,000+ sq ft in Oklahoma City for jet drones, completed its $50 million Indiana hypersonics facility early, validated ramjet hardware for Lockheed Martin, and secured Rangeview for engine castings. These moves scale production and advance key technologies.

    Demonstrates operational progress and capacity to meet demand.

  • Cash Burn and Valuation Concerns Despite 22.6% revenue growth and a $2.01 billion backlog, Kratos shares fell nearly 41% year-to-date due to negative free cash flow and a rich valuation. Rising capital spending is needed before cash returns improve, pressuring the stock.

    Explains the major counterweight to positive operational news.

▲3▼1

Kratos Wins $100M Space Deal, Builds Hypersonics and Engine Capacity

  • $100M sole-source space awareness contract Kratos won a roughly $100 million sole-source contract to build a ground-based space tracking system. Sole-source means no competitor bid, showing deep customer trust. This adds a new revenue stream and supports the stock by proving Kratos can win high-value space work.

    A major new contract award directly adds revenue and validates Kratos's space business.

  • Hypersonics facility done early, ramjet hardware validated Kratos finished its $50 million Indiana hypersonics facility ahead of schedule and delivered working turbomachinery for Lockheed Martin's ramjet program. This positions Kratos for near-term program ramp-ups, but also raises capital spending needs before cash returns improve.

    Shows execution on hypersonics, a key growth area, while flagging the real counterweight of higher capital intensity.

  • Rangeview deal secures critical engine castings Kratos picked Rangeview to develop advanced cast parts for its turbine engines, addressing a known U.S. shortage in superalloy castings. This supports Kratos's plan to mass-produce jet engines for drones and missiles, a key growth driver, by removing a production bottleneck.

    Directly enables Kratos's engine production ramp, a core part of its drone and missile growth story.

  • Drone stocks sell off on cash burn and high valuation Kratos shares fell nearly 41% this year despite 22.6% revenue growth and a $2.01 billion backlog. The sell-off reflects negative free cash flow and a rich valuation, a real counterweight even as defense budgets for drones surge. This pressures the stock in the near term.

    Explains the main downward force on KTOS despite positive contract news, giving a fair picture.

▲4

Kratos Rides Drone Demand Wave with New Contracts and Capacity Expansion

  • UK's record £5B drone investment and Ark Invest buy The UK announced its largest-ever £5 billion drone investment over four years, and Ark Invest bought 138,735 KTOS shares. This signals strong demand for Kratos' drones from US allies and boosts investor confidence, pushing the stock up.

    This is a major new demand catalyst and a high-profile investor move that directly lifted KTOS shares.

  • $36M sole-source air defense contract Kratos won a $36 million sole-source contract for a new air defense missile system. The non-competitive award shows strong customer trust and adds a meaningful revenue stream, sending the stock up 3.9%.

    This is a concrete new contract win that validates Kratos' technology and adds to its backlog.

  • Scaling Spartan engine output to 3,000 units Kratos plans to produce 3,000 Spartan turbojet engines over the coming year to meet rising demand from missile and loitering munition programs. This capacity expansion positions Kratos for higher revenue as the Pentagon restocks missile inventories.

    This shows Kratos proactively expanding supply to capture growing demand, a positive signal for future sales.

  • Oklahoma City manufacturing expansion for jet drones Kratos is adding over 100,000 square feet to its Oklahoma City facility to boost production of Valkyrie, Firejet, and other jet drones beyond the current 165 per year. This supports key programs like the Marine Corps' CCA and Taiwan's defense needs.

    This expansion directly enables Kratos to fulfill growing orders for high-performance drones, a core growth driver.

Q2 2026
▲3▼1

Kratos Expands Drone and Rocket Work as Peace Deal and Earnings Weigh

  • Rocket Systems Revenue Surges 46% Kratos' rocket systems revenue jumped 46% from a year ago, driven by strong demand for missile propulsion and target systems. This shows its core defense business is growing fast, which supports a higher stock price over time.

    This is a major new growth signal for Kratos' core business, directly answering what's driving the stock.

  • US-Iran Peace Deal Hits Defense Stocks Kratos shares fell 4.4% after the US and Iran agreed to an interim peace deal. Investors worried that less conflict means fewer drone sales, though Kratos may not have sold drones during the conflict anyway. This is a real headwind for the stock.

    This is a clear negative event that moved the stock and reflects geopolitical risk for Kratos.

  • Exclusive Manufacturing Deal with Elroy Air Kratos was named the exclusive US manufacturer for Elroy Air, a drone company going public, and agreed to a $200 million joint venture in Abu Dhabi. This opens new revenue streams and shows demand for Kratos' manufacturing expertise, pushing the stock up 5.9%.

    This is a fresh positive catalyst that directly lifted the stock and expands Kratos' business.

  • Autonomous Trucking Demo for NASCAR Kratos completed a cross-country autonomous truck platooning run for NASCAR logistics, proving its self-driving tech works commercially. This could lead to more contracts in freight, adding a new growth area beyond defense.

    This is a new commercial milestone that demonstrates real-world demand for Kratos' autonomous technology.

June 2026
▲3▼1

Kratos Expands Drone and Rocket Work as Peace Deal and Earnings Weigh

  • Rocket Systems Revenue Surges 46% Kratos' rocket systems revenue jumped 46% from a year ago, driven by strong demand for missile propulsion and target systems. This shows its core defense business is growing fast, which supports a higher stock price over time.

    This is a major new growth signal for Kratos' core business, directly answering what's driving the stock.

  • US-Iran Peace Deal Hits Defense Stocks Kratos shares fell 4.4% after the US and Iran agreed to an interim peace deal. Investors worried that less conflict means fewer drone sales, though Kratos may not have sold drones during the conflict anyway. This is a real headwind for the stock.

    This is a clear negative event that moved the stock and reflects geopolitical risk for Kratos.

  • Exclusive Manufacturing Deal with Elroy Air Kratos was named the exclusive US manufacturer for Elroy Air, a drone company going public, and agreed to a $200 million joint venture in Abu Dhabi. This opens new revenue streams and shows demand for Kratos' manufacturing expertise, pushing the stock up 5.9%.

    This is a fresh positive catalyst that directly lifted the stock and expands Kratos' business.

  • Autonomous Trucking Demo for NASCAR Kratos completed a cross-country autonomous truck platooning run for NASCAR logistics, proving its self-driving tech works commercially. This could lead to more contracts in freight, adding a new growth area beyond defense.

    This is a new commercial milestone that demonstrates real-world demand for Kratos' autonomous technology.

▲3▼1

Kratos Expands Drone and Rocket Work as Peace Deal and Earnings Weigh

  • Rocket Systems Revenue Surges 46% Kratos' rocket systems revenue jumped 46% from a year ago, driven by strong demand for missile propulsion and target systems. This shows its core defense business is growing fast, which supports a higher stock price over time.

    This is a major new growth signal for Kratos' core business, directly answering what's driving the stock.

  • US-Iran Peace Deal Hits Defense Stocks Kratos shares fell 4.4% after the US and Iran agreed to an interim peace deal. Investors worried that less conflict means fewer drone sales, though Kratos may not have sold drones during the conflict anyway. This is a real headwind for the stock.

    This is a clear negative event that moved the stock and reflects geopolitical risk for Kratos.

  • Exclusive Manufacturing Deal with Elroy Air Kratos was named the exclusive US manufacturer for Elroy Air, a drone company going public, and agreed to a $200 million joint venture in Abu Dhabi. This opens new revenue streams and shows demand for Kratos' manufacturing expertise, pushing the stock up 5.9%.

    This is a fresh positive catalyst that directly lifted the stock and expands Kratos' business.

  • Autonomous Trucking Demo for NASCAR Kratos completed a cross-country autonomous truck platooning run for NASCAR logistics, proving its self-driving tech works commercially. This could lead to more contracts in freight, adding a new growth area beyond defense.

    This is a new commercial milestone that demonstrates real-world demand for Kratos' autonomous technology.

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