How Does Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Stock Compare With Peers?
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS) stock has significantly outperformed its defense peers over the past year. However, as of January 8, 2026, how does it truly measure up against industry leaders like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX? A deeper look reveals robust revenue growth but starkly lower profitability and a premium valuation, suggesting limited upside if market focus shifts from growth potential to fundamental strength.
- KTOS’s 1.9% operating margin trails LHX’s 11.1%, signaling high R&D/prototype investment and fixed-price contract cost pressures.
- KTOS’s 14.0% revenue growth outpaces primes like LMT but lags AVAV, highlighting its niche tech success amidst intense drone market competition.
- KTOS’s 259.5% gain and 886.9 PE reflect investor confidence in disruptive defense tech like Valkyrie, valuing future growth over current earnings.
Here’s how Kratos Defense & Security Solutions stacks up across size, valuation, and profitability versus key peers.
| KTOS | LMT | NOC | RTX | AVAV | LHX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 17.7 | 120.2 | 84.5 | 251.4 | 17.2 | 60.9 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 1.3 | 73.3 | 40.9 | 86.0 | 1.4 | 21.4 |
| PE Ratio | 886.9 | 28.6 | 21.0 | 38.1 | -246.6 | 35.9 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 14.0% | 2.9% | -0.1% | 8.8% | 79.9% | 2.9% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 1.9% | 8.2% | 10.0% | 10.3% | -5.1% | 11.1% |
| LTM FCF Margin | -7.3% | 6.3% | 4.5% | 5.5% | -18.5% | 10.1% |
| 12M Market Return | 259.5% | 13.8% | 30.0% | 64.5% | 111.1% | 60.3% |
For more details on Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, read Buy or Sell KTOS Stock. Below we compare KTOS’s growth, margin, and valuation with peers across years
Revenue Growth Comparison
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| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTOS | 14.0% | – | 9.6% | 15.5% | 10.7% |
| LMT | 2.9% | – | 5.1% | 2.4% | -1.6% |
| NOC | -0.1% | – | 4.4% | 7.3% | 2.6% |
| RTX | 8.8% | – | 17.1% | 2.8% | 4.2% |
| AVAV | 79.9% | 14.5% | 32.6% | 21.3% | |
| LHX | 2.9% | – | 9.8% | 13.8% | -4.2% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTOS | 1.9% | – | 2.9% | 3.1% | 0.5% |
| LMT | 8.2% | – | 9.9% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| NOC | 10.0% | – | 10.6% | 6.5% | 9.8% |
| RTX | 10.3% | – | 8.1% | 5.2% | 8.2% |
| AVAV | -5.1% | 7.2% | 10.0% | -4.2% | |
| LHX | 11.1% | – | 9.7% | 10.4% | 11.3% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTOS | 886.9 | – | 693.9 | -386.5 | -69.7 |
| LMT | 28.6 | – | 21.6 | 17.6 | 20.9 |
| NOC | 21.0 | – | 20.1 | 34.6 | 14.8 |
| RTX | 38.1 | – | 51.2 | 51.6 | 23.9 |
| AVAV | -246.6 | 155.4 | 70.2 | -17.9 | |
| LHX | 35.9 | – | 37.1 | 32.5 | 38.0 |
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