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KTOS
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. · Industrials - Defense Technology
$54.21
+1.38% this month
VERSUS
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COMPARE
AXON
Axon Enterprise, Inc. · Industrials - Law Enforcement Technology
$423.40
+7.92% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
KTOS
2
AXON
2
Comparison scoreboard
MIXED SETUPAI Score
KTOS 65.7
AXON ✓68.0
1Y Return
KTOS ✓+28.58%
AXON -45.55%
Fwd P/E
KTOS 50.34
AXON ✓41.78
Target Up.
KTOS ✓+106.97%
AXON +49.87%
Op. Margin
KTOS N/A
AXON 3.75%
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
KTOS vs AXON Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
KTOS is a defense technology company developing advanced drone and missile defense systems for the U.S. military, while AXON is a public safety technology company providing law enforcement with Tasers, cameras, and software — both are technology-forward government technology providers at different scales and with very different end-market dynamics.
KTOS vs AXON compares two government technology companies: Kratos's defense drone and satellite systems for military customers versus Axon's integrated weapons-and-software platform for law enforcement.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
KTOS and AXON are closely matched — they split the tracked metrics evenly. KTOS has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+28.58% vs -45.55%), though AXON trades at the lower forward P/E (41.78x vs 50.34x). Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for KTOS (+106.97%) than for AXON (+49.87%).
Normalized 1Y performance
KTOS
AXON
Recent returns
KTOS
AXON
Analyst price targets & sentiment
KTOS · 20 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (1.5/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$75.00
analyst high$150.00
analyst mean$112.20
current price$54.21
+107.0% upside to analyst mean
AXON
Price target range
analyst mean$662.04
current price$423.40
+49.9% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
KTOS may suit investors who:
- →Want defense technology exposure focused on affordable drone systems and hypersonic programs
- →Believe unmanned aerial combat vehicles represent a significant future defense procurement category
- →See Kratos's early-mover position in attritable drone systems as a long-term competitive advantage
AXON may suit investors who:
- →Want exposure to a law enforcement technology platform with highly recurring software revenues
- →Value Axon's strong customer retention and upsell dynamics from Taser relationships into Evidence.com and AI tools
- →Believe AI features like Draft One will accelerate Axon's revenue per officer over the coming years
Performance & AI score
| Metric | KTOS | AXON |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 65.7 | 68.0 |
| AI rank | #59 | #44 |
| Latest close | $54.21 | $423.40 |
| 1M return | +1.38% | +7.92% |
| 6M return | -22.30% | -23.02% |
| 1Y return | +28.58% | -45.55% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | KTOS | AXON |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.86K (+28.6%) started 2025-06-18 | $5.49K (-45.1%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $20.57K (+105.7%) started 2021-06-18 | $26.67K (+166.7%) started 2021-06-21 |
| 10Y ago | $133.85K (+1238.5%) started 2016-06-20 | $181.33K (+1713.3%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | KTOS | AXON |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $10.17B | $35.6B |
| Trailing P/E | 318.88 | 178.84 |
| Forward P/E | 50.34 | 41.78 |
| Price/Sales | 7.18 | N/A |
| EV/Revenue | 6.56 | 12.30 |
| Analyst target | $112.20 | $662.04 |
| Target upside | +106.97% | +49.87% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | KTOS | AXON |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 22.60% | 33.70% |
| Earnings growth | 130.60% | 89.80% |
| EPS growth | +130.60% | +89.80% |
| FCF margin | -7.54% | +2.10% |
| Operating margin | N/A | 3.75% |
| Profit margin | 2.08% | 6.91% |
| ROIC proxy | 1.23% | 6.77% |
| Return on equity | 1.23% | 6.77% |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | N/A |
| Beta | 1.03 | 1.42 |
| Debt/equity | 5.44 | 52.07 |
| Current ratio | 5.63 | 2.27 |
| Quick ratio | 4.85 | 1.70 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
KTOS max drawdown60.15%
AXON max drawdown60.28%
KTOS max wkly drop22.00%
AXON max wkly drop26.04%
5Y risk snapshot
KTOS max drawdown69.39%
AXON max drawdown60.28%
KTOS max wkly drop22.00%
AXON max wkly drop30.05%
10Y risk snapshot
KTOS max drawdown72.74%
AXON max drawdown60.28%
KTOS max wkly drop27.78%
AXON max wkly drop30.05%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | KTOS | AXON |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +28.58% | -45.07% |
| CAGR | +28.60% | -45.12% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.65 | -0.88 | |
| Max drawdown | 60.15% | 60.28% | |
| Max daily drop | 14.20% | 10.27% | |
| Max wkly drop | 22.00% | 26.04% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +105.65% | +166.69% |
| CAGR | +15.51% | +21.71% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.45 | 0.55 | |
| Max drawdown | 69.39% | 60.28% | |
| Max daily drop | 14.20% | 16.42% | |
| Max wkly drop | 22.00% | 30.05% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +1238.52% | +1713.28% |
| CAGR | +29.64% | +33.63% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.68 | 0.74 | |
| Max drawdown | 72.74% | 60.28% | |
| Max daily drop | 22.32% | 16.42% | |
| Max wkly drop | 27.78% | 30.05% |
Business comparison
| Category | KTOS | AXON |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. | Axon Enterprise, Inc. |
| Sector | Industrials - Defense Technology | Industrials |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | Kratos Defense develops affordable, high-technology defense systems including jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), missile target drones, satellite communication systems, and hypersonic test vehicles for the U.S. military and allies. | Axon provides integrated law enforcement and public safety technology including Taser conducted energy weapons, body cameras, fleet cameras, digital evidence management (Evidence.com), and AI-powered tools for police departments and correctional facilities. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Kratos's drone and unmanned systems program development and contract wins, production ramp opportunities for affordable tactical drone systems, and revenue from satellite and space technology services. | Investors track Axon's software and services revenue growth (the highest-margin recurring component), Taser hardware adoption rates, international expansion, and AI features including Draft One (AI report writing). |
KTOS strengths
- →Pioneer in affordable, high-performance drone systems at a price point enabling attritable (expendable) tactical use
- →Valkyrie unmanned combat aerial vehicle positions Kratos for a significant new category in autonomous air combat
- →Satellite communication ground systems provide stable, recurring contract revenue alongside hardware programs
AXON strengths
- →Taser brand dominance in conducted energy weapons creates captive customer relationships for software upsell
- →Evidence.com digital evidence management platform is deeply integrated into law enforcement workflows
- →AI-powered Draft One report writing tool is rapidly gaining adoption, demonstrating strong AI product-market fit
Risks to watch — KTOS
- →Defense drone programs are complex, multi-year development processes with uncertain production timelines
- →Competing against larger, better-resourced defense companies for major drone procurement programs
- →Revenue can be lumpy as program awards and transitions drive episodic recognition
Risks to watch — AXON
- →Political and social controversy around police use of force tools creates sporadic customer and brand risk
- →International expansion faces varying regulatory and law enforcement culture differences
- →Premium valuation reflects high growth and software attach rate expectations that must be sustained
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