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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 3 lowered, 9 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 30.5 percent to $458.8 million: Quarterly revenue was $458.8 million against $351.5 million a year earlier, up $107.3 million, with 19.1 percent organic growth. Source
  • Government Solutions led organic growth: KGS revenue was $379.7 million, up 36.4 percent, with 22.0 percent organic growth; Defense Rocket Systems grew 50.2 percent organically and Turbine Technologies 43.3 percent. Source
  • Quarter book-to-bill 1.1 to 1: Consolidated bookings were $492.2 million for the quarter, a 1.1 to 1.0 book-to-bill; for the last twelve months the book-to-bill was 1.3 to 1.0 on $1.990 billion of bookings. Source
  • EBITDA margins expected to keep rising: Management forecasts EBITDA margins to increase in the second half of 2026 and into 2027 as the business scales, production rises and fixed costs are leveraged. Source
  • Operating cash used in quarter: Cash used in operations was $11.0 million, mainly from working capital for receivables tied to revenue growth and inventory for production ramps. Source
  • Full-year revenue guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue guidance rose to $1,750-$1,810 million from $1,700-$1,760 million; initial third-quarter revenue guidance is $460-$480 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow guidance lowered: Full-year operating cash flow is now $30-$50 million, against $60-$70 million before; free cash flow use is unchanged at $85-$105 million. Source

“Kratos’ second quarter results are reflective of the execution of the Kratos team”

Eric DeMarco, Kratos’ President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$1,750 - $1,810 millionRaised from $1,700 - $1,760 million
Revenue SourceThird quarter 2026$460 - $480 millionNew
Organic revenue growth SourceThird quarter 2026 versus third quarter 2025approximately 19 to 25 percentNew
Organic revenue growth SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately 19 to 31 percentNew
Organic revenue growth SourceFull year 2026 versus full year 2025approximately 18 to 23 percentRaised
Organic revenue growth, Unmanned Systems SourceFull year 2026approximately 10 percentNew
Operating income SourceThird quarter 2026$1 - $4 millionNew
Operating income SourceFull year 2026$16 - $22 millionLowered from $18 - $23 million
Research and development expense SourceThird quarter 2026$13 - $15 millionNew
Research and development expense SourceFull year 2026$50 - $53 millionKept
Depreciation SourceFull year 2026$48 - $50 millionKept
Amortization SourceFull year 2026$43 - $46 millionKept
Stock-based compensation SourceThird quarter 2026$16 - $17 millionNew
Stock-based compensation SourceFull year 2026$60 - $64 millionRaised from $58 - $60 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceThird quarter 2026$40 - $45 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$173 - $176 million
Operating cash flow SourceFull year 2026$30 - $50 millionLowered from $60 - $70 million
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$125 - $135 millionLowered from $155 - $165 million
Free cash flow use SourceFull year 2026($85) - ($105) millionKept
Total forecast investments SourceFull year 2026$250 - $275 millionRaised from $248 - $270 million
Prometheus joint venture funding SourceFull year 2026$50 - $55 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull year 2026approximately 100 bps above 2025 reported marginKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull year 2027additional 100 bps above 2026 forecastKept
Jet engine production Source20273,000 jet enginesNew
Valkyrie production SourceBeginning of 2028approximately 40 Valkyries annually

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue guidance raised to $1,750-$1,810 million from $1,700-$1,760 million. Source
  • New guidance: Initial third-quarter 2026 guidance provided for revenue, operating income, R&D, stock-based compensation and Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year organic revenue growth forecast increased to approximately 18 to 23 percent versus 2025. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year operating cash flow guidance lowered to $30-$50 million from $60-$70 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year capital expenditure guidance lowered to $125-$135 million from $155-$165 million. Source
  • New: Unmanned Systems organic growth expectation of about 10 percent for full year 2026 added to guidance. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 30.5 percent to $458.8 million: Quarterly revenue was $458.8 million against $351.5 million a year earlier, up $107.3 million, with 19.1 percent organic growth. Source
  • GAAP net income was $4.4 million: GAAP net income was $4.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, against $2.9 million a year earlier; adjusted EPS was $0.21, against $0.11. Source
  • Operating loss after large non-cash charges: Operating loss was $1.6 million, after $16.3 million of stock compensation and $12.5 million of non-cash amortization; company-funded R&D was $13.6 million. Source

Segments and business lines

  • Government Solutions led organic growth: KGS revenue was $379.7 million, up 36.4 percent, with 22.0 percent organic growth; Defense Rocket Systems grew 50.2 percent organically and Turbine Technologies 43.3 percent. Source
  • Unmanned Systems growth tied to Valkyrie: KUS revenue was $79.1 million, up from $73.2 million, with 8.1 percent organic growth; the company attributes the increase mainly to Valkyrie-related activity. Source
  • Government Solutions operating income higher: KGS operating income was $14.3 million against $12.6 million a year earlier, mainly from higher volume and mix. Source
  • Unmanned Systems moved to operating income: KUS operating income was $1.2 million against an operating loss of $0.3 million a year earlier; KUS Adjusted EBITDA was $5.1 million against $3.6 million. Source

“the number of opportunities for Kratos continuing to increase as evidenced in our bid and proposal pipeline”

Eric DeMarco, Kratos’ President and CEO

Bookings and demand

  • Quarter book-to-bill 1.1 to 1: Consolidated bookings were $492.2 million for the quarter, a 1.1 to 1.0 book-to-bill; for the last twelve months the book-to-bill was 1.3 to 1.0 on $1.990 billion of bookings. Source
  • Unmanned Systems quarterly bookings: KUS book-to-bill was 1.0 to 1.0 for the quarter on $78.4 million of bookings; twelve-month bookings were $354.4 million, a 1.1 to 1.0 book-to-bill. Source
  • Government Solutions twelve-month book-to-bill 1.4: KGS book-to-bill was 1.1 to 1.0 for the quarter and 1.4 to 1.0 for the last twelve months. Source
  • Momentum expected to build: Management said business momentum is expected to accelerate in the second half of 2026 and into 2027, citing the twelve-month book-to-bill. Source

Margins and costs

  • EBITDA margins expected to keep rising: Management forecasts EBITDA margins to increase in the second half of 2026 and into 2027 as the business scales, production rises and fixed costs are leveraged. Source
  • Margins forecast despite higher costs: Management said margins are forecast to rise despite higher costs as it pursues large new Department of War work. Source
  • Currency pressure on Israeli business: Management said the strong shekel is weighing on the Israeli Microwave Products business, and that currency effects are expected to continue into the third quarter. Source
  • Third-quarter margin tempered by proposal costs: Third-quarter margin expansion is expected to be tempered by business development and proposal costs supporting the forecast revenue growth. Source

“Representative of this alignment is Kratos’ last 12 month book-to-bill ratio of 1.3 to 1.0”

Eric DeMarco, Kratos’ President and CEO

Cash flow and investment

  • Operating cash used in quarter: Cash used in operations was $11.0 million, mainly from working capital for receivables tied to revenue growth and inventory for production ramps. Source
  • Free cash flow use after capex and sale: Free cash flow use was $18.9 million after $17.2 million of capital expenditures and $9.3 million received from selling company-owned Valkyries. Source
  • Full-year capex lowered on timing shifts: Full-year capex lowered to $125-$135 million from $155-$165 million on timing shifts and customer-funded items; some drone spending moves into working capital. Source
  • Investment to continue into 2027: Investments in inventory, property, plant, equipment and facilities are expected to continue at least into fiscal year 2027. Source
  • Total 2026 investments raised slightly: Forecast total investments for 2026 are $250-$275 million, up from $248-$270 million, including $50-$55 million of Prometheus joint venture funding. Source

Guidance for the year and quarter

  • Full-year revenue guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue guidance rose to $1,750-$1,810 million from $1,700-$1,760 million; initial third-quarter revenue guidance is $460-$480 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range narrowed: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA is $173-$176 million, narrowed from $170-$176 million; third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA is guided at $40-$45 million. Source
  • Organic growth forecasts stepped up: Third-quarter organic growth is forecast at 19-25 percent and fourth-quarter at 19-31 percent; full-year organic growth at 18-23 percent. Source
  • Operating cash flow guidance lowered: Full-year operating cash flow is now $30-$50 million, against $60-$70 million before; free cash flow use is unchanged at $85-$105 million. Source
  • Second half to exceed first half: Second-half Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be greater than the first half, as revenue rises, margins expand and product mix shifts. Source

Strategy and product priorities

  • First-to-market internally funded strategy: Management said internally funded investments in first-to-market hardware and software, engineered for affordable mass production, align with Department of War priorities. Source
  • Named growth areas: Management named hypersonic and rocket systems, missiles, jet engines, and space and satellite communications as expected future growth areas. Source
  • Jet engine output to reach 3,000: Jet engine production is to ramp to 3,000 units in 2027 for small cruise missiles, with inventory purchases in the third and fourth quarters. Source
  • Facilities and programs funded in 2026: Forecast 2026 investments include the Anaconda radar, Helios hypersonic and arc chamber programs, and other facilities and initiatives. Source

Workforce and Israel operations

  • Staffing rising for production ramp: Staffing is increasing so the company can ramp production levels. Source
  • Israel operations profitability and personnel: Israel operations now have over 700 personnel; management said shekel strength is adversely affecting their profitability. Source
  • Government funding recovery after shutdown: Management expects customer contract funding to increase after the late 2025 and early 2026 government shutdown and extended continuing resolution. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Initial 2027 guidance with third quarter: Management will give initial full-year 2027 financial guidance when it reports third-quarter 2026 results later this year. Source
  • Long-lead items arriving second half: Management expects to begin receiving long-lead items for existing customer-funded programs in the second half of 2026, including solid rocket motors. Source
  • Valkyrie production start dated 2028: Plan to begin producing about 40 Valkyries annually by the beginning of 2028, as stated in this release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Consolidated backlog Source$2.084 billion at June 28, 2026
Bid and proposal pipeline Source$15.0 billion at June 28, 2026
KUS backlog Source$374.6 million at June 28, 2026
KGS backlog Source$1.710 billion at June 28, 2026
Funded and unfunded backlog SourceFunded $1.572 billion; unfunded $512.7 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Supply chain disruption, parts shortages and continued cost and price increases are named as assumptions behind guidance. Source
  • Financial: Bid, proposal and new-program investments and staffing are adversely affecting margins and free cash flow generation. Source
  • Operational: Guidance assumes the forecast business mix, employee sourcing, hiring and retention as stated. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management continues to expect the 2026 Adjusted EBITDA margin about 100 basis points above the reported 2025 rate. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect a further 100 basis point margin increase for 2027 over the 2026 forecast rate. Source
  • Not stated: Management expects second-half 2026 Adjusted EBITDA to exceed the first half. Source
  • Not stated: The plan for about 40 Valkyries a year is now dated to the beginning of 2028; the prior release said the end of 2027. Source
  • Not stated: Management expects second-half 2026 revenue to be significantly higher than the first half. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.