Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC Stock Position Decreased by Jennison Associates LLC

Jennison Associates LLC trimmed its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 16.6% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 335,065 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 66,599 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $228,595,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Torren Management LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Karpus Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the first quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of Northrop Grumman stock opened at $523.19 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $538.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $623.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.38, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of -0.10. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 1-year low of $493.84 and a 1-year high of $774.00.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.06 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $9.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.75 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.80% and a return on equity of 24.72%. Northrop Grumman’s revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $6.06 EPS. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 27.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 1st were issued a dividend of $2.47 per share. This represents a $9.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. This is a positive change from Northrop Grumman’s previous quarterly dividend of $2.31. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 1st. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.92%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $806.00 to $745.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $680.00 to $580.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 13th. Morgan Stanley set a $745.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and set a $620.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Northrop Grumman from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, April 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $676.29.

Key Stories Impacting Northrop Grumman

Here are the key news stories impacting Northrop Grumman this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Defense stocks are benefiting from a broader sector rally as investors respond to expectations for stronger U.S. military spending, including a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget backdrop. Northrop Grumman rises as defense-spending tailwinds and program momentum lift sentiment
• Positive Sentiment: Investor attention is building ahead of Northrop Grumman’s July 21 Q2 results, with a strong backlog and government contract momentum expected to support the quarter. Northrop Grumman to Post Q2 Earnings: Here’s What to Expect
• Positive Sentiment: Recent program news, including work tied to Sentinel infrastructure, is reinforcing the long-term growth story for strategic deterrence and aerospace missions. Northrop Grumman Planning To Add Hundreds Of Jobs For Sentinel
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary remains mixed-to-positive, with recent coverage focused on key earnings metrics and margin sensitivity, especially around the Sentinel program.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider trading data shows no open-market insider buying in the last six months, while several executives have sold shares, which may temper some enthusiasm.

Northrop Grumman Company Profile

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is a leading U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, builds and sustains advanced systems, products and technologies for government and commercial customers. Formed through the combination of Northrop and Grumman businesses in the 1990s, the company’s portfolio spans manned and unmanned aircraft, space systems, missile defense, radar and sensor systems, and integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions.

The company’s work includes airframe and platform manufacturing, space hardware and satellite systems, advanced mission systems and cybersecurity services, as well as logistics, sustainment and modernization programs.