Ameritas Advisory Services LLC Buys 2,580 Shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Key Points

• Ameritas Advisory Services increased its Northrop Grumman stake by 171.4% in the second quarter, purchasing 2,580 shares and bringing its holdings to 4,085 shares valued at approximately $2.08 million. Institutional investors collectively own 83.4% of the stock.
• Northrop Grumman beat quarterly earnings expectations, reporting $7.68 in EPS versus the $6.82 consensus and $10.88 billion in revenue, up 5.1% year over year. The company maintained fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $28.60–$29.10.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $2.47 per share, equivalent to an annualized $9.88 and a 1.9% yield. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $662.25.

Ameritas Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 171.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,085 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 2,580 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $2,080,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of NOC. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman during the first quarter valued at $30,000. Karpus Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 380.0% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 48 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Motiv8 Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, EFG International AG purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In related news, Director Mark Welsh, III sold 95 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $547.53, for a total value of $52,015.35. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 4,393 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,405,299.29. The trade was a 2.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.21% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 0.9%

Northrop Grumman stock opened at $519.37 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The business's fifty day moving average is $545.22 and its 200 day moving average is $595.56. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a one year low of $479.02 and a one year high of $774.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $73.77 billion, a PE ratio of 16.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of -0.11.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The aerospace company reported $7.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.82 by $0.86. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.48% and a return on equity of 24.25%. The company had revenue of $10.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $10.80 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $8.15 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 28.600-29.100 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.97 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $2.47 dividend. This represents a $9.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on NOC shares. Morgan Stanley set a $745.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $590.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Northrop Grumman from $617.00 to $667.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Robert W. Baird set a $500.00 price objective on Northrop Grumman in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on Northrop Grumman from $603.00 to $533.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $662.25.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global aerospace and defense company that develops and delivers systems, platforms and technologies for government and commercial customers. Its activities include the design and production of military aircraft, autonomous systems, spacecraft, launch vehicles, missile-defense systems, command-and-control networks, cyber solutions, sensors and other mission-critical technologies.

The company serves the U.S. Department of Defense, other U.S. government agencies and international customers.

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