Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. Takes $943,000 Position in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Key Points

• Ausdal Financial Partners initiated a Northrop Grumman position worth approximately $943,000 by purchasing 1,852 shares in the second quarter. Institutional investors collectively own 83.4% of the company.
• Analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $661.30, although targets range from $533 to $667.
• Northrop Grumman exceeded quarterly earnings expectations, reporting $7.68 in adjusted EPS and $10.88 billion in revenue, while maintaining its $2.47 quarterly dividend, equivalent to a 1.8% yield.

Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 1,852 shares of the aerospace company's stock, valued at approximately $943,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of NOC. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the second quarter valued at about $1,298,141,000. Bcwm LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 2nd quarter valued at about $8,851,000. Birmingham Capital Management Co. Inc. AL bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the 2nd quarter valued at about $216,000. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec raised its stake in Northrop Grumman by 460.0% during the 2nd quarter. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec now owns 74,093 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $37,736,000 after buying an additional 60,861 shares during the period. Finally, Man Group plc boosted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 96.1% in the second quarter. Man Group plc now owns 47,212 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $24,046,000 after acquiring an additional 23,133 shares in the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In related news, Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 95 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $547.53, for a total transaction of $52,015.35. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,393 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,405,299.29. This trade represents a 2.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.21% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on NOC shares. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $620.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $620.00 to $580.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, June 26th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $617.00 to $667.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $603.00 to $533.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research 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 assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $661.30.

Northrop Grumman News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Northrop Grumman expects to win a “decent share” of the potentially massive Golden Dome missile-defense program. CEO Kathy Warden’s comments reinforce the company’s positioning in space-based defense, although contracts and award values have not yet been finalized. Northrop Grumman expects decent share of Golden Dome missile defense
• Positive Sentiment: The company is expanding its international defense business as allied nations increase military spending. International sales are rising, and management is targeting approximately $10 billion in annual international revenue by 2031, suggesting a potential long-term growth avenue beyond U.S. government demand. Is Northrop Grumman Expanding Its International Defense Business?
• Positive Sentiment: Management says Northrop is operating on a “wartime footing,” while geopolitical tensions and active conflicts are driving a global defense-spending boom. That backdrop could support demand for the company’s missile, space and other defense platforms. Northrop Grumman Is on a Wartime Footing, CEO Says
• Neutral Sentiment: Northrop Grumman maintained its quarterly dividend at $2.47 per share, payable September 16 to shareholders of record August 31. The steady payout supports income-focused investors, but the absence of a new increase provides little incremental catalyst. NOC Steady at $2.47: A Closer Look at Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Dividend Discipline
• Neutral Sentiment: A $1.55 billion U.S. rare-earth initiative could benefit defense contractors by strengthening strategic-material supply chains, but the direct financial effect on Northrop Grumman remains unclear. Why Trump’s $1.55 billion rare earth move matters for Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

NOC opened at $550.61 on Thursday. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 1 year low of $479.02 and a 1 year high of $774.00. 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 company has a market capitalization of $78.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.49, a P/E/G ratio of 3.51 and a beta of -0.11. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $541.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $606.36.

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

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $2.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $9.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is currently 31.39%.

About Northrop Grumman

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

Continue following MarketBeat

Add MarketBeat as your preferred source on Google to see our latest stories in your feed.

Add As Preferred Source