Central Bank & Trust Co. Has $1.46 Million Stock Position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Central Bank & Trust Co. lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 52.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,854 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 976 shares during the quarter. Central Bank & Trust Co.'s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,461,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of NOC. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 291.7% during the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 94 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Northrop Grumman

In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Roshan S. Roeder sold 991 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $490.00, for a total value of $485,590.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 319 shares in the company, valued at $156,310. This trade represents a 75.65% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,057 shares of company stock worth $517,733. 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of Northrop Grumman stock opened at $489.55 on Friday. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 1 year low of $418.60 and a 1 year high of $555.57. The firm has a market cap of $70.46 billion, a PE ratio of 17.27, a P/E/G ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.14. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $491.04 and a 200-day moving average price of $482.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The aerospace company reported $6.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.33 by ($0.27). The business had revenue of $9.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $10.07 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 26.24%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of $2.31 per share. This is an increase from Northrop Grumman's previous quarterly dividend of $2.06. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.89%. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is presently 36.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Susquehanna reduced their price target on Northrop Grumman from $557.00 to $540.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Northrop Grumman from $580.00 to $625.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Northrop Grumman from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research note on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group cut their target price on Northrop Grumman from $583.00 to $571.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on Northrop Grumman from $587.00 to $591.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $545.31.

Northrop Grumman Profile

Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company in the United States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and internationally. The company's Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems.

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