Financial Counselors Inc. Grows Stock Holdings in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)

Financial Counselors Inc. boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 4.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 72,157 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 3,007 shares during the period. Financial Counselors Inc. owned approximately 0.05% of Northrop Grumman worth $36,945,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 176.3% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 2,970 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,394,000 after purchasing an additional 1,895 shares in the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG lifted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 1,006 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $472,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 81.8% during the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 89,439 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $41,973,000 after acquiring an additional 40,247 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at $201,000. Finally, Callan Family Office LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth $618,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northrop Grumman

In other Northrop Grumman news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.77, for a total value of $3,793,275.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 201,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,964,243.54. The trade was a 3.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Roshan S. Roeder sold 991 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $490.00, for a total transaction of $485,590.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 319 shares in the company, valued at $156,310. The trade was a 75.65% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 16,569 shares of company stock worth $8,323,150 in the last 90 days. 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

NYSE:NOC traded up $0.77 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $505.62. The stock had a trading volume of 220,116 shares, compared to its average volume of 878,050. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $487.89 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $484.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $72.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.94, a P/E/G ratio of 5.55 and a beta of 0.15. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a one year low of $422.69 and a one year high of $555.57.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 22nd. The aerospace company reported $6.06 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.33 by ($0.27). The company had revenue of $9.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $10.07 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 9.19% and a return on equity of 25.46%. Research analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 2nd were given a $2.31 dividend. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 2nd. This is a boost from Northrop Grumman's previous quarterly dividend of $2.06. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NOC has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Northrop Grumman from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "hold" rating and issued a $542.00 price objective (down from $580.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $575.00 to $550.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $580.00 to $625.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $525.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $550.00.

Northrop Grumman Company 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.