Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC Buys 854 Shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC lifted its position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 27.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,969 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 854 shares during the period. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,863,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 291.7% during the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 94 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NOC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Northrop Grumman from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Susquehanna cut their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $557.00 to $540.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company set a $525.00 price objective on Northrop Grumman and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $600.00 to $550.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Argus upgraded Northrop Grumman to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $545.31.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 464 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $460.75, for a total value of $213,788.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 245 shares in the company, valued at $112,883.75. This trade represents a 65.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 3,750 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.65, for a total transaction of $1,783,687.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 212,852 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $101,243,053.80. This trade represents a 1.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,313 shares of company stock valued at $2,045,249 over the last quarter. 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

NOC traded up $1.16 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $476.63. The company's stock had a trading volume of 339,773 shares, compared to its average volume of 902,623. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 52 week low of $418.60 and a 52 week high of $555.57. The firm has a market cap of $68.60 billion, a PE ratio of 16.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.15. The company's 50-day moving average is $494.48 and its 200-day moving average is $483.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.01.

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 for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $6.33 by ($0.27). Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 26.24% and a net margin of 10.17%. The firm had revenue of $9.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.07 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 2nd will be given a $2.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.94%. 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%.

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.