Focused Investors LLC Sells 6,400 Shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)

Focused Investors LLC decreased its holdings in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 3.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 207,900 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 6,400 shares during the quarter. Northrop Grumman makes up 3.4% of Focused Investors LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Focused Investors LLC owned approximately 0.14% of Northrop Grumman worth $106,447,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of NOC. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the first quarter valued at $46,000. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the first quarter valued at $47,000. Finally, VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter valued at $47,000. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Thomas H. Jones sold 729 shares of the company'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 $368,706.33. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 7,552 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,819,575.04. This represents a 8.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Roshan S. Roeder sold 991 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $490.00, for a total transaction of $485,590.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $156,310. The trade was a 75.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 16,569 shares of company stock valued at $8,323,150. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Northrop Grumman Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of NYSE:NOC traded up $4.86 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $524.56. 620,915 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 876,355. 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 stock has a 50 day moving average price of $491.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $486.95. The company has a market cap of $75.50 billion, a PE ratio of 20.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.17 and a beta of 0.15. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 12 month low of $426.24 and a 12 month high of $555.57.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The aerospace company reported $6.06 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 the consensus estimate of $10.07 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 25.46% and a net margin of 9.19%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Shareholders 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 1.76%. This is an increase from Northrop Grumman's previous quarterly dividend of $2.06. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 2nd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is presently 36.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NOC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Truist Financial dropped their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $600.00 to $550.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company set a $525.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $557.00 to $540.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "hold" rating and set a $542.00 price objective (down previously from $580.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $580.00 to $625.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $550.00.

About Northrop Grumman

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.