LPL Financial LLC Acquires 38,122 Shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)

LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 14.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 299,959 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 38,122 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC owned about 0.21% of Northrop Grumman worth $153,582,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Capital International Investors grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 5.9% in the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 8,239,434 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $3,866,133,000 after purchasing an additional 461,307 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,164,700 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,954,452,000 after buying an additional 23,808 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,025,263 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,417,850,000 after buying an additional 21,903 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 4.1% during the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,807,223 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,317,402,000 after buying an additional 109,308 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,533,378 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,188,889,000 after buying an additional 107,108 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:NOC opened at $568.74 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $81.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.96, a P/E/G ratio of 5.40 and a beta of 0.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 12-month low of $426.24 and a 12-month high of $576.86. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $503.30 and a 200 day simple moving average of $491.71.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The aerospace company reported $7.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.84 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $10.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.15 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 25.52% and a net margin of 9.74%. Northrop Grumman's revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.36 EPS. Analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 2nd were given a dividend of $2.31 per share. This is a positive change from Northrop Grumman's previous quarterly dividend of $2.06. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 2nd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 34.06%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $505.77, for a total transaction of $3,793,275.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 201,602 shares of the company's stock, valued at $101,964,243.54. This trade represents a 3.59% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Robert J. Fleming sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $505.77, for a total value of $1,770,195.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 1,827 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $924,041.79. The trade was a 65.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 16,569 shares of company stock valued at $8,323,150 in the last quarter. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NOC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded Northrop Grumman from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Northrop Grumman from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a "market perform" rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a "hold" rating and set a $542.00 target price (down from $580.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an "overweight" rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $569.33.

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.

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