MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB Buys 826 Shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 3.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 27,982 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 826 shares during the quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $14,327,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of NOC. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its position 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 in the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, 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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 212,852 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $101,243,053.80. This represents a 1.73% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In the last three months, insiders sold 3,849 shares of company stock worth $1,831,461. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of NOC stock traded down $2.66 during trading on Monday, reaching $479.80. 259,801 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 893,021. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.06 billion, a PE ratio of 16.93, a PEG ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.15. Northrop Grumman Co. has a twelve month low of $418.60 and a twelve month high of $555.57. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $493.38 and its 200-day moving average price is $482.43.

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

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be issued a dividend of $2.31 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. This is a boost from Northrop Grumman's previous quarterly dividend of $2.06. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.93%. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.46%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on NOC. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $587.00 to $591.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Argus raised Northrop Grumman to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Northrop Grumman from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $600.00 to $550.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $575.00 to $550.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $545.31.

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.