Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. Decreases Stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Key Points

• Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management trimmed its Q4 position in Northrop Grumman by 0.8%, selling 2,458 shares to hold 295,650 shares (0.21% of the company) valued at about $173.15 million; institutional investors now own 83.40% of the stock.
• Northrop Grumman beat Q1 estimates, reporting $6.14 EPS versus $6.06 expected and $9.88 billion in revenue (up 4.4% YoY), and set FY2026 guidance of $27.40–$27.90 EPS (analysts expect ~27.86).
• Insider selling and dividend: CEO Kathy Warden sold 20,000 shares (~$14.18M) and insiders sold 22,336 shares (~$15.86M) in the quarter; the company pays a $2.31 quarterly dividend (annualized $9.24, ~1.7% yield).

Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. lowered its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 295,650 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 2,458 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. owned 0.21% of Northrop Grumman worth $173,150,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of NOC. Focused Investors LLC increased its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Focused Investors LLC now owns 211,800 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $129,054,000 after purchasing an additional 8,300 shares during the last quarter. Huntleigh Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,818,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,740,721 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $7,835,097,000 after purchasing an additional 209,135 shares during the period. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. grew its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 4.1% during the third quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 81,747 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $49,810,000 after purchasing an additional 3,215 shares during the period. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its position in Northrop Grumman by 13.4% in the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 22,318 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $13,599,000 after buying an additional 2,644 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NOC opened at $559.40 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.51, a P/E/G ratio of 3.99 and a beta of -0.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $681.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $636.34. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a twelve month low of $453.01 and a twelve month high of $774.00.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.06 by $0.08. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 24.72% and a net margin of 10.80%.The firm had revenue of $9.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.75 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $6.06 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 27.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 23rd were paid a $2.31 dividend. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 23rd. Northrop Grumman's payout ratio is currently 28.92%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NOC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, April 1st. They set an "overweight" rating and a $800.00 price target on the stock. BTIG Research restated a "buy" rating and issued a $815.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a "market perform" rating and set a $727.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $660.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Sunday, April 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $765.00 to $745.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $710.74.

Trending Headlines about Northrop Grumman

Here are the key news stories impacting Northrop Grumman this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Selected by Australia for formal engagement on domestic solid rocket motor production, signaling program-level wins and potential long-term revenue/industrial-partnership opportunities. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC): Among the Best Large Cap Defense Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds
• Positive Sentiment: Advent Diamond and Northrop set a new record for diamond-based solid-state RF limiters (handling >100W), which supports Northrop’s RF/missions-systems credibility and could help win protected-communications and EW contracts. Advent Diamond and Northrop Grumman Set New Record for Diamond-based Solid-State Limiters
• Positive Sentiment: Named among hedge-fund recommended large-cap defense stocks, which can attract institutional interest and provide secondary support to the share price. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC): Among the Best Large Cap Defense Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend preview highlights a 22‑year growth streak — investor-friendly capital return policy that supports income-oriented holders and reduces downside. Northrop Grumman Corporation Q2 dividend preview: 22-year growth streak set to continue
• Positive Sentiment: Elevated geopolitical tensions after recent missile incidents continue to support defense spending narratives, which broadly lift sector equities including NOC. U.S. Navy intercepts Iranian cruise missiles — 4 defense stocks to watch today
• Neutral Sentiment: Peer results (HII, Leidos) showed beats and backlog growth, which is supportive for the defense sector but only indirectly impacts NOC’s near-term earnings outlook. HII Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Increase Y/Y LDOS Q1 Earnings Beat on Backlog Scale and Key Contract Wins
• Neutral Sentiment: Pentagon AI procurement evolution (push for open 'right to integrate' systems, Palantir participation) could benefit software- and integration-focused firms; impact on Northrop depends on how it adapts systems architecture. Pentagon AI Shake-Up: Palantir Joins Massive 'Right to Integrate' Defense Overhaul
• Neutral Sentiment: Smaller industry moves (Redwire, Ducommun board hire of ex-Northrop exec) are informational for supply-chain/competitive context but unlikely to move NOC stock materially. Redwire Gears Up to Report Q1 Earnings: Here's What to Expect Ducommun Incorporated Appoints Mark A. Caylor to its Board of Directors
• Negative Sentiment: Recent technical weakness and valuation concerns: analysts note 1‑day/7‑day/3‑month share declines and fading momentum, which can pressure sentiment and multiple compression. A Look At Northrop Grumman (NOC) Valuation After Recent Share Price Weakness

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 2,189 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $719.61, for a total value of $1,575,226.29. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 151 shares of the company's stock, valued at $108,661.11. This represents a 93.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 20,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $708.82, for a total transaction of $14,176,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 171,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $121,634,929.64. This trade represents a 10.44% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 22,336 shares of company stock valued at $15,859,374 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.21% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Profile

Northrop Grumman Corporation NYSE: NOC is a leading U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, builds and sustains advanced systems, products and technologies for government and commercial customers. Formed through the combination of Northrop and Grumman businesses in the 1990s, the company's portfolio spans manned and unmanned aircraft, space systems, missile defense, radar and sensor systems, and integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions.

The company's work includes airframe and platform manufacturing, space hardware and satellite systems, advanced mission systems and cybersecurity services, as well as logistics, sustainment and modernization programs.

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