Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC Shares Bought by National Pension Service

Key Points

• National Pension Service increased its Northrop Grumman stake by 2.8% in the second quarter, owning 396,442 shares valued at approximately $201.9 million. Institutional investors collectively hold 83.4% of the company.
• Northrop Grumman exceeded quarterly earnings expectations, reporting $7.68 EPS versus the $6.82 consensus and $10.88 billion in revenue, up 5.1% year over year. The company reaffirmed fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $28.60–$29.10.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $2.47 per share, equivalent to a 1.9% annual yield. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $662.25, despite mixed individual target changes.

National Pension Service lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 396,442 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 10,620 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned about 0.28% of Northrop Grumman worth $201,912,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NOC. Karpus Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Perkins Coie Trust Co purchased a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the first quarter valued at $30,000. Navigoe LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Plato Investment Management Ltd acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Northrop Grumman news, Director Mark Welsh, III sold 95 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $547.53, for a total value of $52,015.35. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 4,393 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,405,299.29. This trade represents a 2.12% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.21% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 0.6%

NYSE NOC opened at $518.78 on Friday. The firm's fifty day moving average is $544.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $592.57. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a one year low of $479.02 and a one year high of $774.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.17. The firm has a market cap of $73.68 billion, a PE ratio of 16.48, a P/E/G ratio of 3.02 and a beta of -0.11.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The aerospace company reported $7.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.82 by $0.86. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.48% and a return on equity of 24.25%. The business had revenue of $10.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.80 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $8.15 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 28.600-29.100 EPS. Analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.97 earnings per share for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a dividend of $2.47 per share. This represents a $9.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded Northrop Grumman from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Northrop Grumman from $603.00 to $533.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $620.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $617.00 to $667.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $620.00 to $580.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, June 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $662.25.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global aerospace and defense company that develops and delivers systems, platforms and technologies for government and commercial customers. Its activities include the design and production of military aircraft, autonomous systems, spacecraft, launch vehicles, missile-defense systems, command-and-control networks, cyber solutions, sensors and other mission-critical technologies.

The company serves the U.S. Department of Defense, other U.S. government agencies and international customers.

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