Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC Shares Purchased by Strs Ohio

Key Points

• Strs Ohio raised its stake in Northrop Grumman by 21.5% in Q4, buying 6,862 shares to own 38,829 shares worth $22.14 million, and institutional investors now hold about 83.40% of the company.
• Northrop beat Q1 estimates with $6.14 EPS on $9.88 billion in revenue, reports a roughly $95.6 billion backlog and set FY2026 guidance of $27.40–$27.90 EPS, while analysts' consensus price target is $710.74.
• Insiders have been net sellers recently—22,336 shares totaling about $15.86 million were sold in the last 90 days—and corporate insiders now own just 0.21% of the stock.

Strs Ohio increased its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 21.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 38,829 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 6,862 shares during the quarter. Strs Ohio's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $22,141,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Focused Investors LLC boosted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Focused Investors LLC now owns 211,800 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $129,054,000 after acquiring an additional 8,300 shares during the period. Huntleigh Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $2,818,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,740,721 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $7,835,097,000 after acquiring an additional 209,135 shares in the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. raised its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 81,747 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $49,810,000 after acquiring an additional 3,215 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 13.4% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 22,318 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $13,599,000 after acquiring an additional 2,644 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In related news, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 147 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $732.98, for a total value of $107,748.06. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 2,525 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,850,774.50. This trade represents a 5.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 2,189 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 151 shares in the company, valued at $108,661.11. This trade represents a 93.55% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 22,336 shares of company stock valued at $15,859,374. Corporate insiders own 0.21% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on NOC shares. Susquehanna reaffirmed a "positive" rating and issued a $752.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Bank of America raised their target price on Northrop Grumman from $685.00 to $750.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Northrop Grumman from $765.00 to $745.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Wall Street Zen lowered Northrop Grumman from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, April 25th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on Northrop Grumman from $807.00 to $742.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $710.74.

Key Headlines Impacting Northrop Grumman

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong backlog and defense demand underpin revenue visibility — NOC sits on a reported ~$95.6B backlog, which supports medium‑term revenue and helps explain positive analyst commentary on organic demand.Northrop Grumman Gains From Strong Backlog and Rising Defense Demand
• Positive Sentiment: Supplier recognition signals supply‑chain strength — Northrop’s Supplier Excellence Awards (Permag highlighted) point to stable supplier relationships and execution on programs, lowering operational risk for program delivery.Permag Recognized by Northrop Grumman
• Positive Sentiment: Potential new market tailwinds — coverage noting Meta’s interest in space-based solar power highlights an emerging commercial opportunity where Northrop’s aerospace capabilities could participate, supporting longer-term upside potential.Meta Platforms Is Betting on Space-Based Solar Power
• Neutral Sentiment: Localized layoffs appear situational, not company-wide — reports on layoffs in the Baltimore region say they reflect shifting program demand in Mission Systems rather than broad cost cutting, which limits the negative earnings implication for investors.Northrop Grumman layoffs in Baltimore seen as limited by analysts
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector peer results mixed but generally supportive — recent beats from peers (L3Harris, Textron) provide a modest sector tailwind that could buoy sentiment for defense names, though not a direct catalyst for NOC’s near-term move.Got $5,000? 1 Defense Contractor Set to Be a Long‑Term Compounder Textron Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Relative underperformance and near-term risks weighing — NOC has underperformed peers on some trading days and analysts flag labor shortages and rising compliance costs as potential near-term headwinds to margins and execution.Northrop Grumman Corp. stock underperforms Zacks: labor and compliance risks

Northrop Grumman Stock Up 0.1%

NOC opened at $568.53 on Monday. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $453.01 and a fifty-two week high of $774.00. The business has a 50-day moving average of $688.29 and a 200-day moving average of $636.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The company has a market capitalization of $80.75 billion, a PE ratio of 17.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.05 and a beta of -0.11.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 company had revenue of $9.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.75 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $6.06 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 27.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd were paid a $2.31 dividend. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 23rd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.92%.

About Northrop Grumman

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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