Principal Financial Group Inc. Increases Holdings in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Key Points

• Principal Financial Group increased its Northrop Grumman stake by 1.7% in the first quarter, buying 2,729 additional shares and bringing its holding to 161,687 shares worth about $110.3 million.
• Northrop Grumman reported better-than-expected quarterly results, posting EPS of $6.14 versus the $6.06 estimate and revenue of $9.88 billion versus the $9.75 billion consensus. Revenue rose 4.4% year over year.
• The company raised its dividend to $2.47 per share from $2.31, equal to $9.88 annually and a 1.9% yield. Wall Street remains mixed but constructive, with a consensus Moderate Buy rating and an average price target of $676.29.

Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 1.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 161,687 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,729 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.11% of Northrop Grumman worth $110,309,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Kestra Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC now owns 353 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $201,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 6.8% in the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 235 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $134,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Howard Financial Services LTD. boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Howard Financial Services LTD. now owns 1,143 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $651,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 1,973 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,125,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 4,012 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $2,288,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the period. 83.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

NYSE:NOC opened at $525.96 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.15. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 52-week low of $493.84 and a 52-week high of $774.00. The firm has a market cap of $74.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.46, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of -0.10. The business's fifty day moving average is $539.25 and its 200 day moving average is $624.94.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.14 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.06 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $9.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.75 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 24.72% and a net margin of 10.80%.The firm's revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.06 EPS. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. Research analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 27.95 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 1st were given a $2.47 dividend. This represents a $9.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. This is an increase from Northrop Grumman's previous quarterly dividend of $2.31. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 1st. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. BTIG Research reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $815.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $603.00 to $533.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $620.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Wall Street Zen cut Northrop Grumman from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, April 25th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target on Northrop Grumman from $628.00 to $587.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $676.29.

Trending Headlines about Northrop Grumman

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

• Positive Sentiment: Northrop Grumman broke ground on a new Utah facility tied to the Sentinel ICBM program and other advanced aerospace missions, reinforcing long-term defense spending demand and signaling continued investment in growth. Northrop Grumman Breaks Ground on New Facility to Support Strategic Deterrence and Advanced Aerospace Missions in Utah
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view Northrop Grumman as a potential earnings beat ahead of its quarterly report, with expectations that the company has the right mix of factors to top estimates. Northrop Grumman (NOC) Expected to Beat Earnings Estimates: What to Know Ahead of Q2 Release
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley included Northrop Grumman in its top defense stock picks, suggesting institutional confidence in the name even as it highlighted broader upside in the sector. Morgan Stanley Picks Its Top Three Defense Stocks. One Has 100% Upside.
• Neutral Sentiment: Other articles reinforced the idea that defense contractors can benefit from long-term space and missile-defense spending, which supports the sector backdrop for NOC. Missed Out On The SpaceX IPO? Buy These Industrial Giants Instead.
• Neutral Sentiment: There was also coverage about BAE Systems expanding in radar, which highlights competitive activity in adjacent defense markets but does not directly change Northrop Grumman’s near-term outlook. Is BAE Systems Expanding Its Presence in the Radar Market?
• Negative Sentiment: At the same time, analysts trimmed Northrop Grumman’s fair value estimate and lowered price targets, pointing to more cautious expectations for near-term execution and upside. Northrop Grumman (NOC) Stock Fair Value Edges Lower As Analysts Trim Targets

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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