Principal Financial Group Inc. Raises Stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Key Points

• Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Northrop Grumman by 1.3% to 158,958 shares (about 0.11% of the company) valued at $90.64 million, and institutional ownership of NOC stands around 83.4% as several other funds also boosted positions.
• Northrop Grumman beat Q1 estimates (EPS $6.14 vs. $6.06; revenue $9.88B vs. $9.75B), set FY2026 guidance of $27.40–27.90 EPS, and carries a MarketBeat consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a $710.74 target.
• Insider selling was notable: CEO Kathy Warden sold 20,000 shares (~$14.18M) and a VP sold 2,189 shares, with insiders offloading 22,336 shares worth $15.86M over the past 90 days.

Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 1.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 158,958 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 2,025 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.11% of Northrop Grumman worth $90,639,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of NOC. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 176.3% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 2,970 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,394,000 after acquiring an additional 1,895 shares during the last quarter. Bison Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 641 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $301,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 367.7% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 2,516 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,288,000 after acquiring an additional 1,978 shares during the last quarter. AXA S.A. boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1,487.8% in the second quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 16,338 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $8,169,000 after acquiring an additional 15,309 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 6.7% in the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 8,865 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $4,432,000 after acquiring an additional 553 shares during the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on NOC. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $765.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Monday, March 23rd. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Northrop Grumman from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, April 25th. BTIG Research reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $815.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a "market perform" rating and issued a $727.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 0.1%

NYSE NOC opened at $559.40 on Thursday. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $681.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $636.34. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 52 week low of $453.01 and a 52 week high of $774.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The stock has a market cap of $79.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.51, a PEG ratio of 3.99 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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.06 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $9.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $9.75 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.80% and a return on equity of 24.72%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.06 earnings per share. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. Equities research analysts predict 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. Investors of record on Monday, February 23rd were issued a $2.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 23rd. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is currently 28.92%.

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 2,189 shares of the company's 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 sale, the vice president directly owned 151 shares of the company's stock, valued at $108,661.11. This represents a 93.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 20,000 shares of the company'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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 171,602 shares in the company, valued at $121,634,929.64. This represents a 10.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 22,336 shares of company stock valued at $15,859,374 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.21% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Company 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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