UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC Raises Position in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Key Points

• UBS AM increased its stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation by 3.7%, owning approximately 676,495 shares valued at $346.37 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• Several institutional investors, including GAMMA Investing and Wellington Management, significantly raised their stakes in Northrop Grumman during the first quarter, indicating strong institutional interest in the company.
• Northrop Grumman recently announced a quarterly dividend of $2.31 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend yield of 1.6%, with a payout ratio of 34.06%.

UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 3.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 676,495 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 23,823 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC owned about 0.47% of Northrop Grumman worth $346,372,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of NOC. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 55,522.3% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,520,158 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $778,336,000 after acquiring an additional 1,517,425 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 23.4% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,139,333 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $2,631,390,000 after acquiring an additional 974,633 shares during the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1,425.2% during the first quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,001,198 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $512,624,000 after acquiring an additional 935,554 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the first quarter valued at about $369,205,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 4.6% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,266,301 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $6,792,479,000 after acquiring an additional 588,520 shares during the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Robert J. Fleming sold 3,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.77, for a total value of $1,770,195.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 1,827 shares in the company, valued at approximately $924,041.79. This represents a 65.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Thomas H. Jones sold 729 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $505.77, for a total transaction of $368,706.33. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 7,552 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,819,575.04. This trade represents a 8.80% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 11,762 shares of company stock worth $5,948,896. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of NOC opened at $579.48 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $82.97 billion, a PE ratio of 21.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.47 and a beta of 0.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.04. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $426.24 and a fifty-two week high of $600.99. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $564.40 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $516.02.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The aerospace company reported $7.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.84 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $10.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $10.15 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 25.52%. The business's revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.36 earnings per share. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2025 guidance at 25.000-25.400 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be issued a $2.31 dividend. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is 34.06%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently commented on NOC. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $625.00 price target (up from $550.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Northrop Grumman from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "hold" rating and issued a $542.00 price target (down from $580.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Northrop Grumman has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $588.85.

Northrop Grumman Company Profile

Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company in the United States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and internationally. The company's Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems.

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