VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al Invests $57.04 Million in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Key Points

• Virginia Retirement Systems purchased 111,988 Northrop Grumman shares worth approximately $57.04 million in the second quarter, while institutional investors collectively own 83.4% of the company.
• Northrop Grumman exceeded quarterly expectations with $7.68 in earnings per share and $10.88 billion in revenue, up 5.1% year over year. The company reaffirmed fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $28.60 to $29.10.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $2.47, equivalent to an annualized $9.88 payout and a 1.9% yield. Analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with a $661.30 price target.

VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 111,988 shares of the aerospace company's stock, valued at approximately $57,037,000. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al owned about 0.08% of Northrop Grumman as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 7.0% during the 1st quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 61,436 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $41,914,000 after purchasing an additional 4,041 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Northrop Grumman by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,149,478 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,793,478,000 after purchasing an additional 17,948 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 70.1% in the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 4,497 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $2,564,000 after purchasing an additional 1,853 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 3,125,139 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,781,986,000 after purchasing an additional 128,855 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 8.1% in the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 115,660 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $66,000,000 after buying an additional 8,706 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NOC opened at $513.89 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.06. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a one year low of $479.02 and a one year high of $774.00. The business's 50-day moving average price is $544.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $598.31. The company has a market capitalization of $72.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of -0.11.

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

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $2.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $9.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. Northrop Grumman's payout ratio is 31.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on NOC shares. Susquehanna lowered their price target on Northrop Grumman from $785.00 to $655.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a "market perform" rating and issued a $653.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Northrop Grumman from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 26th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $620.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their target price on Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $590.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $661.30.

Insider Transactions at Northrop Grumman

In other news, Director Mark Welsh, III sold 95 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $547.53, for a total transaction of $52,015.35. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,393 shares in the company, valued at $2,405,299.29. This 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. 0.21% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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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