Gotham Asset Management LLC Has $6.45 Million Stake in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Gotham Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 52.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,737 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 4,729 shares during the period. Gotham Asset Management LLC's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $6,447,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of NOC. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. increased its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 291.7% during the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 94 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of NOC stock traded up $3.62 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $472.67. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,148,319 shares, compared to its average volume of 900,111. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $496.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $485.78. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 52 week low of $418.60 and a 52 week high of $555.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.01. The company has a market cap of $68.03 billion, a PE ratio of 16.68, a P/E/G ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.15.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 22nd. The aerospace company reported $6.06 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.33 by ($0.27). Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 26.24% and a net margin of 10.17%. The business had revenue of $9.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.07 billion. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Co. 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 was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $2.06 dividend. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.52%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on NOC. Argus raised Northrop Grumman to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. StockNews.com downgraded Northrop Grumman from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Northrop Grumman from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Citigroup increased their price target on Northrop Grumman from $587.00 to $591.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on Northrop Grumman from $583.00 to $571.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $545.31.

Insider Transactions at Northrop Grumman

In other news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 464 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $460.75, for a total value of $213,788.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 245 shares in the company, valued at $112,883.75. This trade represents a 65.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 3,750 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.65, for a total value of $1,783,687.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 212,852 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $101,243,053.80. This represents a 1.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,505 shares of company stock valued at $2,127,632. Corporate insiders own 0.23% of the company's stock.

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.