Advisory Services Network LLC Grows Stake in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Advisory Services Network LLC raised its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 32.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,621 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 887 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,699,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter valued at $171,580,000. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 24.7% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,733,680 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $813,599,000 after acquiring an additional 343,018 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 225.8% in the fourth quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 327,998 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $153,926,000 after acquiring an additional 227,314 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter valued at about $94,370,000. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC boosted its position in Northrop Grumman by 21.5% in the fourth quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 967,335 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $453,961,000 after purchasing an additional 170,976 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of NOC stock traded up $5.05 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $542.56. The stock had a trading volume of 411,991 shares, compared to its average volume of 863,882. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 1-year low of $418.60 and a 1-year high of $555.57. The firm has a market cap of $78.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.10, a PEG ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.20. The business's fifty day moving average is $485.78 and its 200-day moving average is $492.08.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.27 by $0.12. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 26.24%. On average, research analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $2.06 per share. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.08%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on NOC shares. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $587.00 to $591.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $545.00 to $547.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Northrop Grumman from $545.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, StockNews.com cut Northrop Grumman from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $548.88.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northrop Grumman

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 192 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $429.08, for a total value of $82,383.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 709 shares in the company, valued at $304,217.72. The trade was a 21.31 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 3,750 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.65, for a total transaction of $1,783,687.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 212,852 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,243,053.80. This represents a 1.73 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,505 shares of company stock valued at $2,127,182. 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Northrop Grumman

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.