New York State Common Retirement Fund Has $120.61 Million Holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

New York State Common Retirement Fund trimmed its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 5.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 257,646 shares of the aerospace company's stock after selling 14,503 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned about 0.17% of Northrop Grumman worth $120,614,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Providence Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in Northrop Grumman by 400.0% in the third quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 100 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at approximately $70,000. Rational Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at approximately $72,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 16.2% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 165 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $73,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares during the period. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Stock Up 0.8 %

NOC traded up $3.70 on Tuesday, hitting $474.68. 1,365,356 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 996,139. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 12 month low of $414.56 and a 12 month high of $496.89. The company has a market cap of $70.35 billion, a PE ratio of 35.16, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock's fifty day moving average is $460.10 and its 200-day moving average is $465.12.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The aerospace company reported $6.27 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.80 by $0.47. The company had revenue of $10.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.43 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 23.07% and a net margin of 5.23%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.50 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 24.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th were paid a $1.87 dividend. This represents a $7.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.58%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 23rd. Northrop Grumman's payout ratio is 55.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $560.00 to $540.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 26th. Alembic Global Advisors raised Northrop Grumman from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $532.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday. StockNews.com downgraded Northrop Grumman from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Northrop Grumman from $505.00 to $475.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, TheStreet cut Northrop Grumman from a "b+" rating to a "c+" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $497.23.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Kathryn G. Simpson sold 1,273 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $450.37, for a total value of $573,321.01. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 2,735 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,231,761.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Kathryn G. Simpson sold 1,273 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $450.37, for a total transaction of $573,321.01. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 2,735 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,231,761.95. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 210 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $454.68, for a total transaction of $95,482.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,127 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,421,784.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 3,149 shares of company stock worth $1,421,147. Insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

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.