Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. Boosts Stock Holdings in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. boosted its holdings in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 11.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,310 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after buying an additional 1,660 shares during the quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co.’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $9,300,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of NOC. Brighton Jones LLC increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 176.3% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 2,970 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,394,000 after buying an additional 1,895 shares during the last quarter. Bison Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 641 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $301,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 367.7% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 2,516 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,288,000 after buying an additional 1,978 shares during the last quarter. AXA S.A. increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 1,487.8% in the second quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 16,338 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $8,169,000 after buying an additional 15,309 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 6.7% in the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 8,865 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $4,432,000 after buying an additional 553 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 2,189 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $719.61, for a total transaction of $1,575,226.29. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 151 shares in the company, valued at approximately $108,661.11. This represents a 93.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 147 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $732.98, for a total transaction of $107,748.06. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 2,525 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,850,774.50. This trade represents a 5.50% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on NOC. Citigroup dropped their target price on Northrop Grumman from $807.00 to $742.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. TD Cowen reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $765.00 to $745.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Vertical Research restated a “hold” rating and issued a $688.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $710.74.

Trending Headlines about Northrop Grumman

Here are the key news stories impacting Northrop Grumman this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Northrop Grumman’s new LR-450 space navigation system underscores progress in higher-value Space Systems work and could support future growth. Northrop Grumman LR-450 Highlights Push Into Higher Value Space Systems
• Positive Sentiment: The company continues to benefit from strong defense-sector demand, with investors comparing NOC favorably against peers as one of the largest U.S. defense contractors. Defense Stock Face-Off: Northrop Grumman vs. Lockheed Martin — Which Is the Better Buy Right Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Northrop Grumman was included in a broader Q1 earnings recap for defense contractors, but the article mainly framed the company in an industry context rather than pointing to a fresh catalyst. Unpacking Q1 Earnings: Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) In The Context Of Other Defense Contractors Stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Options-market activity has picked up, with surging implied volatility signaling uncertainty and potentially weighing on the stock in the short term. Implied Volatility Surging for Northrop Grumman Stock Options
• Negative Sentiment: Rising attention to NOC’s options volatility can reflect increased downside hedging or uncertainty ahead of upcoming catalysts, which may pressure shares. Implied Volatility Surging for Northrop Grumman Stock Options

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

NYSE NOC opened at $540.47 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 1.04. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 1 year low of $466.38 and a 1 year high of $774.00. The company has a market capitalization of $76.76 billion, a PE ratio of 16.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.74 and a beta of -0.11. The company has a fifty day moving average of $655.52 and a two-hundred day moving average of $633.60.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.06 by $0.08. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.80% and a return on equity of 24.72%. The company had revenue of $9.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.75 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $6.06 earnings per share. Northrop Grumman’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 27.92 earnings per share for the current year.

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.