ARS Investment Partners LLC Boosts Stock Position in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

ARS Investment Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 8.1% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 23,056 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after buying an additional 1,730 shares during the period. ARS Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $13,147,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,740,721 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $7,835,097,000 after acquiring an additional 209,135 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in Northrop Grumman by 2.2% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,996,284 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,825,696,000 after acquiring an additional 63,223 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 0.3% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,624,658 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $990,046,000 after acquiring an additional 4,844 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 26.7% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,051,226 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $640,534,000 after purchasing an additional 221,431 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc grew its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 4.1% in the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 746,585 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $454,909,000 after purchasing an additional 29,478 shares during the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of 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. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $655.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $633.60. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 1-year low of $466.38 and a 1-year high of $774.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $76.76 billion, a PE ratio of 16.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.69 and a beta of -0.11.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.06 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $9.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.75 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 24.72% and a net margin of 10.80%.The firm’s revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $6.06 EPS. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 27.92 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman News Summary

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

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 147 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $732.98, for a total value of $107,748.06. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 2,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,850,774.50. This represents a 5.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 2,189 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $719.61, for a total transaction of $1,575,226.29. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 151 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $108,661.11. This represents a 93.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 0.21% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently commented on NOC. Bank of America increased their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $685.00 to $750.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Monday, March 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Northrop Grumman from $715.00 to $750.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Northrop Grumman in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $800.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Argus set a $785.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $710.74.

About Northrop Grumman

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.