Simmons Bank Increases Position in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Simmons Bank lifted its stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 330.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,633 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,556 shares during the period. Simmons Bank’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $3,161,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Torren Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Karpus Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of NOC stock opened at $495.53 on Tuesday. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $489.52 and a fifty-two week high of $774.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.51, a PEG ratio of 3.41 and a beta of -0.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $552.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $627.87.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last posted 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. The firm had revenue of $9.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.75 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.80% and a return on equity of 24.72%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $6.06 earnings per share. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 27.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 1st were paid a dividend of $2.47 per share. This represents a $9.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 1st. This is a positive change from Northrop Grumman’s previous quarterly dividend of $2.31. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on NOC shares. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $620.00 to $580.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, April 1st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $800.00 target price for the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $815.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Northrop Grumman from $765.00 to $745.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $700.53.

Northrop Grumman Company 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.