Man Group plc Has $24.05 Million Stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Man Group plc increased its position in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 96.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 47,212 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after purchasing an additional 23,133 shares during the period. Man Group plc’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $24,046,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Kestra Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC now owns 353 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $201,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 6.8% during the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 235 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $134,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Portfolios Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Diversified Portfolios Inc. now owns 1,789 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,020,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. South Plains Financial Inc. increased its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. South Plains Financial Inc. now owns 896 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $511,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tobias Financial Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Tobias Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 379 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $216,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on NOC shares. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Monday, June 15th. Weiss Ratings lowered Northrop Grumman from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $653.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Susquehanna dropped their target price on Northrop Grumman from $785.00 to $655.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on Northrop Grumman from $603.00 to $533.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $661.30.

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 1.5%

Shares of NOC stock opened at $550.61 on Thursday. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 52-week low of $479.02 and a 52-week high of $774.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.17. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $541.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $606.36. The company has a market capitalization of $78.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.49, a PEG ratio of 3.51 and a beta of -0.11.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The aerospace company reported $7.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.82 by $0.86. The firm had revenue of $10.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.80 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 24.25% and a net margin of 10.48%.The company’s revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $8.15 EPS. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 28.600-29.100 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $2.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $9.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 31.39%.

More Northrop Grumman News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Northrop Grumman expects to win a “decent share” of the potentially massive Golden Dome missile-defense program. CEO Kathy Warden’s comments reinforce the company’s positioning in space-based defense, although contracts and award values have not yet been finalized. Northrop Grumman expects decent share of Golden Dome missile defense
• Positive Sentiment: The company is expanding its international defense business as allied nations increase military spending. International sales are rising, and management is targeting approximately $10 billion in annual international revenue by 2031, suggesting a potential long-term growth avenue beyond U.S. government demand. Is Northrop Grumman Expanding Its International Defense Business?
• Positive Sentiment: Management says Northrop is operating on a “wartime footing,” while geopolitical tensions and active conflicts are driving a global defense-spending boom. That backdrop could support demand for the company’s missile, space and other defense platforms. Northrop Grumman Is on a Wartime Footing, CEO Says
• Neutral Sentiment: Northrop Grumman maintained its quarterly dividend at $2.47 per share, payable September 16 to shareholders of record August 31. The steady payout supports income-focused investors, but the absence of a new increase provides little incremental catalyst. NOC Steady at $2.47: A Closer Look at Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Dividend Discipline
• Neutral Sentiment: A $1.55 billion U.S. rare-earth initiative could benefit defense contractors by strengthening strategic-material supply chains, but the direct financial effect on Northrop Grumman remains unclear. Why Trump’s $1.55 billion rare earth move matters for Northrop Grumman

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In related news, Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 95 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $547.53, for a total transaction of $52,015.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,393 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,405,299.29. The trade was a 2.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Company insiders own 0.21% of the company’s stock.

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.