Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC Shares Sold by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company cut its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 3.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 67,703 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 2,164 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $34,482,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in Northrop Grumman by 40.1% during the 2nd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 78,123 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $39,068,000 after buying an additional 22,365 shares during the period. Fiduciary Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in Northrop Grumman during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. McDonough Capital Management Inc boosted its position in Northrop Grumman by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. McDonough Capital Management Inc now owns 5,874 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,992,000 after buying an additional 144 shares during the period. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $51,000. Finally, Flavin Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in Northrop Grumman by 4.4% in the 2nd quarter. Flavin Financial Services Inc. now owns 2,648 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,349,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

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

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 1.5%

Shares of NYSE:NOC 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’s 50 day moving average is $541.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $606.36. The company has a market cap of $78.20 billion, a PE ratio of 17.49, a P/E/G ratio of 3.51 and a beta of -0.11. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81.

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

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a dividend of $2.47 per share. This represents a $9.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Northrop Grumman’s payout ratio is 31.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $653.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Northrop Grumman from $666.00 to $685.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Northrop Grumman from $620.00 to $580.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, June 26th. Morgan Stanley set a $745.00 price target on Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered Northrop Grumman from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $661.30.

Insider Transactions at Northrop Grumman

In other news, Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 95 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $547.53, for a total transaction of $52,015.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 4,393 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,405,299.29. This represents a 2.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.21% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.