Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Sells 1,864 Shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc reduced its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) by 5.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,317 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 1,864 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $15,166,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 3.1% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 166,434 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $87,889,000 after buying an additional 4,969 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 3,371 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,582,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the period. Czech National Bank lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 6.0% during the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 29,695 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $13,936,000 after acquiring an additional 1,691 shares during the period. Brookstone Capital Management boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 3,005 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $1,410,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Talbot Financial LLC grew its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Talbot Financial LLC now owns 25,696 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $12,059,000 after purchasing an additional 707 shares during the period. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Stock Down 0.3%

NOC opened at $482.80 on Monday. Northrop Grumman Co. has a fifty-two week low of $418.60 and a fifty-two week high of $555.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $69.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.04, a PEG ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.15. The company’s 50-day moving average is $498.08 and its 200 day moving average is $486.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 22nd. The aerospace company reported $6.06 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.33 by ($0.27). Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 26.24%. The firm had revenue of $9.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $10.07 billion. Research analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $2.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.71%. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio is currently 32.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NOC has been the topic of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company set a $525.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Wolfe Research raised Northrop Grumman from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Argus raised Northrop Grumman to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $587.00 to $591.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their target price on Northrop Grumman from $600.00 to $550.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $545.31.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northrop Grumman

In related news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.65, for a total transaction of $1,783,687.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 212,852 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,243,053.80. This represents a 1.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 464 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $460.75, for a total transaction of $213,788.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 245 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $112,883.75. This trade represents a 65.44% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,505 shares of company stock worth $2,127,632 in the last quarter. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company in the United States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and internationally. The company’s Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems.