Zacks: Brokerages Anticipate Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) to Announce $6.05 Earnings Per Share

Equities research analysts expect Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC – Get Rating) to report earnings of $6.05 per share for the current quarter, according to Zacks. Four analysts have made estimates for Northrop Grumman’s earnings. The lowest EPS estimate is $5.88 and the highest is $6.19. Northrop Grumman reported earnings per share of $6.42 in the same quarter last year, which would indicate a negative year over year growth rate of 5.8%. The company is scheduled to report its next quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 1st.

On average, analysts expect that Northrop Grumman will report full-year earnings of $24.84 per share for the current fiscal year, with EPS estimates ranging from $24.50 to $25.12. For the next financial year, analysts expect that the firm will post earnings of $27.23 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $26.50 to $28.11. Zacks Investment Research’s EPS averages are an average based on a survey of research firms that cover Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC – Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 28th. The aerospace company reported $6.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.96 by $0.14. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 32.82% and a net margin of 16.33%. The business had revenue of $8.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.89 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.57 earnings per share. Northrop Grumman’s quarterly revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year.

Several analysts recently issued reports on NOC shares. Seaport Res Ptn reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, April 19th. Argus increased their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $420.00 to $495.00 in a report on Thursday, May 12th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Northrop Grumman from $428.00 to $521.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Northrop Grumman from $390.00 to $472.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, March 7th. Finally, Susquehanna raised their target price on Northrop Grumman from $416.00 to $437.00 in a report on Friday, January 28th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $441.25.

Shares of NYSE:NOC traded down $5.17 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $443.33. 636,863 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 838,676. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.31. Northrop Grumman has a 52-week low of $344.89 and a 52-week high of $490.82. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $451.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $409.44. The company has a market capitalization of $68.92 billion, a PE ratio of 12.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.71.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 31st will be given a $1.73 dividend. This is an increase from Northrop Grumman’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.57. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 27th. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.31%.

In related news, VP Mark A. Caylor sold 4,038 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $452.40, for a total transaction of $1,826,791.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP David T. Perry sold 3,065 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $393.76, for a total value of $1,206,874.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 7,988 shares of company stock worth $3,395,295. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dividend Assets Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC now owns 283 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $127,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,371 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $613,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Cape ANN Savings Bank boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Cape ANN Savings Bank now owns 2,676 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $1,197,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 1,291 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $577,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aldebaran Financial Inc. lifted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Aldebaran Financial Inc. now owns 1,140 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $510,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. 84.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Company Profile (Get Rating)

Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. 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.

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