Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) Upgraded to “Buy” at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $502.00 to $485.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $502.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Northrop Grumman from $485.00 to $435.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 18th. UBS Group started coverage on Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. They issued a buy rating and a $555.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Bank of America lowered their target price on Northrop Grumman from $655.00 to $615.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $500.20.

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 0.5 %

NOC stock opened at $466.83 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $70.39 billion, a PE ratio of 15.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.43 and a beta of 0.42. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $454.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $448.10. Northrop Grumman has a one year low of $414.56 and a one year high of $549.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.28.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The aerospace company reported $6.18 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.81 by $0.37. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 12.07% and a return on equity of 24.24%. The firm had revenue of $9.78 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $5.89 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Northrop Grumman will post 22.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Mark A. Caylor sold 1,670 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $472.62, for a total value of $789,275.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 12,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,096,798. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, VP Roshan S. Roeder sold 1,007 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $465.00, for a total transaction of $468,255.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 913 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $424,545. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Mark A. Caylor sold 1,670 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $472.62, for a total value of $789,275.40. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 12,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,096,798. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State of Wyoming lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 76.5% during the fourth quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 60 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the period. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Archer Investment Corp boosted its position in Northrop Grumman by 325.0% during the second quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 68 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Sageworth Trust Co grew its stake in Northrop Grumman by 1,440.0% in the first quarter. Sageworth Trust Co now owns 77 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV raised its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 169.0% in the second quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 78 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.40% of the company’s stock.

Northrop Grumman Company Profile

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 in the United States and internationally. 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.