Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. Has $3.47 Million Stock Position in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. grew its position in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 31.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,945 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,659 shares during the quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc.’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $3,473,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of NOC. Saudi Central Bank bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the first quarter valued at $28,000. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the first quarter valued at about $30,000. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 75.0% during the 2nd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 63 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares during the period. Flaharty Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the first quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 29.2% in the 2nd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 93 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on NOC shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $696.00 target price on Northrop Grumman in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. BTIG Research upped their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $630.00 to $680.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $575.00 to $640.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $710.00 price objective on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Northrop Grumman currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $646.94.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NOC opened at $565.75 on Tuesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $588.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $551.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.74 billion, a PE ratio of 20.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.07 and a beta of 0.07. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a twelve month low of $426.24 and a twelve month high of $640.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The aerospace company reported $7.67 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.43 by $1.24. The firm had revenue of $10.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.68 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 25.49% and a net margin of 9.82%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.00 earnings per share. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2025 guidance at 25.650-26.050 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $2.31 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.6%. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 33.24%.

Northrop Grumman Profile

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.