Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Cuts Position in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans reduced its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 16.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,878 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 1,197 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $3,581,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of NOC. Parvin Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. NewSquare Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 75.0% in the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 63 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the period. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 29.2% during the 2nd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 93 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In other Northrop Grumman news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $600.00, for a total value of $4,200,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 194,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $116,761,200. The trade was a 3.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 97 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $564.08, for a total transaction of $54,715.76. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,281 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,414,826.48. This trade represents a 2.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 10,192 shares of company stock worth $6,164,745. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of Northrop Grumman stock opened at $709.77 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 52 week low of $426.24 and a 52 week high of $711.88. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $612.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $595.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $100.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.37, a P/E/G ratio of 5.27 and a beta of 0.04.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The aerospace company reported $7.23 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.97 by $0.26. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 9.97% and a return on equity of 25.57%. The firm had revenue of $11.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.61 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.39 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a dividend of $2.31 per share. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 31.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Vertical Research restated a “hold” rating and issued a $688.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Bank of America lifted their target price on Northrop Grumman from $685.00 to $750.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $710.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Alembic Global Advisors raised Northrop Grumman from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $662.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $688.79.

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.