Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Has $12.80 Million Stock Position in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lessened its position in shares of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 68.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 21,859 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 48,479 shares during the quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $12,802,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Focused Investors LLC lifted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 4.1% in the third quarter. Focused Investors LLC now owns 211,800 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $129,054,000 after buying an additional 8,300 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 74.5% during the 3rd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 11,060 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $6,739,000 after buying an additional 4,721 shares during the period. Huntleigh Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,818,000. Oak Thistle LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,015,000. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 13.4% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 22,318 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $13,599,000 after acquiring an additional 2,644 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 147 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $732.98, for a total transaction of $107,748.06. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 2,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,850,774.50. This represents a 5.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 95 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $684.52, for a total value of $65,029.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,877,037.56. The trade was a 2.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 32,431 shares of company stock valued at $21,969,404. 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of NOC stock opened at $703.88 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $99.89 billion, a PE ratio of 24.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.21 and a beta of 0.04. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $709.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $631.86. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 12 month low of $450.13 and a 12 month high of $774.00.

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

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 23rd were issued 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 of this dividend was Monday, February 23rd. Northrop Grumman’s payout ratio is currently 31.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on NOC. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $727.00 target price on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday. They set an “overweight” rating and a $800.00 price objective on the stock. Vertical Research reissued a “hold” rating and set a $688.00 price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Northrop Grumman from $715.00 to $750.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Northrop Grumman from $630.00 to $690.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, February 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $708.65.

Northrop Grumman Profile

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.