Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) Shares Sold by Metis Global Partners LLC

Metis Global Partners LLC trimmed its position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) by 11.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,610 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 588 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $2,158,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Channing Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Channing Capital Management LLC now owns 11,736 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $5,494,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the period. Clearstead Trust LLC acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 4th quarter worth approximately $132,000. TCG Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 4th quarter worth approximately $800,000. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. lifted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 118.8% during the fourth quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 10,174 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $4,490,000 after purchasing an additional 5,524 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Fin Capital Inc. boosted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. Blue Fin Capital Inc. now owns 4,649 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $2,176,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of NOC stock opened at $472.36 on Tuesday. Northrop Grumman Co. has a fifty-two week low of $414.56 and a fifty-two week high of $496.89. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $465.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $465.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The firm has a market cap of $69.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.79, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.34.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The aerospace company reported $6.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.83 by $0.49. The firm had revenue of $10.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.77 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 24.09% and a net margin of 5.38%. The firm’s revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.50 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 24.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Investors of record on Monday, February 26th were issued a $1.87 dividend. This represents a $7.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.58%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 23rd. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio is presently 52.31%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NOC has been the topic of several research reports. Susquehanna upped their price target on Northrop Grumman from $540.00 to $560.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Northrop Grumman from $483.00 to $518.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 30th. TheStreet lowered Northrop Grumman from a “b+” rating to a “c+” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $450.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $475.00 to $505.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $509.38.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Northrop Grumman news, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 210 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $454.68, for a total value of $95,482.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,127 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,421,784.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, VP Kathryn G. Simpson sold 1,273 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $450.37, for a total value of $573,321.01. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 2,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,231,761.95. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 210 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $454.68, for a total transaction of $95,482.80. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,127 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,421,784.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 3,149 shares of company stock valued at $1,421,147 over the last three months. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Northrop Grumman Company 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.