Panoramic Capital Partners LLC Makes New Investment in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Panoramic Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 703 shares of the aerospace company’s stock, valued at approximately $330,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in NOC. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Albion Financial Group UT purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Northrop Grumman Stock Up 1.1 %

NOC opened at $473.94 on Tuesday. Northrop Grumman Co. has a fifty-two week low of $418.60 and a fifty-two week high of $555.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.01. The stock has a market cap of $68.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.35. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $476.91 and its 200 day moving average is $500.01.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.27 by $0.12. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 26.24% and a net margin of 10.17%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 27.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were given a dividend of $2.06 per share. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. Northrop Grumman’s payout ratio is currently 29.08%.

Northrop Grumman declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the aerospace company to purchase up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $595.00 to $574.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Wolfe Research raised Northrop Grumman from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $540.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $557.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $544.56.

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.