FourThought Financial Partners LLC Increases Holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

FourThought Financial Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) by 21.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,749 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,017 shares during the quarter. Northrop Grumman makes up about 1.1% of FourThought Financial Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. FourThought Financial Partners LLC’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $10,676,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of NOC. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Northrop Grumman

In other news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 192 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $429.08, for a total transaction of $82,383.36. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 709 shares in the company, valued at $304,217.72. This represents a 21.31 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders have sold a total of 291 shares of company stock worth $129,184 in the last 90 days. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Northrop Grumman Stock Up 0.5 %

Northrop Grumman stock opened at $449.98 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $65.14 billion, a PE ratio of 15.88, a P/E/G ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.35. 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 firm’s 50 day moving average price is $470.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $497.29. Northrop Grumman Co. has a twelve month low of $418.60 and a twelve month high of $555.57.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.27 by $0.12. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 26.24%. On average, research analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, December 11th that permits the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the aerospace company to repurchase up to 4.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $2.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.83%. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.08%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on NOC. StockNews.com lowered Northrop Grumman from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Truist Financial assumed coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. They set a “buy” rating and a $544.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $595.00 to $574.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $500.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded Northrop Grumman from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Northrop Grumman presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $544.56.

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.