Flavin Financial Services Inc. Acquires Shares of 1,938 Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Flavin Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 1,938 shares of the aerospace company’s stock, valued at approximately $909,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in NOC. Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 5.6% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 28,004 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $14,788,000 after purchasing an additional 1,495 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 24.1% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,789 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,473,000 after purchasing an additional 541 shares in the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co raised its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 2.8% in the third quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 2,016 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,065,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Everpar Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at about $223,000. Finally, Lakeridge Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at about $227,000. 83.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE NOC opened at $487.87 on Tuesday. Northrop Grumman Co. has a one year low of $418.60 and a one year high of $555.57. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $478.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $498.76. 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 has a market cap of $70.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.21, a PEG ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 0.35.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.27 by $0.12. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 26.24%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the aerospace company to buy up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $2.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $8.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.69%. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.08%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Northrop Grumman news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 1,156 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $532.93, for a total transaction of $616,067.08. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 537 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $286,183.41. This trade represents a 68.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders sold 1,222 shares of company stock worth $647,025 over the last 90 days. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NOC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $595.00 to $574.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $560.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, October 14th. StockNews.com cut shares of Northrop Grumman from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, TD Cowen upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $544.31.

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.