Vectors Research Management LLC Sells 79 Shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Vectors Research Management LLC cut its holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,820 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 79 shares during the period. Vectors Research Management LLC’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,489,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Headlands Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 150.0% in the 1st quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 135 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $65,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman during the first quarter valued at $304,000. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 1,546 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $740,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC lifted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 18.4% in the first quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 1,436 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $687,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1ST Source Bank increased its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 9.3% in the first quarter. 1ST Source Bank now owns 1,049 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $502,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of NOC opened at $500.34 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $524.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $486.03. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 12-month low of $418.60 and a 12-month high of $555.57. The stock has a market cap of $72.90 billion, a PE ratio of 31.00, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The aerospace company reported $7.00 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.07 by $0.93. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 26.57% and a net margin of 5.79%. The company had revenue of $10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.18 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 25.95 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, September 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were issued a dividend of $2.06 per share. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.05%.

Insider Transactions at Northrop Grumman

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 1,156 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 537 shares in the company, valued at $286,183.41. The trade was a 68.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders have sold a total of 1,289 shares of company stock worth $685,273 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have commented on NOC. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Northrop Grumman from $509.00 to $565.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com upgraded Northrop Grumman from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $614.00 to $643.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna raised their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $560.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, TD Cowen upgraded Northrop Grumman to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $550.56.

About Northrop Grumman

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.