Bank of Montreal Can Increases Position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 3.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 240,321 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 8,585 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal Can owned about 0.17% of Northrop Grumman worth $112,780,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MML Investors Services LLC grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 27,859 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $14,712,000 after purchasing an additional 2,210 shares in the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter worth approximately $604,000. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 45,361 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $23,954,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Geller Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the third quarter valued at about $222,000. Finally, M&T Bank Corp lifted its position in Northrop Grumman by 5.4% in the third quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 19,726 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $10,417,000 after purchasing an additional 1,002 shares during the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NOC traded up $2.95 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $536.94. 170,349 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 866,109. The stock has a market cap of $77.39 billion, a PE ratio of 18.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.20. The business's fifty day moving average is $481.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $491.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. Northrop Grumman Co. has a one year low of $418.60 and a one year high of $555.57.

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Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.27 by $0.12. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 26.24% and a net margin of 10.17%. As a group, analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $2.06 per share. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is presently 29.08%.

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In related news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 3,750 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $475.65, for a total value of $1,783,687.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 212,852 shares in the company, valued at $101,243,053.80. The trade was a 1.73 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 464 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $460.75, for a total transaction of $213,788.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 245 shares in the company, valued at approximately $112,883.75. The trade was a 65.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 4,505 shares of company stock worth $2,127,182. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on NOC shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Northrop Grumman from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and raised their target price for the stock from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research note on Friday. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $557.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Citigroup lifted their target price on Northrop Grumman from $587.00 to $591.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Northrop Grumman to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $543.65.

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.