LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI Raises Holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 4.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 32,602 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 1,470 shares during the quarter. Northrop Grumman comprises approximately 1.6% of LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI's holdings, making the stock its 17th largest position. LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $15,300,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NOC. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 245.5% in the 2nd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 76 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of Northrop Grumman stock traded down $3.84 during trading on Friday, hitting $458.37. 626,258 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 761,440. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 52-week low of $418.60 and a 52-week high of $555.57. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $484.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $492.20. The firm has a market cap of $66.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The aerospace company reported $7.00 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.07 by $0.93. The business had revenue of $10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.18 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 5.79% and a return on equity of 26.57%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $6.18 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 25.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were given a $2.06 dividend. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. Northrop Grumman's payout ratio is 51.05%.

Northrop Grumman announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Wednesday, December 11th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the aerospace company to reacquire up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $500.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Citigroup increased their price target on Northrop Grumman from $521.00 to $587.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Northrop Grumman from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $595.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, October 14th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Northrop Grumman from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Northrop Grumman currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $551.40.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 1,156 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $532.93, for a total value of $616,067.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 537 shares of the company's stock, valued at $286,183.41. This trade represents a 68.28 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders sold 1,255 shares of company stock worth $663,859 in the last three months. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.