Napatree Capital LLC Invests $473,000 in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Napatree Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 1,008 shares of the aerospace company's stock, valued at approximately $473,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at about $36,000. Albion Financial Group UT purchased a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Northrop Grumman

In related news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 3,750 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were 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 owns 212,852 shares in the company, valued at $101,243,053.80. This represents a 1.73 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 464 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on 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 directly owns 245 shares in the company, valued at $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 90 days, insiders have sold 4,505 shares of company stock worth $2,126,405. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

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Northrop Grumman Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE NOC traded up $10.28 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $517.42. 115,757 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,006,261. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $476.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is $492.97. The company has a market cap of $74.90 billion, a PE ratio of 18.26, a P/E/G ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.31. Northrop Grumman Co. has a twelve month low of $418.60 and a twelve month high of $555.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

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 net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 26.24%. 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 buyback plan on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the aerospace company to reacquire up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $2.06 per share. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Northrop Grumman's payout ratio is 29.08%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on NOC shares. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Northrop Grumman from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $500.00 to $575.00 in a research note on Thursday. UBS Group decreased their price target on Northrop Grumman from $579.00 to $558.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Argus raised shares of Northrop Grumman to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Truist Financial began coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. They set a "buy" rating and a $544.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Northrop Grumman presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $545.06.

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.