Advisory Services Network LLC Has $1.70 Million Stake in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Advisory Services Network LLC increased its position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 32.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,621 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 887 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,699,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,677,781 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $5,949,556,000 after acquiring an additional 56,807 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,164,700 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,954,452,000 after buying an additional 23,808 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Northrop Grumman by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,025,263 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,417,850,000 after buying an additional 21,903 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in Northrop Grumman by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,807,223 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $1,317,402,000 after acquiring an additional 109,308 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,533,378 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $1,188,889,000 after acquiring an additional 107,108 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 192 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $429.08, for a total value of $82,383.36. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 709 shares of the company's stock, valued at $304,217.72. This represents a 21.31 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 4,505 shares of company stock worth $2,127,182 over the last three months. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of Northrop Grumman stock traded down $6.39 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $529.43. The company's stock had a trading volume of 926,739 shares, compared to its average volume of 863,872. Northrop Grumman Co. has a one year low of $418.60 and a one year high of $555.57. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $483.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $491.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $76.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.20.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $2.06 dividend. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is 29.08%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wolfe Research upgraded Northrop Grumman from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $587.00 to $591.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. StockNews.com cut shares of Northrop Grumman from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Argus raised Northrop Grumman to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on Northrop Grumman from $579.00 to $558.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $543.65.

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.