Aviva PLC Has $38.21 Million Position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Aviva PLC raised its position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 203.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 81,430 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 54,633 shares during the quarter. Aviva PLC owned 0.06% of Northrop Grumman worth $38,214,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of NOC. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC boosted its position in Northrop Grumman by 111.4% during the 3rd quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 9,419 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $4,974,000 after acquiring an additional 4,964 shares during the last quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 26.3% during the third quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,732 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $914,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares during the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 6.0% during the third quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 19,433 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $10,262,000 after purchasing an additional 1,095 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in Northrop Grumman by 154.7% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 157,601 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $83,224,000 after buying an additional 95,724 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC lifted its position in Northrop Grumman by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 27,859 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $14,712,000 after buying an additional 2,210 shares in the last quarter. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

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

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Northrop Grumman stock traded up $16.81 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $532.90. 385,070 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 866,082. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $480.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $491.62. The firm has a market cap of $76.81 billion, a PE ratio of 18.79, a PEG ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.20. 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 Co. has a 12 month low of $418.60 and a 12 month high of $555.57.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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, equities research analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 earnings per share 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 given a dividend of $2.06 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.55%. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is 29.08%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised Northrop Grumman from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $500.00 to $575.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Truist Financial assumed coverage on Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. They set a "buy" rating and a $544.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $579.00 to $558.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $500.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Northrop Grumman from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research report on Friday. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $543.65.

Northrop Grumman Company 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.