Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. Acquires 13,118 Shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 14.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 104,606 shares of the aerospace company's stock after purchasing an additional 13,118 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. owned approximately 0.07% of Northrop Grumman worth $49,091,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Modus Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:NOC traded down $11.06 on Thursday, hitting $470.48. The company had a trading volume of 359,467 shares, compared to its average volume of 811,504. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $478.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $497.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market cap of $68.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.19, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.35. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 1-year low of $418.60 and a 1-year high of $555.57.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.27 by $0.12. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 5.79% and a return on equity of 26.57%. Analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 25.96 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the aerospace company to repurchase up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally an indication that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were issued a $2.06 dividend. This represents a $8.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. Northrop Grumman's dividend payout ratio is 51.05%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 1,156 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $532.93, for a total transaction of $616,067.08. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 537 shares of the company's stock, valued at $286,183.41. This represents a 68.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 1,255 shares of company stock worth $663,859 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on NOC. StockNews.com raised shares of Northrop Grumman from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Sunday, January 19th. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $557.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. 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. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $540.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Truist Financial assumed coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $544.00 price objective on the stock. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $550.94.

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.