Savant Capital LLC Buys 699 Shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Savant Capital LLC boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) by 13.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,942 shares of the aerospace company's stock after acquiring an additional 699 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC's holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $2,788,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Albion Financial Group UT bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Modus Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of Northrop Grumman stock traded down $16.36 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $438.70. 2,035,259 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 831,728. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 12-month low of $418.60 and a 12-month high of $555.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $63.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.48, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $474.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $499.28. 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 announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.27 by $0.12. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 26.24% and a net margin of 10.17%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a dividend of $2.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.88%. Northrop Grumman's payout ratio is 29.08%.

Northrop Grumman declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase 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 stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on NOC. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $557.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $540.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. UBS Group lowered their target price on Northrop Grumman from $579.00 to $558.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Wolfe Research raised Northrop Grumman from an "underperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Northrop Grumman from $587.00 to $591.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $544.56.

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.