YANKCOM Partnership Takes Position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

YANKCOM Partnership bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 853 shares of the aerospace company's stock, valued at approximately $400,000.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bleakley Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 8,342 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $3,915,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the period. Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new stake in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth $207,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 95.3% in the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 16,301 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $7,681,000 after purchasing an additional 7,953 shares during the last quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 19.9% during the 4th quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 16,660 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $7,818,000 after buying an additional 2,770 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 6.3% during the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,234 shares of the aerospace company's stock worth $579,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company's stock.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

NYSE:NOC traded up $1.96 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $468.51. The stock had a trading volume of 457,509 shares, compared to its average volume of 840,461. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.50, a PEG ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 0.35. 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 1-year low of $418.60 and a 1-year high of $555.57. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $477.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $498.99.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - Get Free Report) last released its 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%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the aerospace company to buy up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were issued a dividend of $2.06 per share. This represents a $8.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. Northrop Grumman's payout ratio is 29.08%.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 1,156 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $532.93, for a total value of $616,067.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 537 shares of the company's stock, valued at $286,183.41. The trade was a 68.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 1,255 shares of company stock worth $662,868. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on NOC shares. Truist Financial started coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. They set a "buy" rating and a $544.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com cut Northrop Grumman from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $560.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $557.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded Northrop Grumman from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $587.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $544.31.

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.