Empire Life Investments Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Northrop Grumman Corporation $NOC

Empire Life Investments Inc. cut its position in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) by 6.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 54,331 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 3,644 shares during the quarter. Northrop Grumman accounts for 1.7% of Empire Life Investments Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Empire Life Investments Inc.’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $30,980,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Torren Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 200.0% in the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 48 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in Northrop Grumman during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In other news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 2,189 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $719.61, for a total transaction of $1,575,226.29. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 151 shares in the company, valued at approximately $108,661.11. The trade was a 93.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CAO Michael A. Hardesty sold 147 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $732.98, for a total transaction of $107,748.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 2,525 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,850,774.50. The trade was a 5.50% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.21% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on NOC. Susquehanna reissued a “positive” rating and issued a $752.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $765.00 to $745.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group set a $660.00 target price on Northrop Grumman in a research note on Sunday, April 26th. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and set a $815.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $710.74.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

NYSE:NOC opened at $558.20 on Wednesday. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 12 month low of $453.01 and a 12 month high of $774.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.28 billion, a PE ratio of 17.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.74 and a beta of -0.11. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $668.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $635.04.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.06 by $0.08. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 24.72% and a net margin of 10.80%.The business had revenue of $9.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.75 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $6.06 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 27.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Company Profile

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is a leading U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, builds and sustains advanced systems, products and technologies for government and commercial customers. Formed through the combination of Northrop and Grumman businesses in the 1990s, the company’s portfolio spans manned and unmanned aircraft, space systems, missile defense, radar and sensor systems, and integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions.

The company’s work includes airframe and platform manufacturing, space hardware and satellite systems, advanced mission systems and cybersecurity services, as well as logistics, sustainment and modernization programs.