Seaport Res Ptn Has Pessimistic Outlook of NOC Q1 Earnings

Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) – Stock analysts at Seaport Res Ptn reduced their Q1 2025 EPS estimates for Northrop Grumman in a research note issued on Thursday, January 30th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst R. Safran now forecasts that the aerospace company will earn $6.42 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $6.51. The consensus estimate for Northrop Grumman’s current full-year earnings is $28.04 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Northrop Grumman’s Q2 2025 earnings at $6.65 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $6.88 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.70 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $27.64 EPS.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Northrop Grumman from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $560.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $595.00 to $574.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Susquehanna dropped their target price on Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $557.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised Northrop Grumman from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Monday. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $544.31.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NOC opened at $482.79 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The company has a market cap of $69.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 0.35. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $478.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is $499.10. Northrop Grumman has a 1-year low of $418.60 and a 1-year high of $555.57.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Northrop Grumman

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

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In other news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 1,156 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $532.93, for a total value of $616,067.08. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 537 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $286,183.41. The trade was a 68.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders sold a total of 1,222 shares of company stock worth $647,025 in the last 90 days. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Northrop Grumman declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Wednesday, December 11th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the aerospace company to reacquire up to 4.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were issued a $2.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $8.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.71%. Northrop Grumman’s payout ratio is 29.08%.

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.