Northwest Financial Advisors Acquires 591 Shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Northwest Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) by 386.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 744 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after acquiring an additional 591 shares during the quarter. Northwest Financial Advisors’ holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $349,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. TD Cowen raised Northrop Grumman to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $540.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $500.00 to $560.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, October 14th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $557.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Citigroup raised Northrop Grumman from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $587.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $550.94.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northrop Grumman

In other Northrop Grumman 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 completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 537 shares in the company, valued at approximately $286,183.41. The trade was a 68.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders sold a total of 1,255 shares of company stock worth $663,859 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Northrop Grumman Trading Up 1.2 %

NOC stock opened at $503.09 on Tuesday. Northrop Grumman Co. has a one year low of $418.60 and a one year high of $555.57. The company has a market capitalization of $73.30 billion, a PE ratio of 31.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.35. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $478.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $496.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.09.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $2.06 dividend. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.64%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio is presently 51.05%.

Northrop Grumman announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, December 11th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the aerospace company to buy up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

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.