Zacks Research Issues Positive Forecast for NOC Earnings

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q2 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Northrop Grumman in a report released on Tuesday, January 6th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the aerospace company will post earnings of $6.92 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $6.84. The consensus estimate for Northrop Grumman’s current full-year earnings is $28.05 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Northrop Grumman’s Q3 2026 earnings at $7.15 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $8.38 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $8.30 EPS and Q4 2027 earnings at $8.71 EPS.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The aerospace company reported $7.67 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.43 by $1.24. The firm had revenue of $10.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.68 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 25.49% and a net margin of 9.82%.Northrop Grumman’s quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $7.00 EPS. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2025 guidance at 25.650-26.050 EPS.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on NOC. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $654.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $714.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $688.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. BNP Paribas raised Northrop Grumman to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, December 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $651.18.

Northrop Grumman Stock Down 0.3%

Northrop Grumman stock opened at $609.76 on Wednesday. Northrop Grumman has a fifty-two week low of $426.24 and a fifty-two week high of $640.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.08 and a beta of 0.05. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $569.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $570.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.11.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a dividend of $2.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.5%. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.24%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northrop Grumman

In other Northrop Grumman news, Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 97 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction on Monday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $564.08, for a total value of $54,715.76. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,281 shares in the company, valued at $2,414,826.48. This trade represents a 2.22% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Northrop Grumman

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NOC. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Northrop Grumman by 200.0% during the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 48 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Parvin Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Northrop Grumman News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Northrop Grumman this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised its Q2 2027 EPS view slightly to $8.30 from $8.25, a small upward revision that signals confidence in near-term quarterly performance.
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks also increased its Q2 2026 EPS estimate to $6.92 (from $6.84), indicating an improvement in expected near-term earnings momentum.
• Positive Sentiment: Technical/momentum signal: Northrop’s relative strength rating rose to 75, suggesting above‑average buying interest and momentum compared with peers. Northrop Grumman sees relative strength rating rise to 75
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks’ analyst blog highlights defense names (including Northrop) as potential beneficiaries of geopolitical moves (U.S. activity in Venezuela), a macro tailwind but not company-specific news. The Zacks Analyst Blog Chevron, Lockheed, Northrop, CrowdStrike and Palo Alto
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation and timing pieces are running across outlets asking if the recent rally leaves NOC overbought and reassessing fair value; these are investor‑focused analyses rather than new fundamentals. Is It Too Late To Consider Northrop Grumman (NOC) After Strong One Year Share Price Gains?
• Neutral Sentiment: More valuation/context pieces dissect the one‑year gain and model signals for investors weighing entry points. Assessing Northrop Grumman (NOC) Valuation After A Strong 1 Year Return And Mixed Model Signals
• Neutral Sentiment: Longer‑term performance and thematic writeups (5‑year returns, strategic positioning in U.S. defense resurgence) provide background for buy‑and‑hold investors but don’t move near‑term fundamentals. If You Invested $1000 In Northrop Grumman Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today
• Neutral Sentiment: Strategic sector piece arguing Northrop’s role in U.S. defense buildup — supports longer‑term thesis but is descriptive rather than new catalyst. Northrop Grumman (NOC): Defense and Aerospace Giant For American Strategic Resurgence
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its Q4 2027 EPS estimate slightly to $8.71 from $8.73 — a marginal downgrade that could weigh on near‑term expectations.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks reduced Q4 2026 EPS to $8.38 (from $8.43), a small downward revision to later‑year quarterly outlooks.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut Q3 2026 EPS to $7.15 from $7.16 — another minor downgrade across future quarters that cumulatively trims forward earnings visibility.

About Northrop Grumman

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.