Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) Short Interest Update

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) saw a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 1,821,087 shares, a growth of 19.5% from the January 29th total of 1,524,289 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 941,520 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.9 days. Currently, 1.3% of the company’s stock are sold short. Currently, 1.3% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 941,520 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.9 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on NOC shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $765.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Susquehanna reissued a “positive” rating and issued a $752.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Argus set a $785.00 target price on Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Alembic Global Advisors upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $662.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Wednesday, December 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Northrop Grumman presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $693.60.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

NYSE NOC opened at $740.25 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $671.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $613.12. The stock has a market cap of $105.06 billion, a PE ratio of 25.41, a PEG ratio of 5.60 and a beta of 0.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.10. Northrop Grumman has a fifty-two week low of $450.13 and a fifty-two week high of $774.00.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The aerospace company reported $7.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.97 by $0.26. The company had revenue of $11.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.61 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 25.57% and a net margin of 9.97%.Northrop Grumman’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $6.39 EPS. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Northrop Grumman will post 28.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 23rd will be issued a dividend of $2.31 per share. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 23rd. Northrop Grumman’s payout ratio is 31.72%.

Insider Activity at Northrop Grumman

In other news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 20,000 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $708.82, for a total value of $14,176,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 171,602 shares in the company, valued at $121,634,929.64. This trade represents a 10.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 2,189 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $719.61, for a total transaction of $1,575,226.29. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 151 shares in the company, valued at $108,661.11. This trade represents a 93.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 32,431 shares of company stock valued at $21,969,404 in the last quarter. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Northrop Grumman

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Kestra Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC now owns 353 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $201,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the period. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in Northrop Grumman by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 235 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $134,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Howard Financial Services LTD. lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Howard Financial Services LTD. now owns 1,143 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $651,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the period. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 1,973 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $1,125,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 4,012 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,288,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the period. 83.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Northrop Grumman News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Won a contract to supply aircraft protection systems to Germany — strengthens European sales and strengthens logistics/support ties with a NATO ally, adding near‑term revenue and program visibility. Northrop Grumman to supply aircraft protection systems to Germany
• Positive Sentiment: Received Space Force DARC hardware orders and is advancing Site‑2 work for GEO tracking — reinforces Northrop’s leadership in space surveillance and supports multi‑year program revenue and margins. Northrop Grumman’s (NOC) DARC Site 2 Hardware Order Shows the Space Force is Still Building Out GEO Tracking Capacity
• Positive Sentiment: New U.S. Space Force and Navy contract actions extend the company’s backlog and deepen long‑term defense ties — supports the company’s large backlog that underpins revenue visibility and FY26 guidance. Northrop Grumman Contracts Extend Backlog And Deepen Long Term Defense Ties
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector analyses highlight a structural shift toward tech‑heavy defense spending (AI, ISR, unmanned systems) where Northrop is a core blue‑chip player — bullish for the long term but not an immediate price catalyst. The New War Portfolio: 3 Stocks Built for a High-Tech War (MarketBeat)
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces note that longer conflicts and U.S. restocking needs benefit defense suppliers broadly; Northrop is an indirect beneficiary but not always the top supplier for tactical missile restocking. Kratos Defense and 5 Other Stocks That Can Benefit From the US Restocking Its Missiles
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysis of NOC’s past run‑up shows revenue growth, margin recovery in Aeronautics, and record backlog drove a big P/E expansion — explains why investors have been willing to bid the stock higher but also why profit‑taking can be swift. What’s Driving NOC Stock Higher? (Forbes)
• Negative Sentiment: Short‑term selling across defense stocks after escalations in the Middle East (including strikes and headlines) has pressured shares; geopolitical headlines can cause volatility even while defense budgets may rise. US strikes in Iran ‘reinforce’ a coming surge in defense spending
• Negative Sentiment: Market commentary and TV segments noted defense names (including NOC) sliding amid the latest geopolitical headlines — indicating investor rotation and increased intraday volatility despite the underlying contract wins. Don’t underestimate the role of Palantir, AI in Iran conflict (Yahoo video)

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.