Zacks Research Forecasts Lower Earnings for Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note issued on Thursday, February 20th. Zacks Research analyst A. Dutta now anticipates that the aerospace company will earn $6.33 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $6.43. 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 Q2 2025 earnings at $7.07 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $7.15 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.34 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $27.89 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $6.28 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $30.97 EPS.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on the company. StockNews.com cut Northrop Grumman from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Northrop Grumman from $595.00 to $574.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays decreased their target price on Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $500.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. UBS Group decreased their target price on Northrop Grumman from $579.00 to $558.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research raised Northrop Grumman from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $544.56.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

Shares of NOC opened at $448.59 on Monday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $471.03 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $497.58. The company has a market cap of $64.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.83, a P/E/G ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. Northrop Grumman has a 12 month low of $418.60 and a 12 month high of $555.57.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The aerospace company reported $6.39 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.27 by $0.12. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 26.24% and a net margin of 10.17%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter worth about $31,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Northrop Grumman in the third quarter worth about $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a $2.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.84%. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.08%.

Northrop Grumman announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, December 11th that permits the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the aerospace company to reacquire up to 4.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are 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.