Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. Sells 63 Shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. lowered its position in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,492 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 63 shares during the quarter. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc.’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,844,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Optimum Investment Advisors grew its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 241.2% during the 2nd quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 58 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Bank & Trust Co purchased a new position in Northrop Grumman in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 245.5% in the 2nd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 76 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the 2nd quarter valued at $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NOC has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com upgraded Northrop Grumman from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Susquehanna raised their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $560.00 to $625.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen raised Northrop Grumman to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Northrop Grumman from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $474.00 to $575.00 in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $579.00 to $592.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $550.56.

Northrop Grumman Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:NOC opened at $520.58 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $75.85 billion, a PE ratio of 32.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.35. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 1 year low of $418.60 and a 1 year high of $555.57. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $523.63 and its 200 day moving average is $484.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.97.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The aerospace company reported $7.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.07 by $0.93. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 5.79% and a return on equity of 26.57%. The firm had revenue of $10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.18 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $6.18 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 25.95 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were issued a $2.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $8.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.58%. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.05%.

Northrop Grumman 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.