MML Investors Services LLC Has $12.94 Million Stock Holdings in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

MML Investors Services LLC reduced its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 27,569 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after selling 290 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC’s holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $12,938,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of NOC. Mach 1 Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman in the 4th quarter valued at about $328,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 36,269 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $17,021,000 after acquiring an additional 513 shares in the last quarter. Natixis increased its stake in Northrop Grumman by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Natixis now owns 21,385 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $10,036,000 after acquiring an additional 251 shares during the last quarter. Norinchukin Bank The raised its position in Northrop Grumman by 11.9% during the fourth quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 6,697 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $3,143,000 after purchasing an additional 712 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Inc. CA lifted its stake in Northrop Grumman by 19.4% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Inc. CA now owns 95,427 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $44,783,000 after purchasing an additional 15,516 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 464 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $460.75, for a total transaction of $213,788.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 245 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $112,883.75. This represents a 65.44 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 3,750 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.65, for a total value of $1,783,687.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 212,852 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $101,243,053.80. This trade represents a 1.73 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 4,505 shares of company stock worth $2,127,182. Corporate insiders own 0.23% of the company’s stock.

Northrop Grumman Trading Down 12.7 %

NYSE:NOC opened at $463.78 on Wednesday. Northrop Grumman Co. has a 52 week low of $418.60 and a 52 week high of $555.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.01. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $489.82 and its 200-day moving average is $491.26. The firm has a market cap of $66.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.36, a P/E/G ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.20.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The aerospace company reported $6.06 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.33 by ($0.27). The firm had revenue of $9.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.07 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 10.17% and a return on equity of 26.24%. Equities analysts expect that Northrop Grumman Co. will post 28.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a $2.06 dividend. This represents a $8.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.78%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Northrop Grumman’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.08%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Northrop Grumman from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Barclays lowered their target price on Northrop Grumman from $550.00 to $500.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Northrop Grumman from $545.00 to $547.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on shares of Northrop Grumman from $625.00 to $557.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Northrop Grumman from $580.00 to $625.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $548.88.

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.