Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 27.400-27.900 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 28.010. The company issued revenue guidance of $43.5 billion-$44.0 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $43.9 billion.

Northrop Grumman Stock Performance

NYSE:NOC opened at $611.42 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $705.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $639.26. Northrop Grumman has a 52-week low of $450.13 and a 52-week high of $774.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $86.84 billion, a PE ratio of 20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 0.04.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.06 by $0.08. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 25.57% and a net margin of 9.97%.The business had revenue of $9.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.75 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.06 earnings per share. Northrop Grumman’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. Northrop Grumman has set its FY 2026 guidance at 27.400-27.900 EPS. Analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman will post 28.11 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 23rd were issued a dividend of $2.31 per share. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 23rd. Northrop Grumman’s payout ratio is currently 31.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NOC has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group boosted their price target on Northrop Grumman from $777.00 to $778.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $727.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Monday, January 12th. Truist Financial reissued a “hold” rating and set a $623.00 price target (down from $688.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Friday, January 9th. Vertical Research reissued a “hold” rating and set a $688.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $765.00 price target on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $719.58.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Benjamin R. Davies sold 2,189 shares of the 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 completion of the sale, the vice president owned 151 shares in the company, valued at approximately $108,661.11. This trade represents a 93.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 95 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $684.52, for a total value of $65,029.40. Following the sale, the director owned 4,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,877,037.56. This represents a 2.21% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 22,431 shares of company stock worth $15,924,404. Company insiders own 0.21% of the company’s stock.

Northrop Grumman News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat and backlog support — NOC reported $6.14 EPS on ~$9.9B revenue, topping consensus; management highlighted strong aeronautics demand and a backlog that supports multi-year visibility. Northrop Grumman (NOC) Q1 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst view and longer-term targets remain constructive — multiple firms still carry buy ratings and analyst median price targets (~$750) that imply meaningful upside over time, supporting a longer-term bull case despite near-term volatility. Northrop Grumman Stock (NOC) Opinions on Q1 Earnings Release
• Negative Sentiment: Reaffirmed guidance below street expectations — management reiterated FY2026 EPS and revenue targets (EPS 27.40–27.90; revenue $43.5B–$44.0B), which came in slightly below consensus and disappointed investors who had hoped for an upside raise. Stealth Bomber Maker Northrop Grumman Delivers Strong Earnings. The Stock Is Down.
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly cash use and program adjustment — Q1 showed about $1.6B operating cash use and ~$1.8B free-cash-flow use (seasonal but heavier than some expected) and a $71M unfavorable EAC adjustment in Space Systems (GEM 63XL launch anomaly), raising near-term execution and cash concerns. Northrop Grumman falls as investors focus on Q1 cash burn and a Space Systems charge
• Negative Sentiment: Higher capex tied to B-21 ramp — management raised FY2026 capex to ~$1.85B to support B-21 production capacity expansion, which is positive for program delivery but increases near-term cash needs and capital intensity. Northrop Grumman reaffirms $43.5B-$44B 2026 sales outlook while lifting 2026 capex to $1.85B for B-21 ramp

Institutional Trading of Northrop Grumman

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Karpus Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Motiv8 Investments LLC bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. EFG International AG bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Prosperity Bancshares Inc bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in Northrop Grumman during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the company’s stock.

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.