DailyIQ
Last updated1 minute ago

NOC·Northrop Grumman Corporation

$496.63
+15.25 (+3.17%)
High
$497.81
Open
$485.60
Market Cap
68.46B
52W High
$777.00
Low
$480.01
P. Close
$496.63
P/E
15.23
52W Low
$470.00
Fwd P/E
15.83
DailyIQ Est.
$647.25
Inst. Ownership
39.9%
Short Interest
1.61%
Days to Cover
2.6
Div. Yield
1.99%
Next Ex-Div
~Nov 30
Div. Growth
22+ yrs
Technical Score (1D)
20
BEARISH
News Sentiment
40
BEARISH
On Oct 13, Northrop Grumman reported a record backlog and raised its guidance while trading near its 52‑week lows. The company cited margin pressures from program charges and timing risks related to government funding. Analysts noted that the valuation at 16.8 times 2026 earnings‑per‑share guidance remained attractive, and the firm offered a 2% dividend yield. The commentary suggested a cautious entry before earnings, anticipating potential downside if margin or cash‑flow disappointments materialized. Overall, the tone highlighted a mild headwind but maintained a defensive buy stance.
LOW TARGET
$419 -15.6%
2 analysts
MEAN TARGET
$622 +25.3%
17 analysts
HIGH TARGET
$815 +64.1%
11 analysts
PRICE RANGE
$419.00 - $815.00
SB / B / H / S / SS
5/12/11/1/1
DAILYIQ EST.
$647.25 (+30.3%)
Sector
Industrials
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Exchange
NYQ
Country
United States
Symbol
NOC
Description
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global aerospace and defense technology provider, serving customers across the United States, Asia/Pacific, and Europe. The company's core business revolves around the design, development, and maintenance of advanced systems spanning aeronautics, defense, mission systems, and space. Northrop Grumman's offerings include aircraft systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, strategic deterrents, missile defense solutions, and cutting-edge sensor technologies. Through its diverse portfolio, the company provides critical capabilities for national security, including command and control systems, cyber solutions, and space-based assets. Founded in 1939, Northrop Grumman is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia.
Bought (1Y)
0 shares
$0
Sold (1Y)
91 shares
$50K
Brown Marianne Catherine-
Award/Grant96 shares2026-09-30
KRISHNA ARVIND-
Award/Grant75 shares2026-09-30
Warden Kathy JChair, CEO and President
Award/Grant35,910 shares2026-08-19
WELSH MARK A III-
Sell4 shares2026-08-03
WELSH MARK A III-
Sell2 shares2026-08-03
70/ 100
Bullish
Overall: Bullish
✓Revenue growing year over year
✓Positive net margin
✓Positive operating cash flow
Net Margin
10.0%
Revenue CAGR
1.8%
Current Ratio
1.10x
Debt / Equity
0.94x
Return on Equity
25.1%
Earnings Summary
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global aerospace and defense technology provider that designs, develops, and maintains advanced systems for aeronautics, defense, mission systems, and space, including aircraft, UAVs, missile defense, and cyber solutions. Operating in the highly regulated defense sector, the company benefits from long‑term government contracts and a diversified portfolio of strategic deterrent and space assets. In the most recent quarters, Northrop Grumman reported Q4 2025 revenue of $11.712 billion, slightly below the $11.742 billion estimate, and EPS of $7.23 versus an estimate of $7.04, indicating a modest beat. The following quarter, Q1 2026 revenue rose to $9.881 billion, up 4.4% from Q1 2025’s $9.468 billion, while EPS edged up to $6.14 from $3.32, a significant rebound after a sharp dip in Q1 2025. Over the last four quarters, the company has consistently surpassed EPS estimates in three of the four periods, with revenue growth accelerating from 3.5% in Q1 2025 to 4.4% in Q1 2026, despite a slight revenue dip in Q4 2025. Historically, Northrop Grumman has maintained a steady YoY revenue growth trajectory, with EPS often beating analyst expectations even when revenue growth slowed, reflecting strong pricing power and cost control. Recent news highlights a record backlog and a cautious outlook from analysts citing margin pressures and competitive dynamics; the company also launched the FORTITUDE gallium‑nitride chip and updated its Gryphon radar, signaling continued investment in advanced defense technologies.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$5.75$6.43$7.11$7.78$8.46Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26Q3'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q3'26$7.16 - -
Q2'26$6.82$7.68+12.7%
Q1'26$6.06$6.14+1.3%
Q4'25$7.04$7.23+2.8%
Q3'25$6.46$7.67+18.8%
Q2'25$6.80$8.15+19.9%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss
$9.5B$10.1B$10.7B$11.4B$12.0BQ2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26Q3'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q3'26$11.2B - -
Q2'26$10.9B$10.9B-0.3%
Q1'26$9.8B$9.9B+1.3%
Q4'25$11.7B$11.7B-0.3%
Q3'25 - $10.4B -
Q2'25 - $10.4B -

Market Data

NOC Stock Snapshot

BEARISH20/100
$496.63+$15.25 (3.2%)
Market cap
68.46B
P/E ratio
15.2
Day range
$480.01 – $497.81
News sentiment
40/100 · Bearish
Analyst target
$622.17 (+25.3%)
Consensus
Buy · 30 analysts
52-week range+5.7% off low · -36.1% from high
$470.00$777.00
Price $496.63 DailyIQ Est. $647.25

Momentum has rolled over on Northrop Grumman Corporation, which is what drives the bearish read. Institutional coverage is thorough here, so shifts in analyst expectations show up in price quickly.

Reverse DCF

What growth is priced into NOC?

FAIR

At today's price, Northrop Grumman Corporation needs to grow free cash flow about 1.6% a year for the next 10 years to justify its valuation at a 6.57% cost of capital. Over its actual history it has compounded free cash flow at 1.7% a year, so the market is asking for 0.1 percentage points below its own delivered rate. On that basis NOC looks priced roughly in line with its own growth record.

Implied FCF growth
1.6%
Historical FCF CAGR
1.7%
Growth gap
-0.1 pts
Verdict
FAIR
Discount rate (WACC)
6.57%
Beta
0.41

Behaviour On Record

What NOC's own history says about today's numbers

Realized volatility (21d)
20.3% 49th pct
Below its peak
-36.9%
vs 200-day average
-18.6%
Up days (1y)
46%

Northrop Grumman Corporation is currently running 20.3% annualised volatility over the last 21 sessions. Measured against NOC's own 13 years of daily returns rather than a market-wide average, that is the 49th percentile — close to its own typical level, against a typical reading of 20.5%. The distinction matters because a number that looks calm for one stock is turbulent for another, and the absolute figure on its own tells you neither.

NOC is trading -36.9% below its running peak. Across 12 full years on file, its median worst-drawdown-in-a-year was -13.7%, and the deepest was -37.2% in 2018. The current drawdown is already deeper than this stock's typical annual low point, which puts it in the part of its range where past recoveries began — and where past declines also continued.

Price sits -18.6% from its 200-day moving average. Against every other day in its history, that gap ranks at the 1st percentile — a narrower gap than it typically runs. Over the past year NOC closed higher on 46% of sessions, and it is currently 1 session into a rising streak.

On October specifically: over 14 years of records, NOC finished the month higher 8 of 14 times, with a median return of +1.0% and an average of +1.3%. Its strongest month historically has been February at +3.9% on average, its weakest June at -0.7%. Seasonality is a weak signal on its own — a decade is a small sample and regimes change — but it is a real distribution rather than a rule of thumb.

Overnight risk is measurable too: NOC has opened more than 2% away from the prior close in 76 of 3,268 sessions (2.3% of the time), with the largest gaps running +10.3% and -6.9%. For anyone holding through an event, that rate is a better guide to overnight exposure than the intraday range.

Across the last 3 dated reports on file, NOC moved an average of 2.7% in the session after earnings, closing higher 2 of those 3 times, with a median move of +1.5% and a largest of -3.7%.

All figures computed from 3,269 daily closes between 2013-10-15 and 2026-10-14, split-adjusted, recomputed daily. Percentiles are against NOC's own 13-year history, not a peer group or index.

Sector Rotation

Is money rotating into or out of NOC's sector?

Northrop Grumman Corporation sits in the Industrials sector, currently ranked 8th of 12 GICS sectors by relative-strength rotation score (improving). Within its narrower Aerospace & Defense industry group, NOC ranks 9th of 15 tracked industries, improving.

Sector rank
#8 of 12
Sector state
Improving
Sector rotation score
36
Industry rank
#9 of 15

Options Market

What is the options market pricing for NOC?

CallsPuts

For Northrop Grumman Corporation's nearest expiry (2026-10-16, 2 days out), open interest is call-heavy, a bullish tilt (put/call ratio of 0.55), with at-the-money implied volatility around 22.6%. The options market is pricing roughly a ±2.6% move by that expiry — a range of about $483.19–$508.77.

Put/call ratio (2026-10-16)
0.55
ATM implied volatility
22.6%
Total open interest
4,470
Expected move by 2026-10-16
±2.6% ($483.19–$508.77)

Analyst Rating Changes

Are analysts turning bullish or bearish on NOC?

TD Cowen most recently reiterated its rating on Northrop Grumman Corporation to Hold on Oct 9, 2026 with a price target of $540 (from $590). Over the last 90 days, coverage has run 0 upgrades against 1 downgrade, a net bearish lean.

Latest action
TD Cowen — Hold
90-day upgrades
0
90-day downgrades
1
Net rating momentum
-1
DateFirmActionRatingPrice target
Oct 9, 2026TD CowenMaintainedHold$590 → $540
Oct 9, 2026BarclaysInitiatedUnderweight$419
Oct 6, 2026Rothschild & CoInitiatedBuy$680
Oct 2, 2026RBC CapitalDowngradeOutperform → Sector Perform$640 → $525
Sep 23, 2026BernsteinMaintainedMarket Perform$653 → $620
Sep 15, 2026GuggenheimInitiatedBuy$612
Sep 8, 2026UBSMaintainedBuy$685 → $704
Aug 19, 2026TD CowenMaintainedHold$550 → $590
Aug 13, 2026CitigroupMaintainedBuy$617 → $667
Jul 23, 2026JP MorganMaintainedNeutral$635 → $600
Jul 22, 2026TD CowenMaintainedHold$580 → $550
Jul 22, 2026SusquehannaMaintainedPositive$785 → $655

Peers & ETF holders

NOC peers & ETF holders

News Sentiment Analysis

Sentiment gathered from recent headlines

40/100
Strong NegativeNeutralStrong Positive
BEARISH

Recent News Coverage

Most recent articles, ranked by recency (click to expand).

10+ articles
What did this article say?
Bernstein reduced its price target for Northrop Grumman (NOC) from $620 to $556, reflecting a more cautious outlook. The downgrade follows the company’s current average rating of overweight and a mean target of $622.91 among analysts. The adjustment signals concerns about future earnings growth and competitive pressures in the defense sector. Investors may view the change as a warning that NOC’s valuation could be overestimated. The move aligns with broader market sentiment toward defense contractors amid geopolitical uncertainties.
What did this article say?
Northrop Grumman traded near its 52‑week lows ahead of Q3 earnings, even though it reported a record backlog and raised guidance. The company’s margin pressures stem from program charges and timing risks related to government funding. Analysts noted that valuation at 16.8× 2026 EPS guidance remains attractive, with a 2% dividend yield and low expectations for the near term. The commentary suggested a cautious entry before earnings, anticipating potential downside if margin or cash flow disappointments materialize. The overall tone highlighted a mild headwind but maintained a defensive buy stance.
What did this article say?
Deutsche Bank reduced its price target for Northrop Grumman (NOC) from $615 to $605, reflecting a modest downgrade in its outlook. The bank cited a slight reassessment of the company’s earnings prospects and competitive landscape. The new target sits below the current market price, suggesting a cautious stance. Analysts maintain an overweight rating but expect slower growth than previously projected. The adjustment signals a minor headwind for NOC’s valuation trajectory.
What did this article say?
Northrop Grumman announced its new FORTITUDE gallium nitride chip, a compact component aimed at enhancing satellite, radar, GPS, and future 6G systems. The company also updated its Gryphon radar for the Raid Hunter air defense system. Despite these product launches, the firm’s share price has fallen 6.8% over 30 days and 10.9% over 90 days, contributing to a 21.6% decline in one‑year total shareholder return. Analysts note that the stock trades below many valuation estimates, suggesting a potential margin of safety but also raising concerns that consensus may be overly optimistic. The overall narrative reflects a modest undervaluation amid cautious market reception.
What did this article say?
Northrop Grumman (NOC) incorporated SRC’s Gryphon R1810 radar into its Raid Hunter air defense platform on October 9. The new radar extends tracking range and improves precision against multiple airborne threats, including drone swarms. The upgrade is aimed at bolstering gun‑based air defense for both infrastructure protection and military deployments. The addition signals a continued focus on expanding NOC’s defense capabilities and maintaining its competitive edge in the air‑defense market.
What did this article say?
TD Cowen analyst Gautam Khanna maintained a Hold rating on Northrop Grumman (NOC) while reducing the price target from $590 to $540. The downgrade reflects concerns over the company’s earnings outlook and competitive pressures in the defense sector.
What did this article say?
TD Cowen reduced its price target for Northrop Grumman (NOC) from $590 to $540, signaling a more cautious outlook. The downgrade reflects concerns about the company’s earnings trajectory and competitive pressures in the defense sector. Analysts maintain an overweight rating but expect slower revenue growth in the near term. The adjustment may influence investor sentiment and trading activity around NOC shares.
What did this article say?
Barclays analyst Anthony Valentini began coverage of Northrop Grumman (NOC) on October 9, assigning an Underweight rating and setting a price target of $419. The rating signals a cautious view on the company’s near‑term prospects, suggesting that the analyst expects modest upside relative to current market levels. The guidance reflects concerns about competitive pressures and potential margin compression in the defense sector.
What did this article say?
Northrop Grumman (NOC) is positioned to benefit from rising Western defense budgets. The company has a large, growing backlog and accelerating revenue growth, with stable cash flow margins and declining leverage. Valuation is attractive at less than 2x TTM revenue and under 22x unlevered pretax FCF. Analysts rate the stock "Accumulate" and expect upside from sector rotation and increased defense spending.
What did this article say?
In October 2026, Northrop Grumman announced its FORTITUDE™ gallium nitride chip, a grain‑sized device that processes large portions of the electromagnetic spectrum while delivering three times the power and twenty times the signal quality of existing solutions. The chip replaces dozens of components, reducing weight and power consumption in both commercial and defense platforms. By enabling advanced radar, GPS, electronic warfare, satellite and future 6G applications, the technology positions NOC as a leader in next‑generation communications and sensing architectures.

Technical Analysis

Real-time indicators across multiple timeframes

20
BEARISH
Momentum rank against about 1,000 stocks and ETFs for this timeframe.
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Institutional & Hedge Fund Ownership
25 tracked managers · $29.31B combined position · 14 adding, 11 trimming, 0 unchanged (latest 13F filings)
ManagerTrendShares Held% of Co.Position ValueFiled
Vanguard Group Inc▲ Buy13,740,7219.73%$7.84B2026-01-29
BlackRock, Inc.▲ Buy11,783,8178.34%$6.00B2026-08-07
Capital World Investors▼ Sell5,062,3843.58%$2.58B2026-08-12
Wellington Management Group LLP▼ Sell4,932,7803.49%$2.51B2026-08-14
Morgan Stanley▼ Sell3,562,2742.52%$1.81B2026-08-13
Geode Capital Management, LLC▲ Buy3,261,2472.31%$1.66B2026-08-12
Bank of America Corp▼ Sell2,548,8221.80%$1.30B2026-08-14
Invesco Ltd.▲ Buy1,851,0551.31%$942.76M2026-08-14
JPMorgan Chase & Co▼ Sell1,400,2700.99%$694.56M2026-08-12
FMR LLC (Fidelity)▼ Sell1,303,8080.92%$664.04M2026-08-13
Northern Trust Corp▲ Buy1,113,7650.79%$567.25M2026-08-13
Goldman Sachs Group Inc▼ Sell1,065,1100.75%$542.47M2026-08-14
Citadel Advisors LLC▲ Buy567,5940.40%$289.08M2026-09-02
Capital Research Global Investors▼ Sell473,2870.34%$240.70M2026-08-12
D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc.▲ Buy439,1750.31%$223.68M2026-08-14
AQR Capital Management LLC▲ Buy430,0060.30%$219.01M2026-08-14
Wells Fargo & Company▲ Buy425,1680.30%$216.54M2026-08-14
AllianceBernstein L.P.▲ Buy294,1150.21%$200.66M2026-08-14
Millennium Management LLC▲ Buy302,3890.21%$154.01M2026-08-14
Prudential Financial Inc▲ Buy287,2840.20%$146.32M2026-08-12
Citigroup Inc▲ Buy240,6800.17%$122.58M2026-08-03
Two Sigma Investments, LP▼ Sell227,3860.16%$115.81M2026-08-14
Renaissance Technologies LLC▲ Buy203,3800.14%$103.58M2026-08-13
Squarepoint Ops LLC▼ Sell165,9700.12%$84.53M2026-08-14
Neuberger Berman Group LLC▼ Sell164,1520.12%$83.40M2026-08-13
Q2 2026 flow:2.54M sh bought ($1.30B)4.41M sh sold ($2.24B)net -1.87M sh (−$938.24M)
Congressional Trading Activity
15 disclosed trades · ~$169.0K est. traded value · 6 buys, 9 sells
MemberChamberStateTypeAmountTradedFiled
Alan ArmstrongSenateOK▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-03-272026-07-21
Steve CohenHouseTN09▼ Sell$15K - $50K2025-12-292026-01-26
Valerie HoyleHouseOR04▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-09-232025-10-10
Gilbert CisnerosHouseCA31▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-09-052025-10-10
Ritchie John TorresHouseNY15▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-07-112025-08-20
Lisa McClainHouseMI09▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-06-242025-08-13
Lisa McClainHouseMI09▲ Buy$1K - $15K2025-06-172025-08-13
Gilbert CisnerosHouseCA31▲ Buy$1K - $15K2025-05-302025-06-06
Rob BresnahanHousePA08▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-05-152025-06-09
Josh GottheimerHouseNJ05▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-04-092025-05-14
Sheri BiggsHouseSC03▼ Sell$15K - $50K2025-03-192025-10-05
Valerie HoyleHouseOR04▲ Buy$1K - $15K2024-10-292025-09-12
Ritchie John TorresHouseNY15▲ Buy$1K - $15K2024-09-262025-08-20
Tommy TubervilleSenateAL▼ Sell$1K - $15K2022-10-052022-11-10
Tommy TubervilleSenateAL▲ Buy$1K - $15K2022-03-302022-04-08