Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC)

Northrop Grumman's stock price as of June 26, 2025, was $493.66 per share, representing an increase of 13.51% over the period from June 27, 2024. Citigroup upgraded its outlook for Northrop Grumman from Neutral to Buy in January 2025, and Truist Securities initiated coverage with a Buy recommendation. Wolfe Research upgraded its outlook from Underperform to Peer Perform in February 2025. RBC Capital upgraded its outlook from Sector Perform to Outperform in March 2025. Goldman Sachs upgraded its outlook from Sell to Neutral in April 2025. On April 25, 2025, the stock saw a nearly 2.8% increase after its Q1 earnings results. The stock has underperformed the broader Nasdaq Composite and the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund over the past three months and year-to-date. Northrop Grumman reported Q1 FY 2025 results on April 22, 2025, with company-wide revenue declining 7% and diluted earnings per share falling 47% year-over-year. The company announced a webcast and conference call for its second-quarter 2025 financial results on June 19, 2025. Recent news includes successful rocket motor tests and a $50 million investment in Firefly Aerospace.

The demand for Northrop Grumman's products and services is largely influenced by government funding and defense spending trends, which can be subject to political and macroeconomic conditions. The company's revenue stream is supported by long-term contracts with government and defense clients. Major defense programs often involve long operating cycles and intense competition. Global conflicts and geopolitical events can significantly impact demand. The company's strong backlog of orders also suggests a relatively stable demand for its capabilities.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global aerospace, defense, and security company headquartered in West Falls Church, Virginia. It operates primarily within the aerospace and defense industry, serving the U.S. government, particularly the Department of Defense and intelligence community, as well as international and commercial customers. The company is recognized as one of the five largest U.S. aerospace and defense contractors by revenue. Northrop Grumman's business is diversified across Aeronautics Systems, Mission Systems, Defense Systems, and Space Systems.

Northrop Grumman has a significant global presence, with approximately 100,000 employees and over 550 facilities across all 50 U.S. states and more than 25 countries worldwide. While the majority of its revenue is generated from the United States, the company also has substantial contributions from other international markets. Its focus countries for expanding and strengthening partnerships include Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East.

Northrop Grumman has a long-standing reputation for innovation in aerospace design, advanced defense electronics, and mission-critical systems and is recognized as a leader in global security. The company was listed on Forbes' "Most Trusted Companies in America" in 2025. In September 2023, Northrop Grumman was sanctioned by the Chinese government due to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The company recorded a $1.56 billion pre-tax charge on the B-21 program in Q4 2023, impacting operating income. The company's positive outlook for 2025, including expected double-digit growth in international sales, has helped reassure investors. Northrop Grumman's commitment to sustainability and ethical business practices is also seen as potentially bolstering its reputation and market position.

Northrop Grumman is predominantly owned by institutional shareholders, holding approximately 83.63% of the company's shares. Major institutional owners include State Street Corp, Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock, Inc., Capital International Investors, Wellington Management Group Llp, and Geode Capital Management, Llc. Retail investors own about 11.90% of the company, while Northrop Grumman insiders hold 4.47%. Wesley G. Bush is noted as the largest individual shareholder. Insider selling has been observed in the past three months.