Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) Stock

Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at a P/E ratio of 25.44, which is above the market average of approximately 20. This premium valuation suggests investors expect above-average growth or the company has competitive advantages justifying the higher multiple. Looking ahead, the forward P/E of 26.60 is higher than the current P/E, indicating analysts expect earnings to decline over the next year. The PEG ratio of 5.65 indicates a premium valuation even accounting for growth.

With a beta of 0.01, Northrop Grumman Corporation is less volatile than the overall market. This means when the market moves up or down by 10%, this stock typically moves less than 10% in the same direction. Lower beta stocks are often preferred by conservative investors seeking stability. The price-to-book ratio of 6.42 shows investors value the company above its book value, which often reflects intangible assets or growth prospects.

Northrop Grumman Corporation achieves a profit margin of 9.97%, meaning it retains $9.97 from every $100 in revenue after all expenses. This represents a solid margin typical of well-run businesses, showing the company can effectively balance revenue generation with cost control. The operating margin of 16.50% reveals how efficiently the company runs its core business operations before interest and taxes. With ROE at 26.20% and ROA at 6.64%, the company generates strong returns on invested capital.

Northrop Grumman Corporation's revenue grew by 9.60% year-over-year, showing steady progress in growing the business. This positive trajectory indicates the company maintains competitive positioning in its markets. Earnings increased by 15.20% year-over-year, outpacing revenue growth through improved margins. These growth metrics should be evaluated against AEROSPACE & DEFENSE industry averages for proper context.

Northrop Grumman Corporation offers a dividend yield of 1.21%, paying $8.99 per share annually. This modest yield below 2% suggests the company prioritizes growth investments over current income. While the dividend provides some return, investors are likely attracted more by capital appreciation potential than income generation. To receive the next dividend, shares must be purchased before the ex-dividend date of Feb 23, 2026.

The dividend sustainability can be assessed through the payout ratio - Northrop Grumman Corporation pays $8.99 per share in dividends against earnings of $29.72 per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 30.25%. This balanced payout between 30-60% suggests a sustainable dividend policy that allows both shareholder returns and business reinvestment. The dividend appears well-covered by earnings. The next dividend payment is scheduled for Mar 11, 2026.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has a market capitalization of $107.9B, classifying it as a large-cap stock ($10B-$200B). Large-caps are typically industry leaders with established business models, offering a balance of stability and growth potential. They often provide dividend income and are core holdings in institutional portfolios. With 141.92M shares outstanding, the company's ownership is relatively concentrated. As a major player in the AEROSPACE & DEFENSE industry, it competes with other firms in this sector.

Northrop Grumman Corporation's book value per share is $117.42, while the current stock price is $733.48, resulting in a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 6.25. This high P/B ratio indicates significant intangible assets, strong brand value, or high growth expectations. Technology and consumer brand companies often trade at elevated P/B ratios due to intellectual property and competitive advantages not reflected on the balance sheet. As a common stock, this represents equity ownership with voting rights.

23 analysts cover NOC with 48% recommending buy/strong buy ratings. Analyst predictions have mixed reliability - studies show consensus rarely beats market returns consistently. The mixed views reflect uncertainty about the outlook. The consensus target of $724.39 implies -1.2% downside, but targets are often adjusted to follow price moves rather than predict them.

Current analyst recommendations:3 Strong Buy, 8 Buy, 11 Hold, 01 Strong Sell. The neutral stance suggests uncertainty or fair valuation at current levels.Remember that analyst opinions often lag price movements and can be influenced by investment banking relationships.