Northrop Grumman Stock (NYSE:NOC), Trade Ideas

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a diversified defense contractor providing aeronautics, defense, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces autonomous and piloted aircraft such as Global Hawk drones and the new B-21 bomber. Defense systems makes artillery and missile ammunition and guidance systems, missile defense systems, and conducts maintenance and upgrades on numerous military aircraft. Mission systems creates and integrates a variety of radar, navigation, and communication systems for avionics, weapons control, and countermeasures on a range of platforms from helicopters to destroyers. Finally, space systems produces satellites, sensors, space structures, and manufactures long-range missiles and rocket motors.

Earnings

Equities

News

Guidance

Northrop Grumman Corp reported 9% sales growth in Q1 fiscal 2024, beating consensus. Q1 EPS was $6.32, also exceeding expectations. Backlog is $78.9B.

Northrop Grumman Reaffirms 2024 Guidance Post Double-Digit Earnings Growth In Q1: Details

Elon,Musk,Is,Founder,And,Ceo,Of,Tesla,And,Spacex.

Government

Large Cap

Contracts

Tech

General

Northrop Grumman &amp; SpaceX collaborate on a classified satellite initiative to enhance US surveillance capabilities. High-resolution imagery from low-Earth orbits diversifies intelligence methods, emphasizing distributed responsibility &amp; sensor technology integration.

Northrop Grumman And Elon Musk&#39;s SpaceX Forge Alliance for US Spy Satellite Initiative

Congress.Trading.Shutterstock

Politics

Global

Defense stocks could benefit from increased international tensions after the attack on Israel by Iran. A look at the members of Congress who could have a conflict of interest.

Congress Members Invest In Defense Stocks As Middle East Tensions Mount: How Pelosi, Gottheimer, Hern And Others Could Benefit

Northrop Grumman Corporation Common Stock

Northrop Grumman Corp

NORDEN CROWN METALS CORP by Norden Crown Metals Corp.

Norden Crown Metals Corp

Fitzroy Minerals Inc

Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF- October

NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORP USD RTS

Nocera Inc

NOCOPI TECHS INC by NoCopi Technologies, Inc.

Nocopi Technologies Inc

Nocturne Acquisition Corp

Nocturne Acquisition Corp Units (1 Ordinary Shares & 1 Rights)

noco-noco Inc

WIIM

Northrop Grumman shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q1 EPS and sales.

Northrop Grumman Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) reported&nbsp;first-quarter fiscal 2024&nbsp;sales growth of 9% year-over-year to $10.133 billion,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/04/g38425743/northrop-grumman-releases-first-quarter-2024-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the consensus of $9.771 billion.</a>
First-quarter EPS was $6.32 compared to $5.50 a year ago,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the consensus of $5.74.</a>
&#8220;Robust global defense spending and our strong backlog, along with expanding margins, continue to support our multi-year outlook for free cash flow growth,&#8221; commented Kathy Warden, chair, chief executive officer, and president.
Sales by segments: Aeronautics Systems $2.97 billion (+18% Y/Y), Defense Systems $1.41 billion (+3% Y/Y), Mission Systems $2.66 billion (+4% Y/Y), and Space Systems $3.65 billion (+9% Y/Y).
Segment operating income rose 10% Y/Y to $1.1 billion, and margin expanded by&nbsp;10&nbsp;bps to 10.9%. Total operating margin expanded by 40 bps to 10.6%.
NOC&#8217;s first-quarter net awards totaled $6.5 billion, and its backlog totaled $78.9 billion. Significant&nbsp;first quarter&nbsp;new awards include $3.1 billion for restricted programs.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38321271/northrop-grumman-and-elon-musks-spacex-forge-alliance-for-us-spy-satellite-initiative" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northrop Grumman And Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX Forge Alliance for US Spy Satellite Initiative</a>
The company&#8217;s operating cash used in operating activities for the quarter totaled $(706) million (-1% Y/Y), and free cash outflow stood at $(976) million (+3% Y/Y).
Northrop Grumman returned $1.5 billion to investors via dividends and share repurchases and expects greater than $2 billion in 2024 share repurchases.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Fiscal 2024 Outlook, reaffirmed:&nbsp;Northrop Grumman sees sales of $40.8 billion – $41.2 billion versus the consensus of $41.11 billion; The company sees MTM-adjusted EPS of $24.45-$24.85 (consensus $24.65).
It sees Segment operating income of $4.475 billion-$4.55 billion and an adjusted free cash flow of $2.25 billion-$2.65 billion for 2024.
Price Action: NOC shares traded higher by 1.56% at $481.98 at the last check Thursday.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Northrop Grumman Reiterates FY2024 Outlook: Adj EPS $24.45-24.85 vs $24.65 Est; Sees Sales $40.800B-41.200B vs $41.11B Est

Awards and Backlog
First quarter 2024 net awards totaled $6.5 billion and backlog totaled $78.9 billion. Significant first quarter new awards include $3.1 billion for restricted programs (primarily at Aeronautics Systems, Space Systems, and Mission Systems). As previously disclosed, in January 2024, the company received a termination for convenience in our restricted Space business. The company reduced unfunded backlog by $1.6 billion during the first quarter of 2024 related to the termination.

Northrop Grumman Q1 Net Awards $6.5B, Backlog $78.9B

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $6.32 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $5.74 by 10.1 percent. This is a 14.91 percent increase over earnings of $5.50 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $10.133 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $9.771 billion by 3.70 percent. This is a 8.95 percent increase over sales of $9.301 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Northrop Grumman Q1 2024 GAAP EPS $6.32 Beats $5.74 Estimate, Sales $10.133B Beat $9.771B Estimate

Asset Sales

U.S. State Department Approves Possible Sale To Poland Of Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles For Estimated $1.275B

Alembic Global analyst Peter Skibitski upgrades Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) from Neutral to Overweight.

Upgrades

Analyst Ratings

Alembic Global Upgrades Northrop Grumman to Overweight

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with NOC, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 10 options trades for Northrop Grumman.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 40% bullish and 60%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $28,140, and 9, calls, for a total amount of $395,247.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $430.0 to $505.0 for Northrop Grumman over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Northrop Grumman's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Northrop Grumman's whale trades within a strike price range from $430.0 to $505.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Northrop Grumman 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713546135_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$12.1</td>
<td>$11.9</td>
<td>$12.0</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$97.2K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">157</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$11.4</td>
<td>$11.1</td>
<td>$11.4</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$71.6K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$11.5</td>
<td>$11.5</td>
<td>$11.5</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$41.4K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">108</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$12.3</td>
<td>$12.1</td>
<td>$12.3</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$35.6K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$36.6</td>
<td>$32.7</td>
<td>$34.0</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$34.0K</td>
<td>130</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Northrop Grumman</h3>
Northrop Grumman is a diversified defense contractor providing aeronautics, defense, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces autonomous and piloted aircraft such as Global Hawk drones and the new B-21 bomber. Defense systems makes artillery and missile ammunition and guidance systems, missile defense systems, and conducts maintenance and upgrades on numerous military aircraft. Mission systems creates and integrates a variety of radar, navigation, and communication systems for avionics, weapons control, and countermeasures on a range of platforms from helicopters to destroyers. Finally, space systems produces satellites, sensors, space structures, and manufactures long-range missiles and rocket motors.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Northrop Grumman, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Northrop Grumman's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 264,605, the price of NOC is up by 1.5%, reaching $459.28.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 6 days from now.</li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Northrop Grumman with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Markets

Northrop Grumman Unusual Options Activity For April 19

Aerospace and defense&nbsp;Northrop Grumman Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) has reportedly collaborated with Elon Musk&#8217;s&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;on a classified spy satellite initiative to bolster the U.S. government&#8217;s surveillance capabilities.
The project endeavors to provide high-resolution imagery from low-Earth orbits, augmenting conventional drone and reconnaissance aircraft methods.
Reuters noted, citing sources close to the project, that this alliance marks a strategic move by government officials to diversify involvement in such a sensitive intelligence venture.&nbsp;
They emphasized the government&#8217;s cautious stance toward consolidating control under a single contractor, especially one led by an individual, highlighting the need for distributed responsibility.
While details regarding other potential participants remain undisclosed, the Reuters report added that Northrop Grumman&#8217;s role extends to providing sensors for select SpaceX satellites.&nbsp;
According to sources familiar with the matter, Northrop Grumman is set to supply sensors for select SpaceX satellites.&nbsp;
Additionally, Northrop Grumman will test these satellites at its facilities before their launch.&nbsp;
Northrop Grumman is anticipated to handle at least 50 of these satellites over the next few years, performing various procedures such as testing and sensor installation.
Furthermore, the company is slated to conduct satellite testing at its facilities before deployment, facilitating quality assurance and functionality checks.
The reports suggest SpaceX&#8217;s active engagement in the project, with prototypes already launched and test imagery provided to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) that oversees U.S. spy satellite development.
The satellite network aims for superior imaging resolution compared to existing systems and seeks to mitigate operational risks associated with aerial reconnaissance in foreign airspace.&nbsp;
Once fully operational, the spy satellite network will integrate various sensor technologies, including optical and radar capabilities, alongside relay satellites for data transmission.&nbsp;
In January,&nbsp;Northrop Grumman&nbsp;reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2023 sales growth of 6% year-over-year to $10.64 billion,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/01/36783851/why-is-aerospace-and-defense-giant-northrop-grumman-stock-taking-a-hit-today" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the consensus of $10.44 billion.</a>
For fiscal 2024, Northrop Grumman sees sales of $40.8 billion—$41.2 billion versus the consensus of $41.15 billion; it sees MTM-adjusted EPS of $24.45-$24.85 (consensus $24.23).
Price Action:&nbsp;NOC shares are up 0.17% at $452.82 at the last check Thursday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Northrop Grumman And Elon Musk's SpaceX Forge Alliance for US Spy Satellite Initiative

<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/northrop-grumman-working-with-musks-spacex-us-spy-satellite-system-2024-04-18/" title="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/northrop-grumman-working-with-musks-spacex-us-spy-satellite-system-2024-04-18/">https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/northrop-grumman-working-with-musks-spacex-us-spy-satellite-system-2024-04-18/</a>
&nbsp;
Aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman is working with SpaceX, the space venture of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, on a classified spy satellite project already capturing high-resolution imagery of the Earth, according to people familiar with the program.
&nbsp;
The program, details of which were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/musks-spacex-is-building-spy-satellite-network-us-intelligence-agency-sources-2024-03-16/">first reported by Reuters</a>&nbsp;last month, is meant to enhance the U.S. government&#39;s ability to track military and intelligence targets from low-Earth orbits, providing high-resolution imagery of a kind that had traditionally been captured mostly by drones and reconnaissance aircraft.
&nbsp;
The inclusion of Northrop Grumman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/NOC.N" target="_blank">(NOC.N), opens new tab</a>, which has not been previously reported, reflects a desire among government officials to avoid putting too much control of a highly-sensitive intelligence program in the hands of one contractor, four people familiar with the project told Reuters. &quot;It is in the government&#39;s interest to not be totally invested in one company run by one person,&quot; one of the people said.
&nbsp;
It&#39;s unclear whether other contractors are involved at present or could join the project as it develops. Spokespeople at Northrop Grumman and SpaceX didn&#39;t respond to requests for comment.
&nbsp;
Northrop Grumman is providing sensors for some of the SpaceX satellites, the people familiar with the project told Reuters. Northrop Grumman, two of the people added, will test those satellites at its own facilities before they are launched.A t least 50 of the SpaceX satellites are expected at Northrop Grumman facilities for procedures including testing and the installation of sensors in coming years, one of the people said.
&nbsp;
In March, Reuters reported that the National Reconnaissance Office, or NRO, in 2021 awarded a $1.8 billion contract to SpaceX for the classified project, a planned network of hundreds of satellites. So far, the people familiar with the project said, SpaceX has launched roughly a dozen prototypes and is already providing test imagery to the NRO, an intelligence agency that oversees development of U.S. spy satellites.
&nbsp;
The collection of imagery hasn&#39;t been previously reported.
&nbsp;
In a statement, an NRO spokesperson said the agency &quot;has always worked with a diverse group of partners to deliver the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.&quot; The spokesperson declined to comment on specifics of the satellite network or identify any companies that may be involved.
&nbsp;
The network&#39;s imaging capabilities are designed to have superior resolution over most existing U.S. government spying systems.
&nbsp;
It&#39;s also designed to address another concern: Currently, U.S. defense and intelligence agencies gather considerable amounts of imagery from drones and reconnaissance aircraft in other countries&#39; sovereign airspace, which poses risks, especially in conflict zones. Placing that image-collection in Earth&#39;s orbit reduces the risk, U.S. officials have said.
&nbsp;
For SpaceX, known for its rapid launches of reusable rockets and commercial internet satellites, the project is its first known foray into intelligence surveillance services, long the domain of the government and established space contractors.
&nbsp;
Since SpaceX began operations over two decades ago, Musk and other company officials have resisted working with established aerospace and defense contractors, many of which they have criticized as bureaucratic and slow.
&nbsp;
But even as space and intelligence agencies work more closely with SpaceX, people familiar with the contract said, officials want to ensure that other partners are included. Northrop Grumman has a long history as a defense and intelligence contractor, already providing the U.S. government with products and services including military satellites, maneuverable spacecraft and space-based communications.
&nbsp;
Once the new spy satellite network is fully deployed, the people told Reuters, it will be equipped with an array of different sensors, including optical and radar technology. The system will also feature relay satellites that can transmit the imagery and other data across the network, two of the people added.

'Northrop Grumman working With Musk's SpaceX On U.S. Spy Satellite System' - Reuters News

Northrop Grumman's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.65% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.81 million shares sold short, which is 1.23% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.86 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Northrop Grumman Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713380421_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Northrop Grumman has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Northrop Grumman's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Northrop Grumman's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.46%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Peering Into Northrop Grumman's Recent Short Interest

Over the weekend, Iran launched a drone attack on Israel, which came in response to an airstrike of an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38238575/iran-launches-drone-attack-on-israel-in-escalation-of-tensions-bitcoin-drops-sharply-in-re">Iranian embassy in Syria.</a>
The attack is the latest in an escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which could lead to further involvement from the U.S. and potential funding for defense companies.
What Happened: The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/congress-trading">trading activity of members</a> of Congress has come under an increased spotlight in recent years, due to potential conflicts of interest.
Congress members who own stocks and options in defense companies could be flagged for conflict of interest as potential votes and decisions could be coming on how the U.S. will react to the attack on Israel by Iran.
Utilizing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Benzinga government trades page</a>, investors can find which members of Congress have been buying up shares of defense stocks like Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), RTX Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) and General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>).
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) bought $1,000 to $15,000 worth of Lockheed Martin shares on March 29. The member of Congress also bought shares of Lockheed Martin in December 2023. Hern also bought shares of RTX Corporation in December and March with each purchase listed at $1,000 to $15,000.
Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.) bought $1,000 to $15,000 worth of Lockheed Martin shares in December and January in two separate trades.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) bought $1,000 to $15,000 worth of shares of RTX Corporation in October 2023.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) bought $15,000 to $50,000 worth of shares of Northrop Grumman in December 2023.
The last listed purchase of General Dynamics stock was by Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) in August 2023 with a transaction totaling $1,000 to $15,000.
According to a <a href="https://twitter.com/unusual_whales/status/1779650592450703522">post </a>from Unusual Whales, which tracks the trading activity of Congress members, these are the five members of Congress who have the most money invested in defense stocks.
<ol>
<li>Rep. Kevin Hern</li>
<li>Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.)</li>
<li>Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.)</li>
<li>Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)</li>
<li>Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas)</li>
</ol>
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/01/36459015/10-best-stock-traders-in-congress-in-2023-spoiler-nancy-pelosi-is-back-on-the-list">10 Best Stock Traders In Congress In 2023 (Spoiler: Nancy Pelosi Has Reentered The Chat)</a>
Why It's Important: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/defense-stocks">Defense stocks </a>have been in the spotlight in recent years with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the Middle East conflict in Israel leading to increased spending on weapons and the U.S. providing funding and weapons in some cases to its allies.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/03/26063227/members-of-congress-buy-energy-defense-stocks-prior-to-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-who-they-are-what">Benzinga previously reported</a> there were several members of Congress who benefitted by owning shares of energy stocks and defense stocks before the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Members of Congress could be tasked with voting for additional funding for Israel in the wake of the attack by Iran. Voting to provide additional funding and weapons to Israel could benefit the defense stocks members of Congress currently own.
In some cases, members of Congress who own defense stocks may have a greater conflict of interest due to committee roles.
Mullin serves on the Armed Services committee.
Manning previously bought Lockheed Martin shares<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/02/37016706/congresswoman-discloses-purchase-of-defense-stock-lockheed-martin-before-we-must-hold-iran-accou"> before publicly calling</a> to "hold Iran accountable."
Members of Congress are allowed to buy and sell stocks and options as long as they are properly disclosed, which includes being able to buy defense stocks before they vote on potential funding for more international conflicts.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/03/37460893/pelosi-loves-palo-alto-networks-stock-so-do-these-other-top-performing-traders-in-congress">Pelosi Loves Palo Alto Networks Stock, So Do These Other Top Performing Traders In Congress</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with NOC, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 14 options trades for Northrop Grumman.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 64% bullish and 35%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $25,500, and 13, calls, for a total amount of $757,873.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $440.0 to $500.0 for Northrop Grumman during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Northrop Grumman's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Northrop Grumman's whale activity within a strike price range from $440.0 to $500.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Northrop Grumman Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712950427_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$58.2</td>
<td>$56.8</td>
<td>$56.8</td>
<td>$440.00</td>
<td>$227.2K</td>
<td>67</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$14.1</td>
<td>$14.0</td>
<td>$14.0</td>
<td>$490.00</td>
<td>$92.4K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$8.1</td>
<td>$8.0</td>
<td>$7.9</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$71.9K</td>
<td>142</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$1.65</td>
<td>$1.65</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$56.6K</td>
<td>287</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$9.0</td>
<td>$8.8</td>
<td>$8.8</td>
<td>$490.00</td>
<td>$44.0K</td>
<td>346</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">182</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Northrop Grumman</h3>
Northrop Grumman is a diversified defense contractor providing aeronautics, defense, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces autonomous and piloted aircraft such as Global Hawk drones and the new B-21 bomber. Defense systems makes artillery and missile ammunition and guidance systems, missile defense systems, and conducts maintenance and upgrades on numerous military aircraft. Mission systems creates and integrates a variety of radar, navigation, and communication systems for avionics, weapons control, and countermeasures on a range of platforms from helicopters to destroyers. Finally, space systems produces satellites, sensors, space structures, and manufactures long-range missiles and rocket motors.
<h3>Where Is Northrop Grumman Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 638,991, the price of NOC is down by -0.14%, reaching $457.2.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 13 days from now.</li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Northrop Grumman, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

A Closer Look at Northrop Grumman's Options Market Dynamics

Intuitive Machines Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNR#NASDAQ">LUNR</a>) shares are&nbsp;trading higher after NASA awarded the company $30 million as a prime contractor to complete a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/04/g38078096/intuitive-machines-led-moon-racer-team-awarded-nasa-lunar-terrain-vehicle-contract-to-support-the-" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services Feasibility Assessment.</a>
Under the contract, Intuitive&#8217;s global team is tasked with creating a feasibility roadmap to develop and deploy a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) on the Moon using its&#8217; Nova-D cargo-class lunar lander.
The first phase award marks the company&#8217;s entrance into human spaceflight operations within NASA&#8217;s $4.6 billion LTV Services project.
&#8220;This procurement strategically aligns with the Company&#8217;s flight-proven capability to deliver payloads to the surface of the Moon under the agency&#8217;s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, further solidifying our position as a proven commercial contractor in lunar exploration,&#8221; said CEO Steve Altemus.
Intuitive Machines&#8217; Moon Reusable Autonomous Crewed Exploration Rover (RACER) global team partners, including AVL,&nbsp;Boeing Company&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), Michelin, and&nbsp;Northrop Grumman Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), intend to provide an LTV design architecture with advanced power management, autonomous driving, communications, and navigation systems for lunar exploration.
The Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services vehicle is a major element in returning humans to the lunar surface under NASA&#8217;s Artemis campaign.
Price Action: LUNR shares are trading higher by 6.86% at $6.39 in premarket on the last check Thursday.
Photo via Company

LUNR

Why Intuitive Machines Shares Are Soaring Today

The U.S. Defense Department&#8217;s secretive advanced research agency wants to figure out how to transport people <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/37765887/benzinga-bulls-and-bears-nvidia-tesla-meta-and-musk-declares-dogecoin-to-the-moon">to the moon via train</a>.
What To Know: DARPA, or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the research and development agency of the Department of Defense, selected Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) on Tuesday to further develop the concept of building a moon-based railway. 
The new developments are part of DARPA&#8217;s&nbsp;10-year Lunar Architecture Capability Study, which aims to establish an analytical framework for lunar infrastructure that provides commercial services in the future, while minimizing lunar footprint.
&#8220;The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface — contributing to a space economy for the United States and international partners,&#8221; Northrop Grumman said in a <a href="https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-to-develop-concept-for-lunar-railroad">statement</a> on Tuesday. 
The defense contractor will study the resources required to build a lunar railway, establish a list of costs and risks, identify prototypes and analyses of a fully operating lunar rail system concept and explore other concepts for constructing and operating the system with robotics. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37768437/elon-musks-spacex-is-secretly-building-a-huge-spy-satellite-network-for-the-us-government?utm_campaign=partner_feed&amp;utm_source=InvestingUK&amp;utm_medium=partner_feed&amp;utm_content=TopStories">Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX Is Secretly Building A Huge Spy Satellite Network For The US Government</a>
Why It Matters: Humans have not set foot on the moon in more than 50 years. The last crewed mission to the moon was Apollo 17 in 1972, but public interest is rising after Intuitive Machines Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNR#NASDAQ">LUNR</a>) successfully launched a lunar lander onto the moon&#8217;s surface last month, making Intuitive Machines the first company to land a private spacecraft on the moon.
Other companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab USA Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>) continue to further space exploration efforts and multiple companies have hit new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/24/01/36681600/the-rise-of-space-tourism-how-technology-is-making-space-travel-accessible-to-all">space tourism</a> milestones in recent years including Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPCE#NASDAQ">SPCE</a>) and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) founder Jeff Bezos&#8217; Blue Origin.
According to DARPA strategic technology program manager Michael Nayak, a &#8220;large paradigm shift&#8221; is coming in the next 10 years for the lunar economy. This DARPA project will help to accelerate key technologies that may be used by the government and commercial space industry to get to a &#8220;turning point&#8221; in space more quickly.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/03/37587160/rocket-lab-vs-space-x-redditors-debate-space-bull-case">Rocket Lab Vs. Space X: Redditors Debate Space Bull Case</a>
Photo:&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/ponciano-1905611/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1527501">JB</a> from Pixabay.

SPACE

AMZN

RKLB

SPCE

Would You Hop On A Train To The Moon? US Department Of Defense Wants To Build 'Lunar Railroad'

MACOM Technology Solutions Inc. ("MACOM"), a leading supplier of semiconductor products, today announced that it has been recognized by Northrop Grumman Corporation as a recipient of two supplier awards during the company's Supplier Excellence Awards last week.
"MACOM has helped to advance national security solutions and achieve mission success," said Matt Bromberg, Corporate Vice President, Global Operations, Northrop Grumman. "Northrop Grumman's supplier partners connect and protect the warfighter, defining what is possible in the battlespace because of our shared commitment to the highest industry standards across the defense industrial base."
Recognized for Outstanding Quality Excellence and Top Large Business awards, MACOM was instrumental in aiding Northrop Grumman with manufacturing and distribution goals as the industry works to support Department of Defense customers and other commercial entities.
"We're honored to be selected to receive these awards," said Stephen G. Daly, President and Chief Executive Officer, MACOM. "Our team is committed to support Northrop Grumman's mission, and we stand ready to align our resources and technology to meet their current and future requirements."

MTSI

MACOM Awarded By Northrop Grumman For Supplier Excellence

At the end of March 13, 2024, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) will reward its shareholders with a dividend payout of $1.87 per share, demonstrating an annualized dividend yield of 1.66%. Remember, only investors who held the stock before the ex-dividend date on February 23, 2024 will receive this payout.
<h3>Northrop Grumman Recent Dividend Payouts</h3>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Ex-Date</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Payments per year</th>
<th>Dividend</th>
<th>Yield</th>
<th>Announced</th>
<th>Record</th>
<th>Payable</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2024-02-23</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.87</td>
<td>1.66%</td>
<td>2024-02-13</td>
<td>2024-02-26</td>
<td>2024-03-13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023-11-24</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.87</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
<td>2023-11-15</td>
<td>2023-11-27</td>
<td>2023-12-13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023-08-25</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.87</td>
<td>1.77%</td>
<td>2023-08-16</td>
<td>2023-08-28</td>
<td>2023-09-13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023-05-26</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.87</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
<td>2023-05-16</td>
<td>2023-05-30</td>
<td>2023-06-14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023-02-24</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.73</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
<td>2023-02-16</td>
<td>2023-02-27</td>
<td>2023-03-15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022-11-25</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.73</td>
<td>1.38%</td>
<td>2022-11-16</td>
<td>2022-11-28</td>
<td>2022-12-14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022-08-26</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.73</td>
<td>1.43%</td>
<td>2022-08-17</td>
<td>2022-08-29</td>
<td>2022-09-14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022-05-27</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.73</td>
<td>1.51%</td>
<td>2022-05-17</td>
<td>2022-05-31</td>
<td>2022-06-15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022-02-25</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.57</td>
<td>1.61%</td>
<td>2022-02-15</td>
<td>2022-02-28</td>
<td>2022-03-16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021-11-26</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.57</td>
<td>1.77%</td>
<td>2021-11-17</td>
<td>2021-11-29</td>
<td>2021-12-15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021-08-27</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.57</td>
<td>1.73%</td>
<td>2021-08-11</td>
<td>2021-08-30</td>
<td>2021-09-15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021-05-28</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td>$1.57</td>
<td>1.68%</td>
<td>2021-05-18</td>
<td>2021-06-01</td>
<td>2021-06-16</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Northrop Grumman's dividend yield falls in the middle range when compared to its industry peers, with Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) having the highest annualized dividend yield at 2.90%.
<h3>Analyzing Northrop Grumman Financial Health</h3>
Companies that pay out steady cash dividends are attractive to income-seeking investors, and companies that are financially healthy tend to maintain their dividend payout schedule. For this reason, investors can find it insightful to see if a company has been increasing or decreasing their dividend payout schedule and if their earnings are growing. 
<h3>YoY Growth in Dividend Per Share</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1710342313_0.png" alt="dividend chart graph" />
During the period of 2020 to 2023, the company experienced a notable growth in its dividend per share. The dividend per share increased from $5.67 to $7.34, reflecting the company's focus on providing greater returns to its shareholders.
<h3>YoY Earnings Growth For Northrop Grumman</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1710342313_1.png" alt="earning chart graph" />
Investors can observe a growth in earnings for Northrop Grumman from 2020 to 2023, as earnings per share increased from $22.66 to $24.52. This upward trajectory in earnings indicates potential for future cash dividend payout increases, which can be advantageous for income-seeking investors.
<h3>Recap</h3>
In this article, we explore the recent dividend payout of Northrop Grumman and its significance for shareholders. The company has decided to distribute a dividend of $1.87 per share today, which equates to an annualized dividend yield of 1.66%.
Northrop Grumman's dividend yield falls in the middle range when compared to its industry peers, with Lockheed Martin having the highest annualized dividend yield at 2.90%.
The increase in both dividend per share and earnings per share from 2020 to 2023 for Northrop Grumman indicates a positive financial trend, suggesting their capacity to continue distributing profits to shareholders.
To remain updated on any changes in financials or dividend disbursements, investors should closely observe the company's performance in the coming quarters.
\To stay up-to-date with the companies that are announcing their dividends, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/dividends">click here</a> to visit our Dividends Calendar. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Dividends

Achieving Growth and Investor Rewards: Northrop Grumman Flourishes with Strong Performance and Rising Profits

On Tuesday,&nbsp;ViaSat, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VSAT#NASDAQ">VSAT</a>) said that Icelandair has selected its inflight Wi-Fi solution for the airline&#8217;s new fleet of&nbsp;Airbus SE&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EADSF#OTC">EADSF</a>) aircraft.
Scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2024, the new fleet will operate routes between Iceland and Europe and transatlantic flights,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/37475940" rel="noreferrer noopener">marking Icelandair&#8217;s debut with Airbus aircraft.</a>
Viasat&#8217;s satellite connectivity service will ensure online experience on all routes, offering streaming entertainment and real-time productivity tools to keep passengers and crew connected during flights.
Don Buchman, VP and GM, Commercial Aviation at Viasat, said, &#8220;We understand the patterns of Icelandair&#8217;s operation and passenger demand for in-flight Wi-Fi, and we are excited to extend this experience and trust to include fast and resilient connectivity on the new Airbus aircraft.&#8221;
Icelandair will leverage Viasat&#8217;s expertise in aviation connectivity, offering fast Wi-Fi on popular routes and at busy airports. With Viasat&#8217;s flexible satellite capacity, they aim to maintain quality even during peak demand.
Last month, ViaSat got a contract from&nbsp;Northrop Grumman Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) to support the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) initiative, called the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) Call 003 program –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/02/n37391024/viasat-wins-contract-from-northrop-grumman-on-u-s-air-forces-commercial-space-internet-experiments" rel="noreferrer noopener">better known by its nickname &#8216;Global Lightning.&#8217;</a>
Price Action:&nbsp;VSAT shares are trading lower by 1.74% to $18.09 on the last check Tuesday.

EADSF

VSAT

ViaSat Secures Icelandair Deal For Inflight Wi-Fi On New Airbus Fleet

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with NOC, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 14 uncommon options trades for Northrop Grumman.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 64% bullish and 35%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $58,340, and 12 are calls, for a total amount of $848,507.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $430.0 to $515.0 for Northrop Grumman over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Northrop Grumman's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Northrop Grumman's whale trades within a strike price range from $430.0 to $515.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Northrop Grumman Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1706643059_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$430.00</td>
<td>$450.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">99</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$90.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">107</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$515.00</td>
<td>$57.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">62</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">131</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$38.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">82</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$31.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">116</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Northrop Grumman</h3>
Northrop Grumman is a diversified defense contractor providing aeronautics, defense, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces autonomous and piloted aircraft such as Global Hawk drones and the new B-21 bomber. Defense systems makes artillery and missile ammunition and guidance systems, missile defense systems, and conducts maintenance and upgrades on numerous military aircraft. Mission systems creates and integrates a variety of radar, navigation, and communication systems for avionics, weapons control, and countermeasures on a range of platforms from helicopters to destroyers. Finally, space systems produces satellites, sensors, space structures, and manufactures long-range missiles and rocket motors.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Northrop Grumman, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Northrop Grumman</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 682,027, the NOC's price is up by 1.34%, now at $444.2. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 86 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Northrop Grumman</h3>
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $492.5.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Baird has revised its rating downward to Neutral, adjusting the price target to $505. </li>
<li>An analyst from RBC Capital has revised its rating downward to Sector Perform, adjusting the price target to $450. </li>
<li>An analyst from Susquehanna persists with their Positive rating on Northrop Grumman, maintaining a target price of $540. </li>
<li>An analyst from Baird has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Northrop Grumman, which currently sits at a price target of $475. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Northrop Grumman, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Northrop Grumman's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Mission goal is to build on previous success and provide the international scientific community access to an expanded scope of space-based edge computing, AI and machine learning capabilities
&nbsp;
<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hpe.com&amp;esheet=53889360&amp;newsitemid=20240129331403&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Hewlett+Packard+Enterprise&amp;index=1&amp;md5=f8b550e14bb1971fa6d743d7d292469d">Hewlett Packard Enterprise</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>) announced it has sent a third iteration of the HPE Spaceborne Computer, built from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers, to the International Space Station (ISS) via a Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services mission, contracted by NASA, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

HPE Spaceborne Computer-2 Returns To International Space Station

Aircraft maker Boeing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) has not had a good time of it in the last several months, and further troubles are emerging to shake up the company...

Boeing (NYSE:BA) Down as Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:SPR) Buy Faces Hurdles

Aircraft maker Boeing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) has not had a good time in the last several months, and further troubles are emerging to shake up the company. In f...

M&A News: Boeing (NYSE:BA) Falls as Spirit AeroSystems Buy Faces Hurdles

GE Aerospace: Shares Have Flown Too High (Rating Downgrade)

Notable earnings before Thursday's open

Northrop Grumman to report Q1 earnings, here's what to expect?

Northrop Grumman beats top-line and bottom-line estimates; reaffirms FY24 outlook

Northrop Grumman Corporation 2024 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/noc-stock-quote/">NOC</a>) just reported results for the first quarter of 2024.<ul><li>Northrop Grumman reported earnings per share of $6.32. This was above the analyst estimate for EPS of $5.79.</li><li>The company reported revenue of $10.13 billion.</li><li>This was 3.72% better than the analyst estimate for revenue of $9.77 billion.</li></ul><div>InvestorPlace Earnings is a project that leverages data from <a href="https://www.tradesmith.com">TradeSmith</a> to automate coverage of quarterly earnings reports. InvestorPlace Earnings distills key takeaways including earnings per share and revenue, as well as how a company stacks up to analyst estimates. These articles are published without human intervention, allowing us to inform our readers of the latest figures as quickly as possible. To report any concerns or inaccuracies, please contact us at <a href="mailto:editor@investorplace.com">editor@investorplace.com</a>.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
		<ul><li>
						<a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/10/no-1-ai-investment-might-be-this-company-youve-never-heard-of/?cid=MKT764787&amp;eid=MKT771245">The #1 AI Investment Might Be This Company You&rsquo;ve Never Heard Of</a>
					</li>
																<li>
						<a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/07/elon-musks-project-omega-stuns-silicon-valley-insiders/?cid=MKT738510&amp;eid=MKT771236">Musk&rsquo;s &ldquo;Project Omega&rdquo; May Be Set to Mint New Millionaires. Here&rsquo;s How to Get In.</a>
					</li>
																<li>
						<a href="https://investorplace.com/2021/01/one-percenter-issues-urgent-warning/?cid=MKT499868&amp;eid=MKT793997">It doesn&rsquo;t matter if you have $500 or $5 million. Do this now.</a>
					</li>
									</ul><div>
			<div></div>
						<div></div>
					</div>
	The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/earning-results/2024/04/noc-stock-earnings-northrop-grumman-for-q1-of-2024/">NOC Stock Earnings: Northrop Grumman Beats EPS, Beats Revenue for Q1 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.