Northrop Grumman Climbs to 280th in Trading Volume as Russell and Hollencrest Boost Holdings Amid Dividend Hike and Earnings Beat

On August 13, 2025, Northrop Grumman (NOC) traded up 0.22% with a trading volume of $0.43 billion, ranking 280th in market activity. Institutional activity highlighted increased confidence in the defense contractor as Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its stake by 19.1%, adding 44,685 shares to hold 278,567 shares valued at $142.63 million. Meanwhile, Hollencrest Capital Management surged its ownership by 790% in Q1, now holding 89 shares valued at $45,000. Institutional investors collectively own 83.40% of the stock.

The company announced a quarterly dividend hike to $2.31 per share from $2.06, translating to an annualized yield of 1.6% and a payout ratio of 34.06%. Recent earnings reported $7.11 per share for Q2, exceeding estimates by $0.27, with revenue rising 1.3% year-over-year to $10.35 billion. Analysts remain cautiously optimistic, with Barclays raising its price target to $580 and JPMorgan to $585, though ratings remain split between "hold" and "buy."

Insider transactions included VP Robert J. Fleming selling 3,500 shares at $505.77, reducing his stake by 65.7%, while CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 7,500 shares, cutting her ownership by 3.59%. Over the last quarter, insiders collectively sold $8.3 million worth of shares, though institutional ownership remains robust. Analysts noted mixed sentiment, with ten "hold" ratings, eight "buy" ratings, and one "strong buy," reflecting cautious optimism amid sector volatility.

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