With a market cap of $71.7 billion, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is a leading aerospace and defense technology company that operates globally through four business segments: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems, and Space Systems. It specializes in advanced aircraft, missile defense, cybersecurity, space technologies, autonomous systems, and military communication solutions for defense and government customers worldwide.
The Falls Church, Virginia-based company is expected to announce its fiscal Q3 2026 results before the market opens on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Ahead of this event, analysts forecast NOC to report a profit of $7.26 per share, down 5.4% from $7.67 per share in the year-ago quarter. However, it has surpassed Wall Street's earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters.
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For fiscal 2026, analysts predict the defense contractor to report an EPS of $28.97, an increase of nearly 10% from $26.34 in fiscal 2025.
www.barchart.com Shares of Northrop Grumman have decreased 20.7% over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 14.4% gain and the State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF’s (XLI) 8.3% return over the same period.
www.barchart.com Northrop Grumman's stock has faced significant downward pressure after losing the Pentagon's massive F/A-XX next-generation stealth fighter contract to Boeing, effectively shutting the company out of both U.S. sixth-generation manned fighter programs. The decline has been further driven by ongoing execution challenges, including persistent technical issues and costly program charges on missile and rocket projects.
Analysts' consensus view on NOC stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 23 analysts covering the stock, 13 recommend "Strong Buy," one suggests "Moderate Buy," and nine advises "Strong Sell." This configuration is slightly more bullish than three months ago, with 12 analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy."
The average analyst price target for Northrop Grumman is $655.50, suggesting a potential upside of 35.6% from current levels.
On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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