BNP Paribas Raises Northrop Grumman (NOC) Price Target to $600

On October 21, 2026, BNP Paribas maintained its Outperform rating on Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and lifted its price target to $600.00 from $540.00.

NOC Northrop Grumman Corporation

$541.11 ▼ -6.48% year to date

1M 3M YTD

Daily close · Oct 21, 2026

BNP Paribas's Call on Northrop Grumman

In its research note published on October 21, 2026, BNP Paribas kept its Outperform rating on the defense contractor while raising the price target by $60.00 to $600.00. The updated target sits above the stock's recent trading level, pointing to room for potential gains from where shares changed hands recently.

Other Institutional Activity in Northrop Grumman

Large investment firms adjusted their holdings earlier in the year. Capital International Investors trimmed its position by 1,244,057 shares to finish with 5,852,674 shares valued at about $3,161,409,522.00. Franklin Resources, Inc. grew its holdings by 95,750 shares, ending with 3,374,876 shares worth about $1,822,989,820.00.

Northrop Grumman Corporation Stock Up 3.7%

Northrop Grumman Corporation recently traded around $539.64 on October 21, 2026, not far from its closing price of $540.16 on that same date. The stock trades above its 50-day moving average of $524.96 but sits below its 200-day moving average of $593.74.

Recent Earnings

Northrop Grumman Corporation reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of $42,892,001,280.00 and basic earnings per share of $30.90. The firm posted a return on equity of 27.0% alongside a net profit margin of 10.5%.

Dividend

Northrop Grumman Corporation provides an annual dividend rate of $9.88 per share, which translates to a dividend yield of 1.93%. The payout is supported by a dividend payout ratio of 29.9%, meaning the company uses less than a third of its earnings to cover its cash distribution to shareholders.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northrop Grumman Corporation

Company insiders executed several sales earlier in the year. Officer Roshan S. Roeder sold 1,754 shares on February 27, 2026, for a total value of $1,262,880.00. General Counsel Kathryn G. Simpson sold 873 shares on March 2, 2026, totaling $650,385.00. Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 95 shares on May 4, 2026, worth $54,310.00, and another 95 shares on August 3, 2026, worth $52,015.00.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street firms updated their views alongside BNP Paribas on October 21, 2026. Morgan Stanley maintained its Overweight rating and lifted its price target from $745.00 to $765.00. Guggenheim kept a Buy rating and raised its target from $612.00 to $640.00. RBC Capital maintained a Sector Perform rating with a target moved to $550.00 from $525.00. Baird upgraded the stock to Outperform and raised its price target from $550.00 to $675.00. Overall, the stock carries a consensus buy recommendation from 24 analyst opinions, with a mean price target of $619.08.

About Northrop Grumman

Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company serving customers around the globe. The company builds complex systems through four primary units: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems, and Space Systems, supporting military and commercial customers with advanced aircraft, defense electronics, and space technology.

Bottom Line

BNP Paribas joins several other major financial firms in adjusting expectations for Northrop Grumman Corporation. Investors will continue tracking defense spending trends and upcoming financial reports to gauge how well the company meets its targets.