Guggenheim Raises Northrop Grumman (NOC) Price Target to $640

Guggenheim reaffirmed its optimistic stance on Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) on October 21, 2026, keeping a Buy rating while lifting its price target to $640 from $612. According to research notes released on the event date, the firm joined several other major institutions in updating coverage on the aerospace and defense giant. Shares of Northrop Grumman closed at $538.60 on October 21, 2026.

NOC Northrop Grumman Corporation

$541.11 ▼ -6.48% year to date

1M 3M YTD

Daily close · Oct 21, 2026

Guggenheim's Call on Northrop Grumman

Guggenheim kept its Buy rating intact on October 21, 2026, while pushing its target up to $640 from $612. The updated target signals growing confidence in the company's defense portfolio as major programs progress.

Other Institutional Activity in Northrop Grumman

Other large institutional investors adjusted their positions during the reporting period ending June 30, 2026. Capital International Investors reduced its holdings by 1,244,057 shares, ending the period with 5,852,674 shares valued at about $3,152,279,365. Franklin Resources, Inc. grew its holdings by 95,750 shares, ending with 3,374,876 shares worth about $1,817,725,022.

Northrop Grumman Corporation Stock Up 3.7%

Northrop Grumman recently traded around $536.35 as of October 21, 2026, down about 0.4% from its event-day close of $538.60. The stock trades roughly 2.2% above its 50-day moving average of $524.96 but sits about 9.7% below its 200-day moving average of $593.74. The company carries a market capitalization of roughly $72.54 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.53.

Recent Earnings

Northrop Grumman generated trailing-twelve-month revenue of $42.89 billion and trailing earnings of $30.90 per share. The company reported a net profit margin of 10.5% alongside a return on equity of 27.0%.

Dividend

The company distributes an annual dividend rate of $9.88 per share, giving it a dividend yield of 1.93%. The payout ratio sits at 29.9% of earnings.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northrop Grumman Corporation

Company insiders completed several transactions earlier in the year. Officer Roshan S. Roeder sold 1,754 shares on February 27, 2026, for a total value of $1,262,880. General Counsel Kathryn G. Simpson sold 873 shares on March 2, 2026, valued at $650,385. Director Mark A. Welsh III disposed of 95 shares on May 4, 2026, worth $54,310, and another 95 shares on August 3, 2026, worth $52,015.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street firms actively adjusted targets around the October 21, 2026 date. TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating on October 9, 2026, lowering its target to $540 from $590. Bernstein maintained a Market Perform rating on October 14, 2026, trimming its target to $556 from $620. On October 21, 2026, RBC Capital maintained a Sector Perform rating with a $550 target, and Baird upgraded the stock to Outperform with a $675 target. Across 24 analyst opinions, the stock holds a consensus recommendation of buy with a mean price target of $619.08.

About Northrop Grumman

Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Northrop Grumman Corporation builds advanced aerospace and defense technology systems. The firm operates across four main segments covering aeronautics, defense, mission systems, and space technology, supplying equipment and modern platforms to government and international clients.

Bottom Line

Guggenheim's decision to raise its price target points to steady confidence in the defense contractor's operational path. Investors will monitor upcoming earnings reports and institutional filing updates to gauge further sentiment shifts across the industrials sector.