UBS Raises Northrop Grumman (NOC) Price Target to $698

On October 21, 2026, UBS maintained its Buy rating on Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and nudged its price target up from $694 to $698.

NOC Northrop Grumman Corporation

$541.11 ▼ -6.48% year to date

1M 3M YTD

Daily close · Oct 21, 2026

UBS's Call on Northrop Grumman

According to the research note released on October 21, 2026, UBS kept its positive outlook on the aerospace and defense company. The firm moved its target from $694 to $698. This update joins a flurry of similar target adjustments from other major Wall Street firms on the same day. Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating and raised its target to $765. BNP Paribas kept an Outperform rating and lifted its target to $600. Guggenheim maintained a Buy rating with a target moved to $640. Meanwhile, RBC Capital reiterated a Sector Perform rating and set its target at $550. Across 24 analyst opinions tracked by the company, the consensus recommendation stands at a buy, with a mean price target of $619.08.

Other Institutional Activity in Northrop Grumman

Large asset managers continue to adjust their holdings in the defense giant. Capital International Investors reduced its stake by 1,244,057 shares, ending the period with 5,852,674 shares valued at about $3.16 billion. Franklin Resources, Inc. grew its holdings by 95,750 shares, ending with 3,374,876 shares worth about $1.82 billion.

Northrop Grumman Corporation Stock Up 3.7%

Northrop Grumman shares recently traded around $539.05 as of October 21, 2026, after closing at $539.31 on the day of the analyst update. The stock sits about 2.7% above its 50-day moving average of $524.96, while trading about 9.2% below its 200-day moving average of $593.74. The company has a market capitalization of roughly $72.54 billion.

Recent Earnings

Northrop Grumman generated $42.89 billion in trailing-twelve-month revenue with trailing-twelve-month earnings per share of $30.90. The company reported a net profit margin of 10.5% and a return on equity of 27.0%, alongside year-over-year revenue growth of 5.1%.

Dividend

Eligible shareholders receive an annual dividend rate of $9.88 per share, giving the stock a dividend yield of 1.93%. The payout ratio sits at 29.9%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northrop Grumman Corporation

Company insiders have completed several stock transactions over recent months. Officer Roshan S. Roeder sold 1,754 shares on February 27, 2026, at a price of $720.00 for a total value of $1.26 million. General Counsel Kathryn G. Simpson sold 873 shares on March 2, 2026, at $745.00 per share, totaling $650,385. Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 95 shares on May 4, 2026, valued at $54,310, and another 95 shares on August 3, 2026, valued at $52,015.

About Northrop Grumman

Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Northrop Grumman Corporation builds aerospace and defense technology systems for customers around the world. The business operates through four main divisions that build aircraft, space systems, mission equipment, and defense products. With approximately 95,000 employees, the company supplies critical hardware and technology to military and commercial clients globally.

Bottom Line

UBS's decision to lift its price target reflects ongoing confidence in the defense contractor's trajectory. Investors will want to watch for upcoming earnings reports and further institutional filing updates to see how large funds manage their positions in the stock.