Northrop Grumman (NOC) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock?
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) Presents at Citi's Global Industrial Tech & Mobility Conference 2026 Transcript
Northrop Grumman is rated Buy, leveraging unmatched vertical integration in solid rocket motors and a strategic deterrence duopoly with B-21 and Sentinel programs. NOC's industrial moat is deepened by tripling SRM capacity by 2027 and digital engineering, enabling margin expansion and decoupling growth from generic defense spending trends. Key risks include capital intensity, potential profitless growth from B-21 and Sentinel, and valuation-duration mismatch that may compress multiples if execution falters.
Northrop Grumman delivered double-digit Q4 sales growth and beat analyst estimates, reinforcing the strength of aerospace and defense investments. NOC's 2026 guidance is modest, with sales of $43.5–$44 billion, segment margins around 11%, and free cash flow growth remaining soft. I maintain a buy rating on NOC, targeting $745.16 per share, with 6% base-case upside and shareholder returns as a key appeal.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
NOC beats fourth-quarter earnings and revenue estimates as sales jump 9.6% year over year and backlog rises to $95.68 billion, led by strength across all four segments.
The headline numbers for Northrop Grumman (NOC) give insight into how the company performed in the quarter ended December 2025, but it may be worthwhile to compare some of its key metrics to Wall Street estimates and the year-ago actuals.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) came out with quarterly earnings of $7.23 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7 per share. This compares to earnings of $6.39 per share a year ago.
Aerospace and defense supplier Northrop Grumman posted higher fourth-quarter profit and revenue on Tuesday, helped by strong sales in its aeronautics business amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Besides Wall Street's top-and-bottom-line estimates for Northrop Grumman (NOC), review projections for some of its key metrics to gain a deeper understanding of how the company might have fared during the quarter ended December 2025.
NOC's Q4 results may get a lift from Aeronautics and Defense strength, while higher expenses and taxes are likely to have pressured earnings.
Investors looking for ways to find stocks that are set to beat quarterly earnings estimates should check out the Zacks Earnings ESP.