Northrop Grumman stock gains on GHOST-R space contract and strong earnings
Published on 09/20/2026 at 21:41 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Northrop Grumman stock (ISIN US6668071029) recently traded around USD 526.77 on September 20, 2026, on the New York Stock Exchange, reflecting investor interest after new contract wins and solid quarterly figures.
New GHOST-R space contract supports growth
As SatNews reported on September 20, 2026, Northrop Grumman has been selected by the U.S. Space Force to design and construct a prototype satellite for the GHOST-R space domain awareness mission, adding a notable high-tech defense contract to its backlog.
According to Simply Wall St on September 19, 2026, the company was selected to deliver this GHOST-R prototype satellite and also completed a test of its Raid Hunter 50 millimeter guided projectile, a gun-based system designed to counter mass raids of missiles and drones.
The combination of the GHOST-R satellite award and the successful Raid Hunter test underlines Northrop Grumman’s positioning in advanced space and air defense capabilities, areas where demand is supported by ongoing global security concerns.
Earnings beat and guidance reaffirmed
According to MarketBeat on September 20, 2026, Northrop Grumman reported quarterly earnings per share of USD 7.68 in the second quarter of 2026, beating analyst estimates of USD 6.82 by USD 0.86.
The same overview from MarketBeat states that revenue in the second quarter of 2026 rose 5.1 percent year over year to USD 10.88 billion, highlighting mid single-digit top-line growth.
According to MarketBeat, the company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 earnings-per-share guidance in a range of USD 28.60 to USD 29.10, which provides investors with a clear earnings outlook for the full year.
For context, the same MarketBeat piece notes that institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own about 83.4 percent of Northrop Grumman’s shares, a sign that professional investors remain heavily involved in the stock.
Dividend and institutional interest
As ScanX Trade reported on September 20, 2026, Northrop Grumman declared a quarterly dividend of USD 2.47 per share on its common stock, payable on September 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 31, 2026.
According to MarketBeat on September 20, 2026, Nykredit A/S purchased 40,859 Northrop Grumman shares in the second quarter, a position valued at approximately USD 20.8 million, adding to the company’s base of institutional shareholders.
The same MarketBeat coverage indicates that analysts maintain a consensus rating of Moderate Buy on Northrop Grumman stock, with an average price target of USD 659.86, which stands noticeably above the recent trading level and signals room for potential upside in the view of the analyst community.
Stock performance and valuation context
According to the MarketBeat report dated September 20, 2026, Northrop Grumman stock opened at USD 526.77 on the most recent trading day, with the firm’s 50-day moving average at USD 542.66 and its 200-day moving average at USD 585.41, showing that the shares currently trade below their medium and longer-term trend levels.
The same article from MarketBeat notes that Northrop Grumman’s market capitalization is about USD 75 billion based on publicly traded shares outstanding, giving it a substantial size among U.S. defense contractors.
A separate overview on The Motley Fool on September 20, 2026, cites Northrop Grumman’s market cap at around USD 75 billion and highlights the stock’s trading range between USD 519.90 and USD 528.27 on that day, evidencing relatively tight intraday price movements.
The Motley Fool piece also points out that Northrop Grumman shares were quoted at approximately USD 527.39, and it places the company alongside RTX as a more direct way to benefit from the current defense spending cycle, suggesting that defense contractors with broad exposure to military and government programs may offer more straightforward participation in sector growth than some software-centric peers.
Another snapshot from Pluang notes that Northrop Grumman traded at USD 527.39 on September 20, 2026, and describes a net income margin of about 10.48 percent and a return on equity of around 26.96 percent, metrics that indicate solid profitability and efficient capital use in the most recent reporting period.
Analyst views and sector backdrop
According to the MarketBeat analyst overview on September 20, 2026, the consensus rating for Northrop Grumman stock is Moderate Buy, with an average price target of USD 659.86, and individual analyst price targets around this level reflect confidence that earnings growth and contract wins can support higher valuations over time.
In the same context, Yahoo Finance published an article on September 20, 2026, arguing that investors looking to benefit from increased defense spending might prefer more traditional defense contractors such as RTX and Northrop Grumman over some newer technology names, emphasizing Northrop Grumman’s direct exposure to large defense programs.
The combination of a clear earnings beat, reaffirmed guidance and fresh contract awards, together with supportive analyst targets, contributes to a constructive narrative for the stock, even as its price currently trades below key moving averages, which may be interpreted by some investors as an opportunity to enter at a discount to prior levels.
Stock price level and recent trading
Per the MarketBeat data cited above, Northrop Grumman stock opened at USD 526.77 on its primary listing at the New York Stock Exchange on the latest trading day, with trading on September 20, 2026 reflecting a modest gain of about 0.5 percent versus the prior close, and the shares moving in a range between USD 519.90 and USD 528.27 during that session.
Northrop Grumman stock at a glance
- Company: Northrop Grumman Corporation
- ISIN: US6668071029
- Ticker: NOC
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of September 20, 2026): 526.77 USD
- Market capitalization: 75,000,000,000 USD (as of September 20, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Aerospace and Defense
- Index membership: S&P 500
