Northrop Grumman stock rises on $86.1 million contract

Northrop Grumman stock gets a fresh lift from an $86.1 million U.S. Air Force order and a second-quarter beat to $7.68 EPS.

Northrop Grumman stock (ISIN US6668071029) is trading around $539.47, down 1.05 percent on September 1, 2026, while a new $86.1 million U.S. Air Force order and a second-quarter beat keep the defense group in view.

$86.1 million order

According to MarketScreener, Northrop Grumman won an $86.1 million task order for the U.S. Air Force's Remote Visual Assessment program, with $15.2 million obligated immediately and work scheduled through September 2031. The same report says the award was made without competition, which gives the order a clearer strategic profile than a routine small-ticket contract.

Investing.com also reported the award on September 1, 2026, and said the contract is expected to be completed by September 2031.

Quarterly numbers beat estimates

MarketBeat said Northrop Grumman reported second-quarter EPS of $7.68 and revenue of $10.88 billion, above analyst expectations of $6.82 EPS and $10.80 billion in sales. The company also set FY 2026 guidance at 28.600-29.100 EPS, while sell-side analysts in that report projected 28.97 EPS for the full year.

That is a clean comparison: EPS beat consensus by $0.86, and revenue beat estimates by $80 million. The prior-year comparison in the same report shows $8.15 EPS in the second quarter of 2025, so earnings eased year on year even as the top line moved higher by 5.1 percent.

Defense backlog keeps focus

For investors, the important part is not only the $86.1 million headline but the fact that the work runs through September 2031 and comes with $15.2 million in immediate fiscal 2026 funding. That makes the contract visible in the near-term budget picture, not just in long-cycle backlog language.

Northrop Grumman shares also remain above the 52-week low of $479.02 and below the 52-week high of $774.00, with a market capitalization of $76.67 billion in the latest market snapshot.

F-35 and air defense

Northrop Grumman's defense franchise is still tied to large programs and procurement cycles, including air and missile defense, aerospace systems and contract work for the U.S. military. In that setting, a $10.88 billion quarter and a 28.600-29.100 EPS outlook matter more than a single headline contract on their own.

Stock near the session low

Northrop Grumman stock traded at $539.47 on September 1, 2026, down 1.05 percent in the latest market snapshot. The same snapshot put the stock's year-to-date move at -1.10 percent and its 52-week range at $479.02 to $774.00.

Northrop Grumman at a glance

• Company: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• ISIN: US6668071029
• Ticker: NOC
• Trading venue: NYSE
• Price (as of September 1, 2026): $539.47 USD
• Market capitalization: $76.67 billion (as of September 1, 2026)
• Sector / Industry: Aerospace and Defense
• Index membership: S&P 500