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Northrop Grumman Stock Jumps 6% After Earnings Beat
Why is Northrop Grumman stock up today?
Northrop Grumman (NOC) stock rose about 6% on Tuesday to near $542 after the defense contractor beat earnings estimates and reported a record $110B backlog, a sign of strong demand.
Key numbers
| Diluted EPS (profit per share) | $7.89+3% YoY |
|---|---|
| Sales | $11.1B+7% YoY |
| Record backlog | $109.6BOrders 1.5x sales in Q3 |
| 2026 EPS forecast (midpoint) | $29.55+$0.70 vs prior |
| Operating margin | 11.4%from 11.9% a year ago |
| NOC share move | $541.80+6.1% on the day |
What happened
Northrop Grumman (NOC) stock rose about 6% on Tuesday to near $542 after the defense contractor beat earnings estimates and reported a record $110B backlog, a sign of strong demand. Profit was $7.89 per share, about $0.71 above analyst forecasts, while sales rose 7% to $11.1 billion, roughly as expected. The backlog, meaning signed orders not yet delivered, reached $109.6 billion. The company also raised its 2026 profit forecast to $29.35–$29.75 per share from $28.60–$29.10.
Why it matters
Northrop Grumman is one of the biggest US weapons makers, so its record backlog shows aircraft, missile and submarine orders are still arriving at a fast pace. The $109.6 billion in signed work is roughly two and a half years of sales at this year's expected level. The higher forecast suggests profits this year may be stronger than first expected, though its profit margin slipped to 11.4% from 11.9% a year ago.
Who this affects
- MarketbullishMedium impact
- Defense-stock investors gain as peers also raise forecasts.
- CompanybullishHigh impact
- Shareholders gain from higher profit forecast and record orders.
- CompetitorsbullishLow impact
- RTX also raised its outlook, showing demand is broad.
- IndustrybullishMedium impact
- Demand for bombers, missiles and submarines keeps growing.
Northrop Grumman vs Lockheed Martin, RTX
How we got here
Northrop's third quarter ends with record backlog of $109.6 billion.
Northrop reports EPS of $7.89 and sales of $11.1 billion, and raises 2026 profit forecast.
RTX also raises its 2026 outlook and reports a record $340 billion backlog.
Northrop shares rise about 6% to near $542 during trading.
What to watch
- Whether Northrop delivers its raised 2026 profit forecast of $29.35–$29.75 per share.Q4 2026
- How fast the $109.6 billion backlog turns into sales, with 2026 sales guidance steady at $43.75–$44.25 billion.Q4 2026
Educational content only. Not investment advice.
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