Northrop Grumman stock holds firm as next earnings date is set

Published on 09/17/2026 at 16:10 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Northrop Grumman stock closed at USD 530.78 on September 16, 2026 on the NYSE, modestly down 0.09 percent from the prior session. The company has scheduled its third quarter 2026 results for October 20, 2026, giving investors a clear next checkpoint.

Militärjet und Radarturm auf Wüstenflugplatz bei Sonnenuntergang — Northrop Grumman US6668071029 zeigt generischen Militärjet neben Radaranlage bei Sonnenuntergang auf Wüstenflugplatz, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Northrop Grumman stock (ISIN US6668071029) closed at USD 530.78 on the New York Stock Exchange on September 16, 2026, marking a 0.09 percent decline from the previous close and signaling a relatively steady trading pattern ahead of the next earnings release.

Next earnings date anchors investor attention

According to GlobeNewswire on September 17, 2026, Northrop Grumman Corporation will release its third quarter 2026 financial results on October 20, 2026 before the market opens and follow up with an earnings call webcast at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

The scheduling of the October 20, 2026 results creates a clear timeline for investors to reassess the company’s performance in light of ongoing defense spending and large program backlogs highlighted in recent coverage of the sector.

Dividend, cash flow and backlog underpin the equity story

As 24/7 Wall St reported on September 16, 2026, Northrop Grumman shares at a price point of USD 531.03 carry a dividend yield of 1.81 percent based on a quarterly dividend of USD 2.47 per share and an annualized forward dividend of USD 9.88.

According to the same analysis by 24/7 Wall St, this dividend stream is supported by trailing twelve month earnings per share of USD 31.45 and reaffirmed adjusted free cash flow guidance for fiscal year 2026 in a range of USD 3.1 billion to USD 3.5 billion.

In the second quarter of 2026, Northrop Grumman generated free cash flow of USD 978 million, which represents a substantial contribution toward the full-year cash flow guidance and indicates the company is on track to meet its target range if trends continue.

The same report from 24/7 Wall St highlighted that second quarter 2026 net awards of roughly USD 20 billion included a USD 7.6 billion Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile award, a USD 1.0 billion F-35 award and about USD 4.3 billion in restricted programs, driving the total order backlog to a record USD 104.69 billion.

For investors, that backlog figure offers a quantified comparison with typical annual revenue levels and underscores that Northrop Grumman has several years of visibility on contracted work relative to its current share price near the low USD 530 range in recent trading.

Share price and trading metrics on the NYSE

Per NYSE trading data as reflected in recent stock portal snapshots, Northrop Grumman stock ended the regular session on September 16, 2026 at USD 530.78, with after-hours indications around USD 526.70 later that evening, leaving the closing price slightly below the USD 531.03 level cited in the dividend-focused analysis published on September 16, 2026.

That move of 0.09 percent down on September 16, 2026 is modest when set against the broader context that the shares started 2026 at USD 570.66 and, based on MarketBeat performance data, had declined by 7.4 percent year to date to trade around the USD 528.63 mark in recent sessions, illustrating the distance between the current quote and the early-year level.

For comparison, the year-to-date change of negative 7.4 percent from USD 570.66 to roughly USD 528.63 shows that, despite a strong backlog and rising dividend, the market has slightly de-rated the stock in 2026, a tension that many investors will watch closely when the third quarter numbers are released on October 20, 2026.

Stock level remains supported by defense demand

Against the backdrop of a projected expansion in the military unmanned aerial vehicle market and robust U.S. defense budget support referenced in sector commentary, Northrop Grumman’s backlog of USD 104.69 billion and second quarter 2026 net awards of roughly USD 20 billion provide concrete evidence that demand for the company’s systems remains strong relative to its current valuation.

With the dividend per share having climbed from USD 1.87 in 2023 to USD 2.06 in 2024, USD 2.31 in 2025 and USD 2.47 in 2026 as outlined by 24/7 Wall St, investors can see a quantified, multi-year progression in shareholder payouts, which contrasts with the single-digit percentage decline in the share price year to date.

Risks in the story remain tied to program execution and potential shifts in long-term defense procurement priorities, but the combination of cash flow guidance between USD 3.1 billion and USD 3.5 billion for fiscal year 2026 and the record USD 104.69 billion backlog offers a substantial buffer if individual programs experience delays or cost pressures.

Northrop Grumman stock price context

Northrop Grumman stock closed at USD 530.78 on the NYSE on September 16, 2026, with a 0.09 percent decline versus the prior session’s close, and recent data show the shares trading around the USD 528.63 level, about USD 42 below the USD 570.66 price at the beginning of 2026.