BUZZ - Northrop Grumman raises annual profit forecast due to strong defense demand, shares rise

October 20 - ** Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) shares rose nearly ~2% in pre-market trading to $520

** Driven by strong demand for military aircraft, missiles, and defense programs, the company posted strong third quarter results, with order backlog reaching a record high, thus raising its annual profit outlook for (link)

** Adjusted full-year earnings per share for 2026 are expected to be between $29.35 and $29.75, up from the previous forecast of $28.60 to $29.10

** Quarterly sales rose 7% year-on-year to $11.12 billion, supported by growth across all four business sectors

** This quarter’s profit rose about 2% year-on-year, increasing from $1.10 billion ($7.67 per share) in the same period last year to $1.12 billion ($7.89 per share)

** The median target price from 27 brokers covering the stock is $616 — data compiled by LSEG

** As of the previous trading day’s close, the stock is down about 11% year-to-date

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