Northrop Grumman Confirms Strong Q1 Earnings, Details Key Program Progress & Executive Trading Plans
NOC sits 36% above its 52-week low of $450.13 on elevated volume (1.8× avg).
Summary
Northrop Grumman filed its Q1 2026 earnings report, confirming strong financial performance with an 85% increase in diluted EPS and a 4% rise in sales, alongside positive updates on key defense programs and new executive trading plans.
Key Events · Earnings and Guidance · NOC
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Strong Q1 Financials Confirmed
Diluted EPS increased 85% to $6.14, and total sales rose 4% to $9.88 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the prior year.
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B-21 Program Production Expansion
The company reached an agreement with the U.S. Air Force to expand production capacity and increase the aircraft production rate for the B-21 program. A $157 million net unfavorable EAC adjustment on the first four LRIP lots was offset by a reduction in the loss contingency accrual on the remainder of the program.
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Sentinel Program Certified for Continuation
The Sentinel program was certified for continuation by the Department of War in July 2024, following a Nunn-McCurdy breach review, with restructuring plans underway. No significant changes to estimated profitability were made in Q1 2026.
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Substantial Backlog Reported
Company backlog stood at $95.6 billion as of March 31, 2026, with approximately 35% expected to be recognized as revenue over the next 12 months.
Analysis · NOC · Manufacturing
This 10-Q filing provides comprehensive financial and operational details for Q1 2026, building upon the top-line results previously announced in an 8-K. The report confirms robust financial performance with significant year-over-year growth in diluted EPS and sales. Crucially, it offers positive updates on major defense programs like the B-21, including production capacity expansion, and the Sentinel program's certified continuation. These operational advancements are vital for a defense contractor's long-term outlook. While several executives adopted routine Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, the amounts involved are not substantial enough to overshadow the company's strong financial health and strategic program execution.
How filings like this one have moved
In the 30 days to Sep 14, 2026, 29.9% of the 1594 measured filings Wiseek scored 7 moved their stock by 5% or more by the next session's close. The median move was -0.24%. These are measured outcomes after filings of this importance, not a forecast for this one.
Measured one observation per ticker per day, after exclusions. Current figures: Filing Impact Tracker · open dataset
At the time of this filing, NOC was trading at $612.06 on NYSE in the Manufacturing sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $86.8B. The 52-week trading range was $450.13 to $774.00. This filing was assessed with positive market sentiment and an importance score of 7 out of 10.