Defense stocks have been rallying in response to a sharp escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) in particular has been put into the spotlight as the U.S. Air Force deployed at least six of its flagship B-2 Spirit stealth bombers during a strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure on June 21.
Indeed, Northrop shares rose nearly 4% following the reports, leaving a number of investors wondering whether the hike marked the beginning of a sustained revaluation of the company’s prospects.
Northrop Grumman stock predictions
According to the data retrieved from the stock analysis platform TipRanks on June 23, the general sentiment around NOC appears bullish.
Of the 15 analysts covering the stock over the past three months, 10 rate it a “Buy,” while 5 suggest holding existing positions. There are currently no “Sell” ratings.
The average 12-month price target for NOC shares stands at $541.36, a roughly 8.8% upside from the last closing price of $497.70. The highest target, on the other hand, projects the stock will reach $585, while the lowest prediction suggests a price of $480.
Northrop Grumman stock’s most recent ratings
The most recent NOC stock ratings have been mostly neutral. On April 24, Wells Fargo reiterated its “Overweight” rating, while UBS maintained its “Buy” rating just the day before, albeit while reducing the price target from $583 to $571.
On the same day, April 23, RBC Capital rated the stock as “Outperforming”, while Susquehanna and Truist Securities reiterated their “Positive” and “Buy” ratings, respectively.
Earlier in the month, however, on April 11, Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) upgraded its rating on Northrop from “Sell” to “Neutral” and sharply raised its price target from $424 to $521.
NOC stock price chart
At press time, June 23, 2025, NOC shares were trading at $497.70, up 6.34% year-to-date and 0.86% in pre-market, reflecting broader defense growth.
Recent short-term enthusiasm has also been fueled by speculation about expanded Pentagon procurement and Northrop’s Q2 2025 earnings reports, set to be reported on July 22.
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