Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC): Today's Featured Aerospace/Defense Laggard

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Northrop Grumman (NOC) pushed the Aerospace/Defense industry lower today making it today's featured Aerospace/Defense laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 1.1%. By the end of trading, Northrop Grumman fell 92 cents (-1.4%) to $67.01 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 2.9 million shares of Northrop Grumman exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.5 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $65.45-$67.29 after having opened the day at $66.73 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $67.93. Other companies within the Aerospace/Defense industry that declined today were: Spirit AeroSystems Holdings (SPR), down 4.2% and Aerosonic Corporation (AIM), down 2.9%.

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Northrop Grumman Corporation provides products, services, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services worldwide. Northrop Grumman has a market cap of $16.67 billion and is part of the industrial goods sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.7, equal to the average aerospace/defense industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 16.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are two analysts that rate Northrop Grumman a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and 12 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Northrop Grumman as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels, good cash flow from operations and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Northrop Grumman Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Sifco Industries (SIF), up 5.3%, Astronics Corporation (ATRO), up 5.2%, Embraer S.A (ERJ), up 4.4%, and Erickson Air-Crane (EAC), up 4.3%, were all gainers within the aerospace/defense industry with Honeywell International (HON) being today's featured aerospace/defense industry leader.

• Use our aerospace/defense section to find industry-relevant news.
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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the aerospace/defense industry could consider iShares DJ US Aerospace & Def Idx (ITA) while those bearish on the aerospace/defense industry could consider ProShares Short Dow 30 (DOG).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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