Geneos Wealth Management Inc. slashed its holding in Northrop Grumman by 61.6% during the third quarter, offloading 1,511 shares and ending the period with 943 shares valued at $575,000. Other institutions made smaller moves: Parvin Asset Management launched a $25,000 position in Q2, Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors added $31,000, NewSquare Capital boosted its stake by 75% to 63 shares worth $31,000, AlphaQuest lifted its position by 29.2% to 93 shares valued at $46,000, and City Holding Co. increased its holding by 138.1% to 100 shares worth $50,000. Hedge funds and institutional investors now control 83.4% of the company’s equity.

Director Mark A. Welsh III sold 97 shares on November 24th at an average price of $564.08, realizing $54,716 and reducing his stake by 2.22% to 4,281 shares valued at $2.41 million. CEO Kathy J. Warden divested 7,000 shares on January 5th at $600.00 each, netting $4.2 million and trimming her holdings by 3.47% to 194,602 shares valued at $116.76 million. Insiders have collectively sold 10,097 shares worth $6.10 million over the past three months, now representing just 0.23% of outstanding stock.

Truist Securities downgraded Northrop Grumman from Buy to Hold, noting that its shares trade at roughly a 20% premium to prime defense peers on price-to-free-cash-flow and a 28% premium to its own historical average. While acknowledging leadership in the nuclear triad, anticipated B-21 bomber volume increases and the potential F/A-XX program award, Truist warned that these positives are already priced in and flagged potential margin pressure and free cash-flow headwinds, limiting upside over the next 12 to 24 months.