Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors alike.

Many investors also have a go-to methodology that helps guide their buy and sell decisions. One way to find winning stocks based on your preferred way of investing is to use the Zacks Style Scores, which are indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing types: value, growth, and momentum.

Is This 1 Momentum Stock a Screaming Buy Right Now?

Momentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Originally formed in 1939 as Northrop Aircraft Incorporated and reincorporated in 1985 as Northrop Corporation in Delaware, Northrop was a principal developer of flying wing technology. In 1994, the company acquired Grumman Corporation (Grumman), after which the company was renamed Northrop Grumman Corporation. Currently, this global security company supplies a broad array of products like space systems, military aircraft, missile defense, advanced weapons and long-range fire capabilities, mission systems, networking and communications, strategic deterrence systems, and breakthrough technologies, such as advanced computing, microelectronics and cyber. As of Dec 31, 2023, the company operates through the following reportable segments:

NOC is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, with a Momentum Style Score of A and VGM Score of A. Shares are up 0.4% over the past one week and up 1.1% over the past four weeks. NOC has gained 9.3% in the last one-year period as well. Looking at trading volume, an average of 592,873.38 shares exchanged hands over the last 20 trading days.

Momentum investors don't just pay attention to price changes; positive earnings play a crucial role, too. Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $25.16 per share. NOC boasts an average earnings surprise of 7.7%.

With strong earnings growth, a good Zacks Rank, and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, investors should think about adding NOC to their portfolios.

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