
Northrop Grumman [NOC] on Thursday reported a slight increase in third quarter earnings on robust sales growth due to strong operating performance at its business segments coupled with the sale of a minority stake in a business in Australia. Net income rose 2 percent to $937 million, $6.18 earnings per share (EPS), from $915 million ($5.89 EPS) a year ago, smashing consensus estimates by 37 cents per share. Earnings were held down by a $1 per share pension headwind. Segment…