About Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Our mission: Bringing practical business and technical intelligence to today's structured cabling professionals

For more than 30 years, Cabling Installation & Maintenance has provided useful, practical information to professionals responsible for the specification, design, installation and management of structured cabling systems serving enterprise, data center and other environments. These professionals are challenged to stay informed of constantly evolving standards, system-design and installation approaches, product and system capabilities, technologies, as well as applications that rely on high-performance structured cabling systems. Our editors synthesize these complex issues into multiple information products. This portfolio of information products provides concrete detail that improves the efficiency of day-to-day operations, and equips cabling professionals with the perspective that enables strategic planning for networks’ optimum long-term performance.

Throughout our annual magazine, weekly email newsletters and 24/7/365 website, Cabling Installation & Maintenance digs into the essential topics our audience focuses on.

  • Design, Installation and Testing: We explain the bottom-up design of cabling systems, from case histories of actual projects to solutions for specific problems or aspects of the design process. We also look at specific installations using a case-history approach to highlight challenging problems, solutions and unique features. Additionally, we examine evolving test-and-measurement technologies and techniques designed to address the standards-governed and practical-use performance requirements of cabling systems.
  • Technology: We evaluate product innovations and technology trends as they impact a particular product class through interviews with manufacturers, installers and users, as well as contributed articles from subject-matter experts.
  • Data Center: Cabling Installation & Maintenance takes an in-depth look at design and installation workmanship issues as well as the unique technology being deployed specifically for data centers.
  • Physical Security: Focusing on the areas in which security and IT—and the infrastructure for both—interlock and overlap, we pay specific attention to Internet Protocol’s influence over the development of security applications.
  • Standards: Tracking the activities of North American and international standards-making organizations, we provide updates on specifications that are in-progress, looking forward to how they will affect cabling-system design and installation. We also produce articles explaining the practical aspects of designing and installing cabling systems in accordance with the specifications of established standards.

Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published by Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

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3 Reasons to Sell Northrop Grumman and 1 Stock to Buy Instead

NOC Cover Image

Even though Northrop Grumman’s stock ($487.50 per share) has gained 7% over the last six months, it has lagged the S&P 500’s 13.4% return during that period. This might have investors contemplating their next move.

Is now the time to buy Northrop Grumman, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? Dive into our full research report to see our analyst team’s opinion, it’s free.

We're cautious about Northrop Grumman. Here are three reasons why NOC doesn't excite us and one stock we'd rather own today.

Why Do We Think Northrop Grumman Will Underperform?

Responsible for the development of the first stealth bomber, Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) specializes in providing aerospace, defense, and security solutions for various industry applications.

1. Long-Term Revenue Growth Disappoints

A company’s long-term performance is an indicator of its overall quality. While any business can experience short-term success, top-performing ones enjoy sustained growth for multiple years. Unfortunately, Northrop Grumman’s 4.3% annualized revenue growth over the last five years was sluggish. This was below our standard for the industrials sector. Northrop Grumman Quarterly Revenue

2. Free Cash Flow Margin Dropping

Free cash flow isn't a prominently featured metric in company financials and earnings releases, but we think it's telling because it accounts for all operating and capital expenses, making it tough to manipulate. Cash is king.

As you can see below, Northrop Grumman’s margin dropped by 4.9 percentage points over the last five years. Northrop Grumman’s five-year free cash flow profile was compelling, but shareholders are surely hoping for its trend to reverse. Its free cash flow margin for the trailing 12 months was 6.1%.

Northrop Grumman Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin

3. New Investments Fail to Bear Fruit as ROIC Declines

ROIC, or return on invested capital, is a metric showing how much operating profit a company generates relative to the money it has raised (debt and equity).

We typically prefer to invest in companies with high returns because it means they have viable business models, but the trend in a company’s ROIC is often what surprises the market and moves the stock price. Unfortunately, Northrop Grumman’s ROIC has decreased significantly over the last few years. We like what management has done in the past but are concerned its ROIC is declining, perhaps a symptom of fewer profitable growth opportunities.

Northrop Grumman Trailing 12-Month Return On Invested Capital

Final Judgment

Northrop Grumman falls short of our quality standards. With its shares trailing the market in recent months, the stock trades at 18.3x forward price-to-earnings (or $487.50 per share). This valuation tells us a lot of optimism is priced in - we think there are better investment opportunities out there. Let us point you towards Deere, the leading supplier of autonomous agriculture equipment.

Stocks We Like More Than Northrop Grumman

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Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,691% between September 2019 and September 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Comfort Systems (+783% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

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