Northrop Grounded By Lower Pension Income

December 6, 2000 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Northrop Grumman shares slid more than 2% Wednesday, a day after announcing that declining pension fund earnings could trim 45 cents/share from its 2001 earnings.

Pension fund proceeds now account for about half of Northrop’s earnings.

The announcement came after the market closed on Tuesday.

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Aside from the pension impact, corporate earnings are expected to rise 10-15% next year, according to the nation’s fifth largest defense contractor.

Companies are required to report pension liabilities as such on their balance sheet, treatment that necessitated many an analyst explanation a decade ago. 

However, the run up in equity values over the past several years has placed many pension plans in a surplus, with assets exceeding the pension obligation – and providing a boost to the bottom line.

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