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AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC)

This page compares AeroVironment (AVAV) with Northrop Grumman (NOC) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

AeroVironment (AVAV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

SymbolAVAVNOC
NameAeroVironment Inc.Northrop Grumman Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization9.41 billion USD77.32 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 23, 2007December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) of 17.07 and can be ranked against industry peers; AeroVironment (AVAV) has no value available for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

--

Max
85.50
Q3
48.30
Median
32.07
Q1
22.22
Min
6.01

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

17.07

Max
85.50
Q3
48.30
Median
32.07
Q1
22.22
Min
6.01
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.83 is priced about in line with its industry on Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while AeroVironment (AVAV) at 5.84 sits in the pricier quartile — AVAV costs more per dollar of sales.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

5.84

Max
9.98
Q3
4.97
Median
2.65
Q1
1.28
Min
0.05

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.83

Max
9.98
Q3
4.97
Median
2.65
Q1
1.28
Min
0.05
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

On Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), both AeroVironment (AVAV) at 2.16 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 4.52 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

2.16

Max
13.63
Q3
6.90
Median
3.70
Q1
2.14
Min
-4.78

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

4.52

Max
13.63
Q3
6.90
Median
3.70
Q1
2.14
Min
-4.78
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolAVAVNOC
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)--17.07
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)5.841.83
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)2.164.52
Free Cash Flow Yield-3.23%2.68%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

AeroVironment (AVAV) reports a negative Return on Equity (TTM) of -8.74%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports 28.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

-8.74%

Max
46.13%
Q3
20.05%
Median
11.29%
Q1
2.45%
Min
-23.78%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

28.51%

Max
46.13%
Q3
20.05%
Median
11.29%
Q1
2.45%
Min
-23.78%
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

AeroVironment (AVAV) reports a negative Net Profit Margin (TTM) of -13.93%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports 10.80%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

-13.93%

Max
24.69%
Q3
11.55%
Median
5.78%
Q1
0.37%
Min
-13.94%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

10.80%

Max
24.69%
Q3
11.55%
Median
5.78%
Q1
0.37%
Min
-13.94%
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

AeroVironment (AVAV) reports a negative Operating Profit Margin (TTM) of -5.12%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports 11.69%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

-5.12%

Max
29.84%
Q3
15.74%
Median
8.13%
Q1
1.80%
Min
-13.10%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

11.69%

Max
29.84%
Q3
15.74%
Median
8.13%
Q1
1.80%
Min
-13.10%
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolAVAVNOC
Return on Equity (TTM)-8.74%28.51%
Return on Assets (TTM)-1.26%7.36%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)-13.93%10.80%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)-5.12%11.69%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)25.01%20.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolAVAVNOC
1-Year Revenue Growth14.50%2.24%
3-Year Revenue CAGR22.56%4.65%

EPS Growth

AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolAVAVNOC
1-Year EPS Growth-28.90%2.61%
3-Year EPS CAGR---2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AeroVironment (AVAV) at 5.51 carries Current Ratio (MRQ) above its industry mid-range, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.15 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

5.51

Max
5.24
Q3
3.01
Median
2.13
Q1
1.46
Min
0.71

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.15

Max
5.24
Q3
3.01
Median
2.13
Q1
1.46
Min
0.71
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

AeroVironment (AVAV) at 0.19 maintains Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) in the lower-leverage quartile of industry peers, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.03, which sits around the industry mid-range.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

0.19

Max
2.24
Q3
1.07
Median
0.62
Q1
0.27
Min
0.00

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.03

Max
2.24
Q3
1.07
Median
0.62
Q1
0.27
Min
0.00
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolAVAVNOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)5.511.15
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.191.03
Net Debt / EBITDA1.582.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AeroVironment (AVAV) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — often a deliberate choice to reinvest earnings rather than return cash. Meanwhile Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports a yield of 1.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.11%
Median
0.19%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.73%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.11%
Median
0.19%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AeroVironment (AVAV) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports a payout of 28.97%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AVAV

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
72.02%
Q3
29.49%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

28.97%

Max
72.02%
Q3
29.49%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolAVAVNOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.73%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%28.97%

Performance & Risk

Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports a negative beta of -0.11, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. AeroVironment (AVAV) has a more conventional positive beta of 1.38.

AVAV
NOC
Loading price history…
AeroVironment (AVAV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolAVAVNOC
1-Year Return-0.36%13.28%
1-Year Volatility73.86%26.47%
Beta1.38-0.11
3-Month Avg. Volume1.40M0.83M