BA vs. NOC: Boeing vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison

September 14, 2026

How do Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Boeing (BA) 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.

Company profile comparison for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile Item	BA	NOC
Name	Boeing Co/The	Northrop Grumman Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	166.33 billion USD	73.73 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NOC

GSPC

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	BA	NOC
Total Return (1Y)	-4.34%	-9.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-0.09%	8.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	0.01%	9.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NOC

GSPC

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports a negative beta of -0.12, 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. Boeing (BA) has a non-negative beta of 1.24.

Risk profile metrics for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	BA	NOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	33.53%	27.07%
Beta (5Y)	1.24	-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-50.29%	-35.13%
Avg. Volume (3M)	5.58M	876.25K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BA and NOC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	BA	NOC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.25	-0.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.39	-0.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Boeing (BA) at 173.54% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.96% also sits in the top quartile.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

173.54%

BA: 173.54%
Max: 40.35%
Q3: 18.69%
Median: 11.55%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -19.86%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

26.96%

Max: 40.35%
NOC: 26.96%
Q3: 18.69%
Median: 11.55%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -19.86%

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Boeing (BA) at 2.59% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.48% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

2.59%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 11.71%
Median: 5.78%
BA: 2.59%
Q1: 0.77%
Min: -14.15%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

10.48%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 11.71%
NOC: 10.48%
Median: 5.78%
Q1: 0.77%
Min: -14.15%

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 11.60% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Boeing (BA) at 0.00% operates in the bottom quartile.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 35.46%
Q3: 17.39%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 4.59%
BA: 0.00%
Min: -12.63%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

11.60%

Max: 35.46%
Q3: 17.39%
NOC: 11.60%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 4.59%
Min: -12.63%

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	BA	NOC
ROE (TTM)	173.54%	26.96%
ROA (TTM)	-1.98%	7.15%
Net Margin (TTM)	2.59%	10.48%
Operating Margin (TTM)	0.00%	11.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)	4.71%	20.06%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Boeing (BA) at 34.50% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.24% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for BA.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports EPS growth of 2.61%, ranked against its industry; Boeing (BA) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	BA	NOC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	34.50%	2.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.33%	4.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Boeing (BA) at 1.14 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.17 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.14

Max: 5.28
Q3: 2.99
Median: 2.09
Q1: 1.45
BA: 1.14
Min: 0.76

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.17

Max: 5.28
Q3: 2.99
Median: 2.09
Q1: 1.45
NOC: 1.17
Min: 0.76

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.95 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Boeing (BA) at 7.91 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

7.91

BA: 7.91
Max: 2.15
Q3: 1.09
Median: 0.57
Q1: 0.27
Min: 0.00

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

0.95

Max: 2.15
Q3: 1.09
NOC: 0.95
Median: 0.57
Q1: 0.27
Min: 0.00

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	BA	NOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.14	1.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	7.91	0.95
Net Debt / EBITDA	--	2.03

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Boeing (BA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports a yield of 1.81%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 2.75%
Q3: 1.11%
Median: 0.18%
BA: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.81%

Max: 2.75%
NOC: 1.81%
Q3: 1.11%
Median: 0.18%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Boeing (BA) 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 29.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 72.00%
Q3: 28.86%
Median: 6.13%
BA: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

29.88%

Max: 72.00%
NOC: 29.88%
Q3: 28.86%
Median: 6.13%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	BA	NOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	1.81%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	29.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.50 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Boeing (BA) at 75.70 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

75.70

BA: 75.70
Max: 66.10
Q3: 40.43
Median: 29.30
Q1: 21.19
Min: 1.09

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

16.50

Max: 66.10
Q3: 40.43
Median: 29.30
Q1: 21.19
NOC: 16.50
Min: 1.09

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Boeing (BA) at 1.77 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.72 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.77

Max: 9.06
Q3: 4.40
Median: 2.41
BA: 1.77
Q1: 1.19
Min: 0.05

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.72

Max: 9.06
Q3: 4.40
Median: 2.41
NOC: 1.72
Q1: 1.19
Min: 0.05

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 4.12 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Boeing (BA) at 27.27 prices above its benchmark range — BA looks rich relative to book.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

27.27

BA: 27.27
Max: 11.10
Q3: 5.63
Median: 3.31
Q1: 1.94
Min: -3.52

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

4.12

Max: 11.10
Q3: 5.63
NOC: 4.12
Median: 3.31
Q1: 1.94
Min: -3.52

Boeing (BA) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	BA	NOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	75.70	16.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.77	1.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	27.27	4.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.38%	3.36%