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DE vs. NOC: Deere vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison

How do Deere (DE) 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

Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but DE is classified in Machinery while NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile ItemDENOC
NameDeere & CompanyNorthrop Grumman Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryAgricultural & Farm MachineryAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization182.20 billion USD73.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DE
NOC
GSPC
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Deere (DE) 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 Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricDENOC
Total Return (1Y)43.60%-9.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.71%8.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.73%9.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DE
NOC
GSPC
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Deere (DE) 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 Deere (DE) 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. Deere (DE) has a non-negative beta of 0.87.

Risk profile metrics for Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricDENOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.03%27.07%
Beta (5Y)0.87-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)-33.81%-35.13%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.22M876.25K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DE 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 Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricDENOC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.23-0.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.09-0.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.96% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Deere (DE) at 18.24% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NOC.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

18.24%

Max
40.35%
Q3
18.69%
DE
18.24%
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%
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Deere (DE) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Deere (DE) at 10.17% 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.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

10.17%

Max
27.47%
Q3
11.71%
DE
10.17%
Median
5.78%
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%
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Deere (DE) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Deere (DE) at 17.48% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 11.60%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

17.48%

Max
35.46%
DE
17.48%
Q3
17.39%
Median
10.58%
Q1
4.59%
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%
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Deere (DE) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricDENOC
ROE (TTM)18.24%26.96%
ROA (TTM)3.76%7.15%
Net Margin (TTM)10.17%10.48%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.48%11.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)25.18%20.06%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.24% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Deere (DE) at -11.59% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Deere (DE) at -27.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricDENOC
Revenue Growth (YoY)-11.59%2.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-4.50%4.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)-27.79%2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.37%-2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Deere (DE) at 2.13 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.17 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NOC.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

2.13

Max
5.28
Q3
2.99
DE
2.13
Median
2.09
Q1
1.45
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
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Deere (DE) 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 Deere (DE) at 3.76 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

3.76

DE
3.76
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
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Deere (DE) 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 Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricDENOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.131.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.760.95
Net Debt / EBITDA4.612.03

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Deere (DE) at 0.96% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NOC the richer one.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

0.96%

Max
2.75%
Q3
1.11%
DE
0.96%
Median
0.18%
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%
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Deere (DE) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Deere (DE) at 36.02% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 29.88% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

36.02%

Max
72.00%
DE
36.02%
Q3
28.86%
Median
6.13%
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%
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Deere (DE) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricDENOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.96%1.81%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.02%29.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.50 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Deere (DE) at 37.60 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

37.60

Max
66.10
Q3
40.43
DE
37.60
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
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Deere (DE) 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 Deere (DE) at 3.80 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.72 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

3.80

Max
9.06
Q3
4.40
DE
3.80
Median
2.41
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
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Deere (DE) 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 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Deere (DE) at 6.51 carries an above-peer premium to book — DE is pricier on assets.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

6.51

Max
11.10
DE
6.51
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
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Deere (DE) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Deere (DE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricDENOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)37.6016.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.801.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.514.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.48%3.36%