EMR vs. NOC: Emerson Electric vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Emerson Electric (EMR) 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

Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but EMR is classified in Electrical Equipment while NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile Item	EMR	NOC
Name	Emerson Electric Co.	Northrop Grumman Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Electrical Equipment	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Electrical Components & Equipment	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	90.56 billion USD	74.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 1, 1972	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EMR

NOC

GSPC

Emerson Electric (EMR) 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 Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	EMR	NOC
Total Return (1Y)	34.39%	-3.34%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	28.46%	7.23%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.17%	9.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EMR

NOC

GSPC

Emerson Electric (EMR) 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 Emerson Electric (EMR) 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. Emerson Electric (EMR) has a non-negative beta of 1.20.

Risk profile metrics for Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	EMR	NOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	32.47%	28.86%
Beta (5Y)	1.20	-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-29.61%	-37.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.61M	902.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

EMR 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 Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	EMR	NOC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.93	-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.37	-0.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Emerson Electric (EMR) at 13.12% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NOC.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

13.12%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
EMR: 13.12%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

26.07%

Max: 40.55%
NOC: 26.07%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Emerson Electric (EMR) at 14.18% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.37%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

14.18%

Max: 27.47%
EMR: 14.18%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

10.37%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
NOC: 10.37%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Emerson Electric (EMR) at 25.90% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

25.90%

Max: 36.60%
EMR: 25.90%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

12.91%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
NOC: 12.91%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	EMR	NOC
ROE (TTM)	13.12%	26.07%
ROA (TTM)	5.98%	7.11%
Net Margin (TTM)	14.18%	10.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)	25.90%	12.91%
Gross Margin (TTM)	53.36%	20.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports revenue growth of 2.24%, ranked against its industry; Emerson Electric (EMR) has no revenue growth figure this period.

Emerson Electric (EMR) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Emerson Electric (EMR) at 18.56% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Emerson Electric (EMR) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	EMR	NOC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	--	2.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	4.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	18.56%	2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-40.62%	-2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Emerson Electric (EMR) at 0.94 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.23 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

0.94

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
EMR: 0.94
Min: 0.36

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.23

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
NOC: 1.23
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Emerson Electric (EMR) at 0.59 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

0.59

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
EMR: 0.59
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

0.93

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
NOC: 0.93
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Emerson Electric (EMR) 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 Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	EMR	NOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.94	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.59	0.93
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.89	1.87

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Emerson Electric (EMR) 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 1.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
EMR: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.82%

Max: 2.66%
NOC: 1.82%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Emerson Electric (EMR) at 48.51% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 30.18% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

48.51%

Max: 67.39%
EMR: 48.51%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

30.18%

Max: 67.39%
NOC: 30.18%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	EMR	NOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	1.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	48.51%	30.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Emerson Electric (EMR) at 33.89 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

33.89

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
EMR: 33.89
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

16.57

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
NOC: 16.57
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.71 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Emerson Electric (EMR) at 4.77 sits in the pricier quartile — EMR costs more per dollar of sales.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

4.77

Max: 7.54
EMR: 4.77
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.71

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
NOC: 1.71
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Emerson Electric (EMR) at 4.38 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 3.99 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

EMR

Capital Goods industry group

4.38

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
EMR: 4.38
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

3.99

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
NOC: 3.99
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Emerson Electric (EMR) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	EMR	NOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	33.89	16.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.77	1.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.38	3.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.85%	4.21%