FER vs. NOC: Ferrovial vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ferrovial (FER) 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

Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FER is classified in Construction & Engineering while NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile Item	FER	NOC
Name	Ferrovial N.V.	Northrop Grumman Corporation
Country/Region	Netherlands	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Construction & Engineering	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction & Engineering	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	42.19 billion USD	74.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	August 13, 2012	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FER

NOC

GSPC

Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FER	NOC
Total Return (1Y)	-1.10%	-3.34%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.01%	7.23%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.20%	9.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FER

NOC

GSPC

Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) 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. Ferrovial (FER) has a non-negative beta of 0.36.

Risk profile metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FER	NOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.38%	28.86%
Beta (5Y)	0.36	-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.67%	-37.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.95M	902.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FER 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 Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FER	NOC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.20	-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.30	-0.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ferrovial (FER) at 11.62% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NOC.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

11.62%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
FER: 11.62%
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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 6.15% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.37% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

6.15%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
FER: 6.15%
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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 10.45% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

10.45%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
FER: 10.45%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FER	NOC
ROE (TTM)	11.62%	26.07%
ROA (TTM)	2.62%	7.11%
Net Margin (TTM)	6.15%	10.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)	10.45%	12.91%
Gross Margin (TTM)	87.14%	20.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 5.24% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.24% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) at -72.26% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FER	NOC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.24%	2.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.43%	4.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-72.26%	2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	70.54%	-2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 1.20 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.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

1.20

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
FER: 1.20
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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ferrovial (FER) at 1.44 uses more debt funding than most peers.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

1.44

Max: 2.33
FER: 1.44
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
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

Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FER	NOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.20	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.44	0.93
Net Debt / EBITDA	4.39	1.87

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.82% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ferrovial (FER) at 0.94% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NOC the richer one.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

0.94%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
FER: 0.94%
Median: 0.24%
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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and FER more so: Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 30.18% sits above the band, while Ferrovial (FER) at 71.24% exceeds every peer in its group.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

71.24%

FER: 71.24%
Max: 67.39%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FER	NOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.94%	1.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	71.24%	30.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Ferrovial (FER) at 32.26 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

32.26

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
FER: 32.26
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

Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) at 4.28 sits in the pricier quartile — FER costs more per dollar of sales.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

4.28

Max: 7.54
FER: 4.28
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

Ferrovial (FER) 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 3.99 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Ferrovial (FER) at 6.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — FER is pricier on assets.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

6.59

Max: 9.66
FER: 6.59
Q3: 5.00
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FER	NOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	32.26	16.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.28	1.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	6.59	3.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.11%	4.21%