GE vs. NOC: GE Aerospace vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison
How do GE Aerospace (GE) 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
GE Aerospace (GE) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GE is classified in Industrial Conglomerates while NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense.
| Profile Item | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | General Electric Company | Northrop Grumman Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Industrial Conglomerates | Aerospace & Defense |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Conglomerates | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Capitalization | 335.82 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
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 15.54% | -9.52% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 53.37% | 8.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 39.15% | 9.71% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
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. GE Aerospace (GE) has a non-negative beta of 1.38.
| Metric | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.00% | 27.07% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.38 | -0.12 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.94% | -35.13% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.11M | 876.25K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.34 | -0.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.49 | -0.71 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but GE Aerospace (GE) at 48.23% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.96% also sits in the top quartile.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
48.23%
- GE
- 48.23%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
GE Aerospace (GE) at 17.72% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.48%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
17.72%
- Max
- 27.47%
- GE
- 17.72%
- Q3
- 11.71%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
GE Aerospace (GE) at 20.57% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 11.60%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
20.57%
- Max
- 35.46%
- GE
- 20.57%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 48.23% | 26.96% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.07% | 7.15% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.72% | 10.48% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.57% | 11.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.05% | 20.06% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 18.48% 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.
EPS Growth
GE Aerospace (GE) at 35.89% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GE.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 18.48% | 2.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.32% | 4.65% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 35.89% | 2.61% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 446.03% | -2.60% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.98 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.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
0.98
- Max
- 5.28
- Q3
- 2.99
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.45
- GE
- 0.98
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.95 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 1.13 uses more debt funding than most peers.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
1.13
- Max
- 2.15
- GE
- 1.13
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.98 | 1.17 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.13 | 0.95 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.90 | 2.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.51% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NOC the richer one.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
0.51%
- Max
- 2.75%
- Q3
- 1.11%
- GE
- 0.51%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.58% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 29.88% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
19.58%
- Max
- 72.00%
- Q3
- 28.86%
- GE
- 19.58%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.51% | 1.81% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 19.58% | 29.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.50 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 38.17 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
38.17
- Max
- 66.10
- Q3
- 40.43
- GE
- 38.17
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.72 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 6.63 sits in the pricier quartile — GE costs more per dollar of sales.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
6.63
- Max
- 9.06
- GE
- 6.63
- Q3
- 4.40
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 4.12 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.04 prices above its benchmark range — GE looks rich relative to book.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
19.04
- GE
- 19.04
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 38.17 | 16.50 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.63 | 1.72 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 19.04 | 4.12 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.96% | 3.36% |