GEV vs. NOC: GE Vernova vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison
How do GE Vernova (GEV) 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 Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GEV is classified in Electrical Equipment while NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) carries decades of public-market history since December 31, 1981, while GE Vernova (GEV) listed on March 27, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the NOC side.
| Profile Item | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | GE Vernova Inc. | 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 | Heavy Electrical Equipment | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Capitalization | 254.95 billion USD | 73.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 27, 2024 | December 31, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 51.30% | -9.52% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -- | 8.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -- | 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 Vernova (GEV) has a non-negative beta of 0.96.
| Metric | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 51.91% | 27.07% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.96 | -0.12 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -38.29% | -35.13% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.60M | 876.25K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.91 | -0.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.41 | -0.71 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but GE Vernova (GEV) at 82.58% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.96% also sits in the top quartile.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
82.58%
- GEV
- 82.58%
- 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 Vernova (GEV) at 23.04% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.48%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
23.04%
- Max
- 27.47%
- GEV
- 23.04%
- 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)
Both GE Vernova (GEV) at 7.47% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 11.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
7.47%
- Max
- 35.46%
- Q3
- 17.39%
- Median
- 10.58%
- GEV
- 7.47%
- 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 | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 82.58% | 26.96% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.54% | 7.15% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 23.04% | 10.48% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 7.47% | 11.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 20.57% | 20.06% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both GE Vernova (GEV) at 8.97% 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 Vernova (GEV) at 217.03% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.97% | 2.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.68% | 4.65% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 217.03% | 2.61% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -2.60% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.85 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.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
0.85
- Max
- 5.28
- Q3
- 2.99
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.45
- GEV
- 0.85
- 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)
Both GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.28 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.95 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
0.28
- Max
- 2.15
- Q3
- 1.09
- Median
- 0.57
- GEV
- 0.28
- 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 | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.85 | 1.17 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.28 | 0.95 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -2.29 | 2.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.19% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NOC the richer one.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
0.19%
- Max
- 2.75%
- Q3
- 1.11%
- GEV
- 0.19%
- 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 Vernova (GEV) at 5.73% 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.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
5.73%
- Max
- 72.00%
- Q3
- 28.86%
- Median
- 6.13%
- GEV
- 5.73%
- 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 | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.19% | 1.81% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 5.73% | 29.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.50 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while GE Vernova (GEV) at 27.48 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
27.48
- Max
- 66.10
- Q3
- 40.43
- Median
- 29.30
- GEV
- 27.48
- 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 Vernova (GEV) at 6.16 sits in the pricier quartile — GEV costs more per dollar of sales.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
6.16
- Max
- 9.06
- GEV
- 6.16
- 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 Vernova (GEV) at 21.32 prices above its benchmark range — GEV looks rich relative to book.
GEV
Capital Goods industry group
21.32
- GEV
- 21.32
- 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 | GEV | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 27.48 | 16.50 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.16 | 1.72 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 21.32 | 4.12 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 6.17% | 3.36% |