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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.

Company profile comparison for GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile ItemGEVNOC
NameGE Vernova Inc.Northrop Grumman Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryElectrical EquipmentAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryHeavy Electrical EquipmentAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization254.95 billion USD73.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 27, 2024December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GEV
NOC
GSPC
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GE Vernova (GEV) 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 GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricGEVNOC
Total Return (1Y)51.30%-9.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)--8.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--9.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GEV
NOC
GSPC
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GE Vernova (GEV) 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 GE Vernova (GEV) 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. GE Vernova (GEV) has a non-negative beta of 0.96.

Risk profile metrics for GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricGEVNOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)51.91%27.07%
Beta (5Y)0.96-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.29%-35.13%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.60M876.25K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GEV 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 GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricGEVNOC
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%
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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

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%
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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

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%
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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricGEVNOC
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.

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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricGEVNOC
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
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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

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
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GE Vernova (GEV) 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 GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricGEVNOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.851.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.280.95
Net Debt / EBITDA-2.292.03

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%
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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

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%
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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricGEVNOC
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
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GE Vernova (GEV) 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 1.72 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
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GE Vernova (GEV) 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 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
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GE Vernova (GEV) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for GE Vernova (GEV) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricGEVNOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.4816.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.161.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)21.324.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.17%3.36%