GWW vs. NOC: W.W. Grainger vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) 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

W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile Item	GWW	NOC
Name	W.W. Grainger Inc.	Northrop Grumman Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	67.45 billion USD	74.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW

NOC

GSPC

W.W. Grainger (GWW) 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 W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	GWW	NOC
Total Return (1Y)	54.07%	-3.34%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.16%	7.23%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.95%	9.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW

NOC

GSPC

W.W. Grainger (GWW) 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 W.W. Grainger (GWW) 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. W.W. Grainger (GWW) has a non-negative beta of 0.93.

Risk profile metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	GWW	NOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.49%	28.86%
Beta (5Y)	0.93	-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-24.50%	-37.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)	250.35K	902.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

GWW 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 W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	GWW	NOC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.03	-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.31	-0.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% also sits in the top quartile.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

52.33%

GWW: 52.33%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17% 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.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

11.17%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
GWW: 11.17%
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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

16.14%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
GWW: 16.14%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	GWW	NOC
ROE (TTM)	52.33%	26.07%
ROA (TTM)	20.34%	7.11%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.17%	10.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)	16.14%	12.91%
Gross Margin (TTM)	39.43%	20.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% 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.

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% 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.

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	GWW	NOC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.51%	2.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	4.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-8.55%	2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.60%	-2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.23 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NOC.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

2.61

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
GWW: 2.61
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

0.65

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
GWW: 0.65
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

W.W. Grainger (GWW) 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 W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	GWW	NOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.61	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.65	0.93
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.69	1.87

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.82% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NOC the richer one.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

0.65%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
GWW: 0.65%
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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 20.87% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 30.18% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

20.87%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
GWW: 20.87%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	GWW	NOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.65%	1.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	20.87%	30.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

31.66

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
GWW: 31.66
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

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 3.48 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.71 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

3.48

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
GWW: 3.48
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

W.W. Grainger (GWW) 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 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices above its benchmark range — GWW looks rich relative to book.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

15.56

GWW: 15.56
Max: 9.66
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	GWW	NOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.66	16.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.48	1.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	15.56	3.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.97%	4.21%