HII vs. NOC: Huntington Ingalls Industries vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) 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

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile Item	HII	NOC
Name	Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.	Northrop Grumman Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	11.38 billion USD	74.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 22, 2011	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HII

NOC

GSPC

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	HII	NOC
Total Return (1Y)	-0.48%	-3.34%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	12.21%	7.23%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.63%	9.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HII

NOC

GSPC

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) 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. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has a non-negative beta of 0.17.

Risk profile metrics for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	HII	NOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	40.58%	28.86%
Beta (5Y)	0.17	-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-45.21%	-37.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)	505.72K	902.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

HII 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	HII	NOC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.12	-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.18	-0.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 13.99% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NOC.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

13.99%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
HII: 13.99%
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%

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 5.42% 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.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

5.42%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
HII: 5.42%
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%

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 7.72% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

7.72%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
HII: 7.72%
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%

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	HII	NOC
ROE (TTM)	13.99%	26.07%
ROA (TTM)	4.57%	7.11%
Net Margin (TTM)	5.42%	10.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.72%	12.91%
Gross Margin (TTM)	12.72%	20.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 8.23% 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.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 10.24% 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.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	HII	NOC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.23%	2.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.35%	4.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	10.24%	2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.15%	-2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 1.27 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.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

1.27

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
HII: 1.27
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

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 0.53 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

0.53

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
HII: 0.53
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

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	HII	NOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.27	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.53	0.93
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.05	1.87

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 1.91% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.82% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

1.91%

Max: 2.66%
HII: 1.91%
Q3: 1.14%
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%

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 29.73% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 30.18% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

29.73%

Max: 67.39%
HII: 29.73%
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%

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	HII	NOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.91%	1.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	29.73%	30.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 15.55 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

15.55

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
HII: 15.55
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

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 0.84 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.71 prices around its industry’s middle — HII costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

0.84

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
HII: 0.84
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

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 2.07 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 3.99 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

HII

Capital Goods industry group

2.07

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
HII: 2.07
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

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	HII	NOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	15.55	16.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.84	1.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.07	3.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.70%	4.21%