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IEX vs. NOC: IDEX vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison

How do IDEX (IEX) 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

IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but IEX is classified in Machinery while NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile ItemIEXNOC
NameIDEX CorporationNorthrop Grumman Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization16.67 billion USD74.59 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 2, 1989December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IEX
NOC
GSPC
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricIEXNOC
Total Return (1Y)42.33%-3.34%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.92%7.23%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.31%9.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IEX
NOC
GSPC
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) 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. IDEX (IEX) has a non-negative beta of 0.95.

Risk profile metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricIEXNOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.98%28.86%
Beta (5Y)0.95-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.60%-37.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)666.74K902.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IEX 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 IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricIEXNOC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.66-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.64-0.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% sits in the top ROE quartile, while IDEX (IEX) at 13.35% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NOC.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
IEX
13.35%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

IDEX (IEX) at 14.65% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.37%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

14.65%

Max
27.47%
IEX
14.65%
Q3
12.10%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

IDEX (IEX) at 22.33% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

22.33%

Max
36.60%
IEX
22.33%
Q3
18.33%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricIEXNOC
ROE (TTM)13.35%26.07%
ROA (TTM)7.06%7.11%
Net Margin (TTM)14.65%10.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)22.33%12.91%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.91%20.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both IDEX (IEX) at 5.77% 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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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both IDEX (IEX) at -3.46% 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.

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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricIEXNOC
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.77%2.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.81%4.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.46%2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.97%-2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

IDEX (IEX) at 2.78 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.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

2.78

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
IEX
2.78
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
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 0.44 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

0.44

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
IEX
0.44
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricIEXNOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.781.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.440.93
Net Debt / EBITDA1.181.87

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 1.30% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.82% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

1.30%

Max
2.66%
IEX
1.30%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 50.14% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 30.18% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

50.14%

Max
67.39%
IEX
50.14%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricIEXNOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.30%1.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)50.14%30.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while IDEX (IEX) at 31.53 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

31.53

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
IEX
31.53
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 1.71 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while IDEX (IEX) at 4.56 sits in the pricier quartile — IEX costs more per dollar of sales.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

4.56

Max
7.54
IEX
4.56
Q3
3.76
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) at 4.17 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 3.99 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

4.17

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
IEX
4.17
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
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
MetricIEXNOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.5316.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.561.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.173.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.50%4.21%