NOC vs. PAYX: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at NOC and PAYX, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | NOC | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Northrop Grumman Corporation | Paychex, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Professional Services |
| Market Capitalization | 84.01 billion USD | 49.89 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | December 31, 1981 | August 26, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of NOC and PAYX by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | NOC | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 0.09% | -0.37% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 24.08% | -11.32% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 35.37% | -7.69% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 15.13% | 8.30% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 1.76% | -4.04% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 25.03% | -1.23% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.63M | 2.15M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.94M | 2.13M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 24.92% | 26.36% |
| Beta | 0.09 | 0.95 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
NOC
26.09%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 43.89%
- Q3
- 22.42%
- Median
- 12.50%
- Q1
- 5.21%
- Min
- -6.24%
In the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry, NOC’s Return on Equity of 26.09% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
PAYX
41.38%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 52.17%
- Q3
- 30.06%
- Median
- 22.21%
- Q1
- 11.67%
- Min
- -13.44%
In the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry, PAYX’s Return on Equity of 41.38% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
NOC
9.74%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 14.54%
- Q3
- 8.08%
- Median
- 6.17%
- Q1
- 2.49%
- Min
- -1.63%
A Net Profit Margin of 9.74% places NOC in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
PAYX
29.74%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 26.06%
- Q3
- 13.34%
- Median
- 7.88%
- Q1
- 3.50%
- Min
- -2.93%
PAYX’s Net Profit Margin of 29.74% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
NOC
10.39%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 16.63%
- Q3
- 10.38%
- Median
- 8.29%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- 0.95%
An Operating Profit Margin of 10.39% places NOC in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
PAYX
39.01%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 35.84%
- Q3
- 19.38%
- Median
- 12.54%
- Q1
- 7.36%
- Min
- -5.21%
PAYX’s Operating Profit Margin of 39.01% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | NOC | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 26.09% | 41.38% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 8.07% | 13.58% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 9.74% | 29.74% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 10.39% | 39.01% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 19.33% | 90.67% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
NOC
1.04
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 3.09
- Q3
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.02
NOC’s Current Ratio of 1.04 aligns with the median group of the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
PAYX
1.28
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.45
- Q3
- 1.65
- Median
- 1.26
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.47
PAYX’s Current Ratio of 1.28 aligns with the median group of the Professional Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
NOC
1.02
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 1.70
- Q3
- 1.04
- Median
- 0.68
- Q1
- 0.41
- Min
- 0.00
NOC’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.02 is typical for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
PAYX
1.20
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.44
- Median
- 0.91
- Q1
- 0.49
- Min
- 0.00
PAYX’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.20 is typical for the Professional Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
NOC
9.08
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 36.57
- Q3
- 19.90
- Median
- 7.04
- Q1
- 2.40
- Min
- -7.63
NOC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.08 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
PAYX
55.47
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 39.67
- Q3
- 20.05
- Median
- 11.07
- Q1
- 5.36
- Min
- -2.22
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 55.47, PAYX demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | NOC | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.04 | 1.28 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.85 | 1.22 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.02 | 1.20 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 9.08 | 55.47 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
NOC
1.46%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 2.03%
- Q3
- 1.22%
- Median
- 0.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 1.46%, NOC offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Aerospace & Defense industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
PAYX
2.88%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 5.28%
- Q3
- 2.51%
- Median
- 1.63%
- Q1
- 0.62%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.88%, PAYX offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Professional Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
NOC
31.28%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 83.87%
- Q3
- 49.90%
- Median
- 16.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NOC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 31.28% is within the typical range for the Aerospace & Defense industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
PAYX
87.40%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 109.23%
- Q3
- 64.39%
- Median
- 47.00%
- Q1
- 20.35%
- Min
- 0.00%
PAYX’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 87.40% is in the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | NOC | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.46% | 2.88% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 31.28% | 87.40% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
NOC
21.37
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 65.97
- Q3
- 54.11
- Median
- 34.53
- Q1
- 23.66
- Min
- 0.00
In the lower quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry, NOC’s P/E Ratio of 21.37 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
PAYX
30.36
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 49.59
- Q3
- 36.59
- Median
- 28.13
- Q1
- 18.55
- Min
- 10.07
PAYX’s P/E Ratio of 30.36 is within the middle range for the Professional Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
NOC
2.08
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 8.07
- Q3
- 4.49
- Median
- 2.42
- Q1
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.00
NOC’s P/S Ratio of 2.08 aligns with the market consensus for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
PAYX
9.03
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 9.54
- Q3
- 5.11
- Median
- 2.10
- Q1
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.11
PAYX’s P/S Ratio of 9.03 is in the upper echelon for the Professional Services industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
NOC
4.65
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 13.67
- Q3
- 7.92
- Median
- 4.65
- Q1
- 2.68
- Min
- 0.82
NOC’s P/B Ratio of 4.65 is within the conventional range for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
PAYX
13.75
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 13.75
- Q3
- 8.87
- Median
- 4.35
- Q1
- 2.43
- Min
- 0.54
PAYX’s P/B Ratio of 13.75 is in the upper tier for the Professional Services industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | NOC | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 21.37 | 30.36 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.08 | 9.03 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 4.65 | 13.75 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 26.94 | 29.96 |