NOC vs. PCAR: Northrop Grumman vs. PACCAR Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Profile Item	NOC	PCAR
Name	Northrop Grumman Corporation	PACCAR Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment
Market Capitalization	74.59 billion USD	53.69 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	December 31, 1981	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NOC

PCAR

GSPC

Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. PACCAR (PCAR), 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 Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Metric	NOC	PCAR
Total Return (1Y)	-3.34%	9.49%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	7.23%	11.04%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	9.98%	16.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NOC

PCAR

GSPC

Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. PACCAR (PCAR), 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 Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR). 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. PACCAR (PCAR) has a non-negative beta of 0.94.

Risk profile metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Metric	NOC	PCAR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.86%	27.23%
Beta (5Y)	-0.12	0.94
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-37.80%	-27.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)	902.47K	3.33M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

NOC and PCAR 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 Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Metric	NOC	PCAR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.26	0.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.37	0.30

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% sits in the top ROE quartile, while PACCAR (PCAR) at 13.71% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NOC.

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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

13.71%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
PCAR: 13.71%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.37% and PACCAR (PCAR) at 9.50% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

9.50%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
PCAR: 9.50%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91% and PACCAR (PCAR) at 12.59% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

12.59%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
PCAR: 12.59%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Metric	NOC	PCAR
ROE (TTM)	26.07%	13.71%
ROA (TTM)	7.11%	4.53%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.37%	9.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)	12.91%	12.59%
Gross Margin (TTM)	20.03%	14.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.24% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while PACCAR (PCAR) at -15.50% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while PACCAR (PCAR) at -42.91% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Metric	NOC	PCAR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.24%	-15.50%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.65%	-0.44%
EPS Growth (YoY)	2.61%	-42.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.60%	-7.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 5.47 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.23 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

5.47

PCAR: 5.47
Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 and PACCAR (PCAR) at 0.72 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

0.72

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
PCAR: 0.72
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Metric	NOC	PCAR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.23	5.47
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.93	0.72
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.87	1.62

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

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

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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

1.30%

Max: 2.66%
PCAR: 1.30%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 25.95% 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.

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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

25.95%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
PCAR: 25.95%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Metric	NOC	PCAR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.82%	1.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	30.18%	25.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 and PACCAR (PCAR) at 19.46 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.

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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

19.46

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
PCAR: 19.46
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.71 and PACCAR (PCAR) at 1.85 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

1.85

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
PCAR: 1.85
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 3.99 and PACCAR (PCAR) at 2.57 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

2.57

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
PCAR: 2.57
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Metric	NOC	PCAR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	16.57	19.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.71	1.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.99	2.57
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.21%	3.23%