NOC vs. RTX: Northrop Grumman vs. RTX Stock Comparison
How do Northrop Grumman (NOC) and RTX (RTX) 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 RTX (RTX) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Northrop Grumman Corporation | RTX 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 | 73.73 billion USD | 266.42 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 31, 1981 | April 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -9.52% | 27.25% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.68% | 39.75% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.71% | 21.54% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
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. RTX (RTX) has a non-negative beta of 0.31.
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.07% | 26.06% |
| Beta (5Y) | -0.12 | 0.31 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.13% | -32.84% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 876.25K | 4.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.51 | 0.89 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.71 | 1.40 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.96% sits in the top ROE quartile, while RTX (RTX) at 12.27% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NOC.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
26.96%
- Max
- 40.35%
- NOC
- 26.96%
- Q3
- 18.69%
- Median
- 11.55%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -19.86%
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
12.27%
- Max
- 40.35%
- Q3
- 18.69%
- RTX
- 12.27%
- Median
- 11.55%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -19.86%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.48% and RTX (RTX) at 8.28% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
10.48%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 11.71%
- NOC
- 10.48%
- Median
- 5.78%
- Q1
- 0.77%
- Min
- -14.15%
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
8.28%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 11.71%
- RTX
- 8.28%
- Median
- 5.78%
- Q1
- 0.77%
- Min
- -14.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 11.60% and RTX (RTX) at 12.70% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
11.60%
- Max
- 35.46%
- Q3
- 17.39%
- NOC
- 11.60%
- Median
- 10.58%
- Q1
- 4.59%
- Min
- -12.63%
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
12.70%
- Max
- 35.46%
- Q3
- 17.39%
- RTX
- 12.70%
- Median
- 10.58%
- Q1
- 4.59%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 26.96% | 12.27% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.15% | 4.21% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.48% | 8.28% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 11.60% | 12.70% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 20.06% | 20.35% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.24% and RTX (RTX) at 9.74% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
RTX (RTX) at 39.72% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for RTX.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.24% | 9.74% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.65% | 9.72% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 2.61% | 39.72% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.60% | 12.32% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.17 and RTX (RTX) at 1.01 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
1.17
- Max
- 5.28
- Q3
- 2.99
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.45
- NOC
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.76
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
1.01
- Max
- 5.28
- Q3
- 2.99
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.45
- RTX
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.76
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.95 and RTX (RTX) at 0.57 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
0.95
- Max
- 2.15
- Q3
- 1.09
- NOC
- 0.95
- Median
- 0.57
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.00
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
0.57
- Max
- 2.15
- Q3
- 1.09
- Median
- 0.57
- RTX
- 0.57
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.17 | 1.01 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.95 | 0.57 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.03 | 1.92 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.81% and RTX (RTX) at 1.40% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
1.81%
- Max
- 2.75%
- NOC
- 1.81%
- Q3
- 1.11%
- Median
- 0.18%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
1.40%
- Max
- 2.75%
- RTX
- 1.40%
- Q3
- 1.11%
- Median
- 0.18%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 29.88% and RTX (RTX) at 48.77% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
29.88%
- Max
- 72.00%
- NOC
- 29.88%
- Q3
- 28.86%
- Median
- 6.13%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
48.77%
- Max
- 72.00%
- RTX
- 48.77%
- Q3
- 28.86%
- Median
- 6.13%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.81% | 1.40% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 29.88% | 48.77% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.50 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while RTX (RTX) at 34.86 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
16.50
- Max
- 66.10
- Q3
- 40.43
- Median
- 29.30
- Q1
- 21.19
- NOC
- 16.50
- Min
- 1.09
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
34.86
- Max
- 66.10
- Q3
- 40.43
- RTX
- 34.86
- Median
- 29.30
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 1.09
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.72 and RTX (RTX) at 2.85 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
1.72
- Max
- 9.06
- Q3
- 4.40
- Median
- 2.41
- NOC
- 1.72
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.05
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
2.85
- Max
- 9.06
- Q3
- 4.40
- RTX
- 2.85
- Median
- 2.41
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 4.12 and RTX (RTX) at 4.01 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
NOC
Capital Goods industry group
4.12
- Max
- 11.10
- Q3
- 5.63
- NOC
- 4.12
- Median
- 3.31
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- -3.52
RTX
Capital Goods industry group
4.01
- Max
- 11.10
- Q3
- 5.63
- RTX
- 4.01
- Median
- 3.31
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- -3.52
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.50 | 34.86 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.72 | 2.85 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.12 | 4.01 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.36% | 3.71% |