NOC vs. VRT: Northrop Grumman vs. Vertiv Stock Comparison
How do Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Vertiv (VRT) 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 Vertiv (VRT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense while VRT is classified in Electrical Equipment.
| Profile Item | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Northrop Grumman Corporation | Vertiv Holdings Co Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Electrical Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Electrical Components & Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 74.59 billion USD | 70.41 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 31, 1981 | August 2, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -3.34% | 11.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 7.23% | 71.14% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.98% | 49.38% |
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. Vertiv (VRT) has a non-negative beta of 2.15.
| Metric | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.86% | 71.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | -0.12 | 2.15 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.80% | -69.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 902.47K | 5.90M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.26 | 0.10 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.37 | 0.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Vertiv (VRT) at 46.57% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
46.57%
- VRT
- 46.57%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Vertiv (VRT) at 16.00% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.37%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
16.00%
- Max
- 27.47%
- VRT
- 16.00%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Vertiv (VRT) at 23.77% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
23.77%
- Max
- 36.60%
- VRT
- 23.77%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 26.07% | 46.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.11% | 11.94% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.37% | 16.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 12.91% | 23.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 20.03% | 38.12% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 27.69% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.24% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for VRT.
EPS Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 166.41% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.24% | 27.69% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.65% | 21.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 2.61% | 166.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.60% | 340.11% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.23 and Vertiv (VRT) at 1.39 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
1.23
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- NOC
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.36
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
1.39
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- VRT
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.61 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.61
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- VRT
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.23 | 1.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.93 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.87 | -0.11 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.82% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Vertiv (VRT) at 0.11% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NOC the richer one.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.11%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- VRT
- 0.11%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Vertiv (VRT) at 4.67% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
4.67%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- VRT
- 4.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.82% | 0.11% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 30.18% | 4.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Vertiv (VRT) at 34.18 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
16.57
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- NOC
- 16.57
- Min
- 3.03
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
34.18
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- VRT
- 34.18
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.71 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vertiv (VRT) at 5.37 sits in the pricier quartile — VRT costs more per dollar of sales.
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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
5.37
- Max
- 7.54
- VRT
- 5.37
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 3.99 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Vertiv (VRT) at 12.80 prices above its benchmark range — VRT looks rich relative to book.
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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
12.80
- VRT
- 12.80
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NOC | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.57 | 34.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.71 | 5.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.99 | 12.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.21% | 4.21% |