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NOC vs. XYL: Northrop Grumman vs. Xylem Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Xylem (XYL)
Profile ItemNOCXYL
NameNorthrop Grumman CorporationXylem Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization74.59 billion USD22.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 31, 1981October 13, 2011
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NOC
XYL
GSPC
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL), 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 Xylem (XYL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricNOCXYL
Total Return (1Y)-3.34%-33.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)7.23%2.29%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.98%-4.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NOC
XYL
GSPC
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL), 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 Xylem (XYL). 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. Xylem (XYL) has a non-negative beta of 0.96.

Risk profile metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricNOCXYL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.86%30.74%
Beta (5Y)-0.120.96
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.80%-44.89%
Avg. Volume (3M)902.47K2.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NOC and XYL 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 Xylem (XYL)
MetricNOCXYL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.26-1.22
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.37-1.48

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Xylem (XYL) at 9.76% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

9.76%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
XYL
9.76%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.37% and Xylem (XYL) at 11.94% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

11.94%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
XYL
11.94%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91% and Xylem (XYL) at 15.95% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

15.95%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
XYL
15.95%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricNOCXYL
ROE (TTM)26.07%9.76%
ROA (TTM)7.11%5.07%
Net Margin (TTM)10.37%11.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)12.91%15.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)20.03%39.32%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.24% and Xylem (XYL) at 5.52% 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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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61% and Xylem (XYL) at 7.40% 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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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricNOCXYL
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.24%5.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.65%17.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.61%7.40%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.60%25.99%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.23 and Xylem (XYL) 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

1.39

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
XYL
1.39
Min
0.36
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 and Xylem (XYL) at 0.29 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

0.29

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
XYL
0.29
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): 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 Xylem (XYL)
MetricNOCXYL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.231.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.930.29
Net Debt / EBITDA1.871.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.82% and Xylem (XYL) at 1.69% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

1.69%

Max
2.66%
XYL
1.69%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 30.18% and Xylem (XYL) at 37.47% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

37.47%

Max
67.39%
XYL
37.47%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricNOCXYL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.82%1.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)30.18%37.47%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Xylem (XYL) at 21.69 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

21.69

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
XYL
21.69
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): 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 Xylem (XYL) at 2.48 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

2.48

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
XYL
2.48
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): 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 Xylem (XYL) at 2.19 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

2.19

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
XYL
2.19
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricNOCXYL
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.5721.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.712.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.992.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.21%5.39%