LHX
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$56.45B
5Y Perf.+51.5%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
LHX vs NOC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$79.36B
5Y Perf.+66.7%
LHX vs NOC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LHX | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $56.45B | $79.36B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $22.48B | $42.37B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.73B | $4.58B |
| Gross Margin | 24.5% | 20.5% |
| Operating Margin | 10.0% | 11.1% |
| Forward P/E | 26.1x | 20.0x |
| Total Debt | $10.44B | $19.74B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.07B | $4.40B |
LHX vs NOC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LHX
NOC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| L3Harris Technologi… (LHX) | 100 | 151.5 | +51.5% |
| Northrop Grumman Co… (NOC) | 100 | 166.7 | +66.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LHX vs NOC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NOC leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LHX
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
The Growth Play
LHX is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 2.5%, EPS growth 8.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.6%
- 353.9% 10Y total return vs NOC's 189.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.39, Low D/E 53.2%, current ratio 1.19x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation
The Income Pick
NOC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and valuation efficiency.
- Dividend streak 22 yrs, beta 0.03, yield 1.6%
- PEG 2.26 vs LHX's 2.49
- Beta 0.03, yield 1.6%, current ratio 1.09x
Best for: income & stability and valuation efficiency
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LHX | 2.5% revenue growth vs NOC's 2.2% |
| Value | NOC | Lower P/E (20.0x vs 26.1x), PEG 2.26 vs 2.49 |
| Quality / Margins | NOC | 10.8% margin vs LHX's 7.7% |
| Stability / Safety | NOC | Beta 0.03 vs LHX's 0.39 |
| Dividends | NOC | 1.6% yield, 22-year raise streak, vs LHX's 1.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LHX | +42.0% vs NOC's +16.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NOC | 9.1% ROA vs LHX's 4.2%, ROIC 10.2% vs 5.4% |
LHX vs NOC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
LHX vs NOC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNOCLAGGINGLHX
LHXL3Harris Technologies…
1leads
NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LHXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NOC5/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NOC5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LHX5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NOC2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — LHX and NOC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NOC is the larger business by revenue, generating $42.4B annually — 1.9x LHX's $22.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.8% (NOC) to 7.7% (LHX). On growth, LHX holds the edge at +11.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LHXL3Harris Technolo… | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $22.5B | $42.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.3B | $6.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.7B | $4.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | $3.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.5% | +20.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.0% | +11.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.7% | +10.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +7.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.9% | +4.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +33.3% | +84.9% |
Evenly matched — LHX and NOC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NOC leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 19.2x trailing earnings, NOC trades at a 46% valuation discount to LHX's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NOC offers better value at 2.17x vs LHX's 3.38x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | LHXL3Harris Technolo… | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $56.4B | $79.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $65.8B | $94.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 35.43x | 19.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 26.09x | 20.00x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.38x | 2.17x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.25x | 16.46x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.58x | 1.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.90x | 4.82x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.05x | 24.00x |
NOC leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NOC leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NOC delivers a 28.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $9 for LHX. LHX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.53x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NOC's 1.18x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LHX scores 9/9 vs NOC's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LHXL3Harris Technolo… | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | +28.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.2% | +9.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | +10.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.4% | +11.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 9 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.53x | 1.18x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9.4B | $15.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.1B | $4.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $10.4B | $19.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.41x | 8.92x |
NOC leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LHX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NOC five years ago would be worth $16,130 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,977 for LHX. Over the past 12 months, LHX leads with a +42.0% total return vs NOC's +16.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LHX at 19.1% vs NOC's 9.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LHXL3Harris Technolo… | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.3% | -4.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +42.0% | +16.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +68.9% | +32.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.8% | +61.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +353.9% | +189.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.1% | +9.7% |
LHX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LHX and NOC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NOC is the less volatile stock with a 0.03 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LHX's 0.39 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LHX currently trades 79.7% from its 52-week high vs NOC's 72.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LHXL3Harris Technolo… | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.39x | 0.03x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $379.23 | $774.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $214.10 | $453.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +79.7% | +72.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 24.4 | 19.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 776K |
Evenly matched — LHX and NOC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NOC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LHX as "Buy" and NOC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.9% upside for NOC (target: $731) vs 16.6% for LHX (target: $352). For income investors, NOC offers the higher dividend yield at 1.61% vs LHX's 1.59%.
| Metric | LHXL3Harris Technolo… | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $352.25 | $731.46 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 32 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.6% | +1.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 22 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.79 | $8.99 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +2.0% |
NOC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NOC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). LHX leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallNorthrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
LHX vs NOC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LHX or NOC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the stronger pick with 2. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 2% for Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC). Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) offers the better valuation at 19. 2x trailing P/E (20. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) a "Buy" — based on 32 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — LHX or NOC?
On trailing P/E, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the cheapest at 19.
2x versus L3Harris Technologies, Inc. at 35. 4x. On forward P/E, Northrop Grumman Corporation is actually cheaper at 20. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Northrop Grumman Corporation wins at 2. 26x versus L3Harris Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 49x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LHX or NOC?
Over the past 5 years, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) delivered a total return of +61.
3%, compared to +49. 8% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LHX returned +353. 9% versus NOC's +189. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LHX or NOC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
03β versus L3Harris Technologies, Inc. 's 0. 39β — meaning LHX is approximately 1258% more volatile than NOC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 118% for Northrop Grumman Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LHX or NOC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is pulling ahead at 2. 5% versus 2. 2% for Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: L3Harris Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 8. 4% year-over-year, compared to 2. 6% for Northrop Grumman Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LHX leads at 8. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — LHX or NOC?
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the more profitable company, earning 10.
0% net margin versus 7. 3% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NOC leads at 10. 2% versus 10. 0% for LHX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LHX leads at 25. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is LHX or NOC more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 26x versus L3Harris Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 49x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) trades at 20. 0x forward P/E versus 26. 1x for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NOC: 30. 9% to $731. 46.
08Which pays a better dividend — LHX or NOC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 1. 6% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX).
09Is LHX or NOC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
03), 1. 6% yield, +189. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NOC: +189. 8%, LHX: +353. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between LHX and NOC?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(LHX: 11.9% · NOC: 4.4%)Net Margin>
%
(LHX: 7.7% · NOC: 10.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
(LHX: 35.4x · NOC: 19.2x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.