BA
The Boeing Company
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$176.88B
5Y Perf.+53.8%
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Stock Comparison
BA vs NOC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$79.34B
5Y Perf.+66.6%
BA vs NOC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BA | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $176.88B | $79.34B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $92.18B | $42.37B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.27B | $4.58B |
| Gross Margin | 4.8% | 20.5% |
| Operating Margin | -5.9% | 11.1% |
| Forward P/E | 4835.8x | 20.0x |
| Total Debt | $54.43B | $19.74B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $10.92B | $4.40B |
BA vs NOC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BA
NOC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Boeing Company (BA) | 100 | 153.8 | +53.8% |
| Northrop Grumman Co… (NOC) | 100 | 166.6 | +66.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BA 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. The Boeing Company 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.
BA
The Boeing Company
The Growth Play
BA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 34.5%, EPS growth 113.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 10.3%
- 34.5% revenue growth vs NOC's 2.2%
- +20.3% vs NOC's +15.1%
Best for: growth exposure
NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation
The Income Pick
NOC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 22 yrs, beta 0.03, yield 1.6%
- 192.7% 10Y total return vs BA's 89.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.03, current ratio 1.09x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BA | 34.5% revenue growth vs NOC's 2.2% |
| Value | NOC | Lower P/E (20.0x vs 4835.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | NOC | 10.8% margin vs BA's 2.5% |
| Stability / Safety | NOC | Beta 0.03 vs BA's 0.97, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NOC | 1.6% yield, 22-year raise streak, vs BA's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BA | +20.3% vs NOC's +15.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NOC | 9.1% ROA vs BA's 1.4%, ROIC 10.2% vs -9.5% |
BA vs NOC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
BA vs NOC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNOCLAGGINGBA
BAThe Boeing Company
0leads
NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NOC5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NOC4/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NOC7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NOC4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NOC2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NOC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BA is the larger business by revenue, generating $92.2B annually — 2.2x NOC's $42.4B. NOC is the more profitable business, keeping 10.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BA's 2.5%. On growth, BA holds the edge at +14.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BAThe Boeing Company | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $92.2B | $42.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$3.4B | $6.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.3B | $4.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.0B | $3.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +20.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -5.9% | +11.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.5% | +10.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -1.1% | +7.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.0% | +4.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +31.3% | +84.9% |
NOC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NOC leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 19.2x trailing earnings, NOC trades at a 79% valuation discount to BA's 90.5x P/E.
| Metric | BAThe Boeing Company | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $176.9B | $79.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $220.4B | $94.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 90.48x | 19.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 4835.78x | 19.99x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.17x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 16.46x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.98x | 1.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 31.34x | 4.82x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 23.99x |
NOC leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NOC leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BA delivers a 2.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $28 for NOC. NOC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.18x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BA's 9.97x.
| Metric | BAThe Boeing Company | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.9% | +28.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.4% | +9.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -9.5% | +10.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -9.1% | +11.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 9.97x | 1.18x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $43.5B | $15.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.9B | $4.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $54.4B | $19.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.89x | 8.92x |
NOC leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NOC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NOC five years ago would be worth $15,999 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,833 for BA. Over the past 12 months, BA leads with a +20.3% total return vs NOC's +15.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NOC at 9.3% vs BA's 4.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BAThe Boeing Company | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -1.5% | -4.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +20.3% | +15.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.1% | +30.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -1.7% | +60.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +89.6% | +192.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.2% | +9.3% |
NOC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BA 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 BA's 0.97 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BA currently trades 88.2% from its 52-week high vs NOC's 72.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BAThe Boeing Company | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.97x | 0.03x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $254.35 | $774.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $176.77 | $453.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.2% | +72.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.3 | 21.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 6.4M | 776K |
Evenly matched — BA 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 BA as "Buy" and NOC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.9% upside for NOC (target: $731) vs 17.5% for BA (target: $264). For income investors, NOC offers the higher dividend yield at 1.61% vs BA's 0.19%.
| Metric | BAThe Boeing Company | NOCNorthrop Grumman … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $263.67 | $731.46 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 54 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.2% | +1.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 22 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.43 | $8.99 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.0% |
NOC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NOC leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallNorthrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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BA vs NOC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BA or NOC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Boeing Company (BA) is the stronger pick with 34.
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 The Boeing Company (BA) a "Buy" — based on 54 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 — BA or NOC?
On trailing P/E, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the cheapest at 19.
2x versus The Boeing Company at 90. 5x. On forward P/E, Northrop Grumman Corporation is actually cheaper at 20. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BA or NOC?
Over the past 5 years, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) delivered a total return of +60.
0%, compared to -1. 7% for The Boeing Company (BA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NOC returned +192. 7% versus BA's +89. 6%. 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 — BA or NOC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
03β versus The Boeing Company's 0. 97β — meaning BA is approximately 3284% more volatile than NOC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 118% versus 10% for The Boeing Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BA or NOC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Boeing Company (BA) is pulling ahead at 34.
5% versus 2. 2% for Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Boeing Company grew EPS 113. 5% year-over-year, compared to 2. 6% for Northrop Grumman Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, BA leads at 10. 3% 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 — BA or NOC?
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the more profitable company, earning 10.
0% net margin versus 2. 5% for The Boeing Company — 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 -6. 1% for BA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NOC leads at 19. 8%, 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 BA or NOC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) trades at 20.
0x forward P/E versus 4835. 8x for The Boeing Company — 4815. 8x 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 — BA or NOC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 0. 2% for The Boeing Company (BA).
09Is BA 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, +192. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NOC: +192. 7%, BA: +89. 6%), 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 BA 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.
In terms of investment character: BA is a mid-cap high-growth stock; NOC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. NOC pays a dividend while BA does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(BA: 14.0% · NOC: 4.4%)Net Margin>
%
(BA: 2.5% · NOC: 10.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
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