NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$79.36B
5Y Perf.+66.7%
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Stock Comparison
NOC vs HII
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HII
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$12.58B
5Y Perf.+59.9%
NOC vs HII — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NOC | HII |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $79.36B | $12.58B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $42.37B | $12.85B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.58B | $605M |
| Gross Margin | 20.5% | 12.4% |
| Operating Margin | 11.1% | 4.9% |
| Forward P/E | 20.0x | 18.4x |
| Total Debt | $19.74B | $3.15B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $4.40B | $774M |
NOC vs HII — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NOC
HII
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop Grumman Co… (NOC) | 100 | 166.7 | +66.7% |
| Huntington Ingalls … (HII) | 100 | 159.9 | +59.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NOC vs HII
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NOC leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
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%
- 189.8% 10Y total return vs HII's 132.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.03, current ratio 1.09x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
HII
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
The Growth Play
HII is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and defensive.
- Rev growth 8.2%, EPS growth 10.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.4%
- Beta 0.69, yield 1.7%, current ratio 1.13x
- 8.2% revenue growth vs NOC's 2.2%
Best for: growth exposure and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HII | 8.2% revenue growth vs NOC's 2.2% |
| Value | HII | Lower P/E (18.4x vs 20.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | NOC | 10.8% margin vs HII's 4.7% |
| Stability / Safety | NOC | Beta 0.03 vs HII's 0.69 |
| Dividends | NOC | 1.6% yield, 22-year raise streak, vs HII's 1.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HII | +39.5% vs NOC's +16.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NOC | 9.1% ROA vs HII's 4.9%, ROIC 10.2% vs 6.2% |
NOC vs HII — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NOC vs HII — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNOCLAGGINGHII
HIIHuntington Ingalls In…
1leads
NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HIIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NOC4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HII5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NOC5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NOC2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NOC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NOC is the larger business by revenue, generating $42.4B annually — 3.3x HII's $12.8B. NOC is the more profitable business, keeping 10.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HII's 4.7%. On growth, HII holds the edge at +13.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NOCNorthrop Grumman … | HIIHuntington Ingall… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $42.4B | $12.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.2B | $953M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.6B | $605M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.3B | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.5% | +12.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | +4.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.8% | +4.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.8% | +8.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.4% | +13.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +84.9% | 0.0% |
NOC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HII leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 19.2x trailing earnings, NOC trades at a 7% valuation discount to HII's 20.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HII's 16.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NOC's 16.5x.
| Metric | NOCNorthrop Grumman … | HIIHuntington Ingall… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $79.4B | $12.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $94.7B | $15.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.21x | 20.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.00x | 18.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.17x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 16.46x | 15.96x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.89x | 1.01x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.82x | 2.48x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.00x | 15.85x |
HII leads this category, winning 5 of 6 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 $12 for HII. HII carries lower financial leverage with a 0.62x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NOC's 1.18x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HII scores 9/9 vs NOC's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NOCNorthrop Grumman … | HIIHuntington Ingall… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +28.1% | +12.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.1% | +4.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.2% | +6.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.8% | +6.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.18x | 0.62x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $15.3B | $2.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $4.4B | $774M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $19.7B | $3.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.92x | 8.86x |
NOC leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — NOC and HII each lead in 3 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 $15,797 for HII. Over the past 12 months, HII leads with a +39.5% total return vs NOC's +16.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HII at 20.0% vs NOC's 9.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NOCNorthrop Grumman … | HIIHuntington Ingall… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -4.2% | -8.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.5% | +39.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +32.0% | +72.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +61.3% | +58.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +189.8% | +132.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.7% | +20.0% |
Evenly matched — NOC and HII each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NOC leads this category, winning 2 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 HII's 0.69 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | NOCNorthrop Grumman … | HIIHuntington Ingall… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.03x | 0.69x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $774.00 | $460.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $453.01 | $215.05 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.2% | +69.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 19.7 | 23.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 776K | 474K |
NOC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NOC and HII each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NOC as "Buy" and HII as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 31.4% upside for HII (target: $420) vs 30.9% for NOC (target: $731). For income investors, HII offers the higher dividend yield at 1.70% vs NOC's 1.61%.
| Metric | NOCNorthrop Grumman … | HIIHuntington Ingall… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $731.46 | $420.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 35 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.6% | +1.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 22 | 13 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $8.99 | $5.42 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — NOC and HII each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NOC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HII leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallNorthrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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NOC vs HII: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NOC or HII a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
(HII) is the stronger pick with 8. 2% 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 Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) a "Buy" — based on 35 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 — NOC or HII?
On trailing P/E, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the cheapest at 19.
2x versus Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. at 20. 8x. On forward P/E, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NOC or HII?
Over the past 5 years, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) delivered a total return of +61.
3%, compared to +58. 0% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NOC returned +189. 8% versus HII's +132. 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 — NOC or HII?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
03β versus Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. 's 0. 69β — meaning HII is approximately 2303% more volatile than NOC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 62% versus 118% for Northrop Grumman Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NOC or HII?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
(HII) is pulling ahead at 8. 2% versus 2. 2% for Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. grew EPS 10. 2% year-over-year, compared to 2. 6% for Northrop Grumman Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HII leads at 5. 4% 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 — NOC or HII?
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is the more profitable company, earning 10.
0% net margin versus 4. 8% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, 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 4. 9% for HII. 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 NOC or HII more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
(HII) trades at 18. 4x forward P/E versus 20. 0x for Northrop Grumman Corporation — 1. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HII: 31. 4% to $420. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — NOC or HII?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 1. 6% for Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC).
09Is NOC or HII 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%, HII: +132. 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 NOC and HII?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(NOC: 4.4% · HII: 13.4%)Net Margin>
%
(NOC: 10.8% · HII: 4.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
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