LIVE
NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation · Industrials - Aerospace & Defense
$545.11
+0.80% this month
VERSUS
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COMPARE
GD
General Dynamics Corporation · Industrials - Aerospace & Defense
$374.31
+9.81% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
NOC
3
GD
2
Comparison scoreboard
NOC LEADS 3/5AI Score
NOC 50.5
GD ✓51.7
1Y Return
NOC +7.32%
GD ✓+27.04%
Fwd P/E
NOC ✓18.20
GD 20.56
Target Up.
NOC ✓+25.56%
GD +5.19%
Op. Margin
NOC ✓11.69%
GD 10.54%
Metrics last refreshed: 7/9/2026
Quick take
NOC vs GD Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
NOC is deeply focused on nuclear deterrence, space systems, and advanced classified programs — the most strategically sensitive parts of the U.S. defense budget — while GD is more diversified across submarines, vehicles, business jets, and IT services. Both are premier defense contractors with strong government relationships and long-duration program revenues.
NOC vs GD compares two complementary defense contractors with different program concentration: Northrop's nuclear and space dominance versus General Dynamics' submarine, combat vehicle, and aerospace diversification.
Live analysis · updated 7/9/2026
NOC holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. GD has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+27.04% vs +7.32%), though NOC has the better forward P/E setup (18.20x vs 20.56x for GD). On fundamentals, GD is growing revenue faster (10.30%), while NOC maintains the higher operating margin (11.69%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for NOC (+25.56%) than for GD (+5.19%).
Normalized 1Y performance
NOC
GD
Recent returns
NOC
GD
Analyst price targets & sentiment
NOC · 23 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (2.0/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$477.00
analyst mean$689.33
current price$545.11
+25.6% upside to analyst mean
GD
Price target range
analyst mean$392.93
current price$374.31
+5.2% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
NOC may suit investors who:
- →Want defense exposure through the contractor dominating nuclear deterrence and classified space programs
- →Believe B-21 Raider program production ramp will drive sustained multi-decade revenue
- →See NOC's classified, sole-source programs as uniquely protected from competition
GD may suit investors who:
- →Want more diversified defense exposure spanning submarines, vehicles, business jets, and IT services
- →Value Gulfstream's commercial aviation exposure as a complement to defense cyclicality
- →Believe nuclear submarine production ramp for Columbia-class will drive long-term GD growth
Performance & AI score
| Metric | NOC | GD |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 50.5 | 51.7 |
| AI rank | #388 | #329 |
| Latest close | $545.11 | $374.31 |
| 1M return | +0.80% | +9.81% |
| 6M return | -10.73% | +3.77% |
| 1Y return | +7.32% | +27.04% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | NOC | GD |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.8K (+8.0%) started 2025-07-08 | $12.62K (+26.2%) started 2025-07-08 |
| 5Y ago | $16.57K (+65.7%) started 2021-07-09 | $23.27K (+132.7%) started 2021-07-09 |
| 10Y ago | $32.82K (+228.2%) started 2016-07-11 | $39.8K (+298.0%) started 2016-07-11 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | NOC | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $77.98B | $101.02B |
| Trailing P/E | 17.21 | 23.52 |
| Forward P/E | 18.20 | 20.56 |
| Price/Sales | 1.74 | N/A |
| EV/Revenue | 2.21 | 1.99 |
| Analyst target | $689.33 | $392.93 |
| Target upside | +25.56% | +5.19% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | NOC | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 4.40% | 10.30% |
| Earnings growth | 84.90% | 12.00% |
| EPS growth | +84.90% | +12.00% |
| FCF margin | +4.89% | +9.83% |
| Operating margin | 11.69% | 10.54% |
| Profit margin | 10.80% | 8.07% |
| ROIC proxy | 28.51% | 17.97% |
| Return on equity | 28.51% | 17.97% |
| Dividend yield | 1.71% | 1.70% |
| Beta | -0.10 | 0.34 |
| Debt/equity | 102.68 | 37.70 |
| Current ratio | 1.15 | 1.38 |
| Quick ratio | 0.98 | 0.80 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
NOC max drawdown35.42%
GD max drawdown15.23%
NOC max wkly drop13.55%
GD max wkly drop6.86%
5Y risk snapshot
NOC max drawdown35.42%
GD max drawdown22.55%
NOC max wkly drop13.85%
GD max wkly drop10.82%
10Y risk snapshot
NOC max drawdown36.38%
GD max drawdown51.63%
NOC max wkly drop16.45%
GD max wkly drop19.06%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | NOC | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +7.97% | +26.18% |
| CAGR | +7.99% | +26.22% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.25 | 0.95 | |
| Max drawdown | 35.42% | 15.23% | |
| Max daily drop | 6.98% | 4.18% | |
| Max wkly drop | 13.55% | 6.86% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +55.76% | +113.66% |
| CAGR | +9.27% | +16.41% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.30 | 0.62 | |
| Max drawdown | 35.42% | 22.55% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.66% | 7.27% | |
| Max wkly drop | 13.85% | 10.82% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +182.50% | +221.90% |
| CAGR | +10.95% | +12.41% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.36 | 0.43 | |
| Max drawdown | 36.38% | 51.63% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.66% | 10.93% | |
| Max wkly drop | 16.45% | 19.06% |
Business comparison
| Category | NOC | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Northrop Grumman Corporation | General Dynamics Corporation |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | N/A |
| Core business | Northrop Grumman is a leading defense technology company specializing in nuclear deterrence (B-21 Raider bomber, GBSD ICBM successor), space systems (James Webb Telescope, classified satellite programs), and cyber/intelligence solutions. | General Dynamics operates across four business segments: Aerospace (Gulfstream business jets), Marine Systems (nuclear submarines — Virginia class, Columbia class), Combat Systems (Abrams tank, Stryker), and Technologies (IT services for U.S. government). |
| Investor focus | Investors track Northrop's B-21 Raider bomber program ramp, GBSD (now Sentinel ICBM) program development, space and classified program backlog growth, and the resolution of cost overruns on certain fixed-price programs. | Investors track General Dynamics' Gulfstream business jet deliveries and backlog, nuclear submarine production ramp, army vehicle modernization programs, and the growing IT services business supporting government agencies. |
NOC strengths
- →Sole-source position on the B-21 Raider next-generation stealth bomber — the most strategically important new defense platform in a generation
- →Deep expertise in classified space programs provides high-visibility revenue hidden from competitors
- →Nuclear deterrence programs have extraordinary multi-decade visibility given national security priority
GD strengths
- →Virginia-class and Columbia-class nuclear submarine programs provide decades of production visibility and sole-source positions
- →Gulfstream business jets provide high-margin commercial aerospace diversification alongside government defense programs
- →Army vehicle modernization and sustainment for Abrams tanks provides stable international and domestic revenue
Risks to watch — NOC
- →Fixed-price development contracts on major programs have created earnings pressure when costs exceed estimates
- →Programs with strategic national importance can also carry significant development cost risk before achieving production
- →Transition from development to production on key programs creates near-term financial profile complexity
Risks to watch — GD
- →Submarine production ramp requires significant skilled workforce and supply chain capacity at Electric Boat
- →Gulfstream business jet demand is tied to the economic cycle of high-net-worth and corporate customers
- →IT services segment (GDIT) operates in a competitive government IT market with more commoditized margins
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