LIVE
NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation · Industrials
$521.50
-6.26% this month
VERSUS
⟷
COMPARE
RTX
RTX Corporation · Industrials
$185.60
+6.37% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
NOC
2
RTX
3
Comparison scoreboard
RTX LEADS 3/5AI Score
NOC 50.7
RTX ✓52.0
1Y Return
NOC +3.48%
RTX ✓+25.00%
Fwd P/E
NOC ✓18.26
RTX 24.21
Target Up.
NOC ✓+26.64%
RTX +17.54%
Op. Margin
NOC 11.69%
RTX ✓13.18%
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
NOC vs RTX Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Northrop Grumman and RTX are both premier US defense contractors with large backlogs and exposure to strong defense spending trends, but they operate in very different parts of the defense ecosystem. NOC is focused on advanced stealth aircraft and space/missile defense; RTX is diversified across engines, aviation components, and guided missiles with a significant commercial aviation exposure through Collins Aerospace.
NOC is the concentrated bet on US advanced aerospace programs like B-21 and Sentinel with long production runs; RTX is the more diversified defense-plus-commercial play where missile demand and commercial aviation recovery are dual catalysts.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
RTX holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. RTX has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+25.00% vs +3.48%), though NOC trades at the lower forward P/E (18.26x vs 24.21x). RTX leads on both revenue growth (8.70%) and operating margin (13.18%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for NOC (+26.64%) than for RTX (+17.54%).
Normalized 1Y performance
NOC
RTX
Recent returns
NOC
RTX
Analyst price targets & sentiment
NOC · 23 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (2.0/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$477.00
analyst mean$696.95
current price$521.50
+26.6% upside to analyst mean
RTX · 23 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (1.8/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$114.00
analyst mean$215.73
current price$185.60
+17.5% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
NOC may suit investors who:
- →want concentrated exposure to advanced stealth aerospace and space systems programs
- →value the B-21 Raider as a decades-long production program with no competition
- →prefer a primarily government-revenue business with minimal commercial cycle exposure
- →believe US defense budget growth will prioritize next-generation air and space capabilities
RTX may suit investors who:
- →want diversified defense exposure across missiles, engines, and commercial aviation components
- →see Patriot and AMRAAM missile backlog as a multi-year production revenue catalyst
- →value Collins Aerospace commercial aftermarket as a defense-plus-aviation compounder
- →believe the GTF engine inspection headwind is a temporary, resolvable near-term issue
Performance & AI score
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 50.7 | 52.0 |
| AI rank | #424 | #349 |
| Latest close | $521.50 | $185.60 |
| 1M return | -6.26% | +6.37% |
| 6M return | -7.57% | +4.74% |
| 1Y return | +3.48% | +25.00% |
$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 | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.54K (+5.4%) started 2025-06-18 | $12.72K (+27.2%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $15.79K (+57.9%) started 2021-06-21 | $25.3K (+153.0%) started 2021-06-21 |
| 10Y ago | $32.39K (+223.9%) started 2016-06-20 | $45.11K (+351.1%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $78.17B | $247.16B |
| Trailing P/E | 17.24 | 34.50 |
| Forward P/E | 18.26 | 24.21 |
| Price/Sales | 1.74 | 2.27 |
| EV/Revenue | 2.21 | 3.11 |
| Analyst target | $696.95 | $215.73 |
| Target upside | +26.64% | +17.54% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 4.40% | 8.70% |
| Earnings growth | 84.90% | 32.50% |
| EPS growth | +84.90% | +32.50% |
| FCF margin | +4.89% | +8.00% |
| Operating margin | 11.69% | 13.18% |
| Profit margin | 10.80% | 8.03% |
| ROIC proxy | 28.51% | 11.57% |
| Return on equity | 28.51% | 11.57% |
| Dividend yield | 1.71% | 1.51% |
| Beta | -0.12 | 0.31 |
| Debt/equity | 102.68 | 57.23 |
| Current ratio | 1.15 | 1.02 |
| Quick ratio | 0.98 | 0.65 |
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 drawdown32.10%
RTX max drawdown19.32%
NOC max wkly drop13.55%
RTX max wkly drop11.45%
5Y risk snapshot
NOC max drawdown32.10%
RTX max drawdown32.84%
NOC max wkly drop13.85%
RTX max wkly drop12.34%
10Y risk snapshot
NOC max drawdown36.38%
RTX max drawdown51.98%
NOC max wkly drop16.45%
RTX max wkly drop26.15%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +5.43% | +27.24% |
| CAGR | +5.44% | +27.28% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.16 | 0.93 | |
| Max drawdown | 32.10% | 19.32% | |
| Max daily drop | 6.98% | 4.40% | |
| Max wkly drop | 13.55% | 11.45% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +48.43% | +130.58% |
| CAGR | +8.23% | +18.22% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.26 | 0.63 | |
| Max drawdown | 32.10% | 32.84% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.66% | 10.22% | |
| Max wkly drop | 13.85% | 12.34% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +178.80% | +257.64% |
| CAGR | +10.80% | +13.60% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.35 | 0.44 | |
| Max drawdown | 36.38% | 51.98% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.66% | 14.48% | |
| Max wkly drop | 16.45% | 26.15% |
Business comparison
| Category | NOC | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Northrop Grumman Corporation | RTX Corporation |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Core business | Northrop Grumman is a top-tier US defense and aerospace company focused on advanced technology platforms including the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, the Sentinel ICBM replacement program, space systems, and cybersecurity. Its four segments — Aeronautics, Defense Systems, Mission Systems, and Space Systems — are predominantly US government customers. The B-21 program is the company's most watched long-term program as it will define Northrop's revenue profile for decades. | RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) is a diversified defense and aerospace company with three segments: Collins Aerospace (aviation components and cabin systems), Pratt & Whitney (commercial and military jet engines), and Raytheon (missiles, radar, and defense electronics). Pratt & Whitney's GTF engine fleet has required extensive powder metal disk inspections, creating a major near-term operational challenge. Raytheon missiles — including Patriot and AMRAAM — have seen strong demand driven by global conflicts. |
| Investor focus | Investors track B-21 production ramp milestones, Sentinel ICBM contract progress, backlog size and composition (US vs international), and operating margin — which has been under pressure from fixed-price development program losses. | Investors track Pratt & Whitney GTF engine inspection resolution and MRO revenue from the powdered metal issue, Raytheon missile backlog (driven by Ukraine war demand and NATO restocking), and Collins Aerospace commercial aftermarket revenue growth. |
NOC strengths
- →B-21 Raider stealth bomber is a multi-decade production program with no competitive alternative
- →Space Systems segment benefits from growing national security satellite and missile defense spending
- →Deep integration into classified US government programs creates durable sole-source revenue
RTX strengths
- →Patriot and AMRAAM missile demand has surged with global geopolitical conflicts driving record backlogs
- →Collins Aerospace commercial aftermarket benefits from high commercial aviation traffic
- →Pratt & Whitney GTF engine installed base creates durable long-term MRO revenue once inspections resolve
Risks to watch — NOC
- →Fixed-price development programs (B-21 initial lots) have generated significant cost overruns
- →Capital-intensive production programs require sustained government commitment and funding
- →Defense budget uncertainty and continuing resolutions create program funding risk
Risks to watch — RTX
- →GTF powder metal engine inspection program is a material near-term earnings and operational headwind
- →Heavy debt from the Raytheon/UTC merger limits capital return flexibility
- →Raytheon missile production capacity may constrain ability to fulfill record backlogs quickly
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