Price movement over the last 24 hours
Automatic Data Processing Inc vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Automatic Data Processing Inc trades at $241.94 (market cap $98.17B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $542.87 (market cap $77.98B). The key difference: Automatic Data Processing Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Automatic Data Processing Inc pays the higher dividend (2.77%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ADP | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $98.17B | $77.98B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $310.94 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $188.79 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $99.24B | $92.21B |
Dividend Yield | 2.77% | 1.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ADP trades at $245.60, up 1.37% on the day, near its 52-week high. The stock shows bullish technical signals with consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Revenue grew to $20.56 billion in 2025, with a net income margin of 20.12%. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with a consensus hold rating but a technical outlook suggesting strength. The company maintains strong profitability metrics and recently announced a dividend payment.
Outlook remains stable with projected revenue growth to $21.6 billion in 2026. Risks include competitive pressures and economic sensitivity. Opportunities lie in AI integration and margin expansion. The stock offers value through dividends and steady performance, though valuation multiples are elevated relative to historical averages.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $549.04, showing minimal daily movement. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend, supported by strong fundamentals including a 10.8% net income margin and consistent earnings beats. Recent news highlights contract wins and positive defense sector sentiment. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with a $694.40 price target, indicating significant upside potential from current levels.
The outlook remains positive given the company's $95.61B backlog and stable cash flow generation. Key risks include political budget uncertainty and execution challenges. With solid institutional support and improving profitability metrics, NOC presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking defense sector exposure, though geopolitical developments require monitoring.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
ADP is a provider of payroll and human capital management solutions servicing the full scope of businesses from micro to global enterprises. ADP was established in 1949 and serves over 990,000 clients primarily in the United States. ADP's employer services segment offers payroll, HCM solutions, HR outsourcing, insurance and retirement services. The smaller but faster-growing PEO segment provides HR outsourcing solutions to small and midsize businesses through a co-employment model.
Read more on ADP →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →