Align Technology, Inc. vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Align Technology, Inc. trades at $182.79 (market cap $12.86B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $539.44 (market cap $76.65B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is far larger — about 6× Align Technology, Inc.'s market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays a 1.74% dividend while Align Technology, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALGN | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $12.86B | $76.65B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $207.19 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $124.88 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $11.92B | $90.87B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.74% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Align Technology (ALGN) trades at $179.45, up 0.72% with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages. The company maintains solid profitability with a 10.5% net margin and has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent developments include a new manufacturing facility in India and upcoming Q2 2026 earnings on July 29, 2026.
ALGN offers growth potential with a consensus price target of $218.40, representing 22% upside, supported by 73% analyst buy ratings. Risks include European regulatory scrutiny and North American demand pressures. The stock's valuation at 30x P/E requires sustained earnings growth to justify further gains.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $539.63, up 1.39% with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a $95.61B backlog, 10.8% net margin, and consistent cash flow growth. Analyst consensus remains bullish with a $694.40 price target, though technical indicators show resistance near $542.
NOC presents a compelling value opportunity with reasonable valuation (P/E 16.92) and strong defense sector positioning. Key risks include political budget uncertainty and execution challenges. The upcoming Q2 earnings on July 21, 2026, will be crucial for confirming growth trajectory amid current technical weakness.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Align is the leading manufacturer of clear dental aligners globally, having pioneered the technology with the introduction of its Invisalign branded aligners in 1998. Since then, Invisalign has become a household name, having treated over 10 million patients with malocclusion (misaligned teeth) through orthodontist and dentist-guided treatment plans. The company maintains dominant market share of clear aligners, despite the introduction of direct-to-consumer competitors upon the expiration of key patents that began in 2017. Align also manufactures intraoral scanners (iTero), used for orthodontic treatment and restorative dental procedures (digital models for crowns, veneers, and implants).
Read more on ALGN →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 →