AMETEK, Inc. vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? AMETEK, Inc. trades at $259.52 (market cap $58.76B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $577.48 (market cap $81.78B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.63%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AME | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $58.76B | $81.78B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $256.30 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $179.28 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $60.30B | $95.77B |
Dividend Yield | 0.53% | 1.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AME trades at $258.62, up 2.27% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings momentum after beating Q2 2026 EPS estimates. The company reported record Q2 results and raised full-year guidance, supported by robust revenue growth and a 20.04% net income margin. Analysts maintain a consensus buy rating with a $281.86 price target, reflecting optimism about its 3D printing and electronics testing segments.
The outlook is positive given consistent earnings beats and upward guidance, but risks include high valuation multiples (P/E 37.47) and exposure to macroeconomic volatility. Institutional sentiment remains strong, with no sell ratings among 30 analysts, though the stock's proximity to resistance at $261 warrants caution for near-term entries.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $577.11, down 0.13% on the day, with a bullish technical trend supported by moving averages despite overbought RSI signals. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with a record $105 billion backlog, driven by defense contracts like the Sentinel program. Fundamentals show solid profitability with a 10.48% net income margin and 26.96% ROE, though valuation ratios like P/E of 18.3 are moderate. Recent news highlights a $3 billion missile-interceptor agreement, reinforcing growth prospects.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus favoring Buy (57% of ratings) and a $598.57 price target, implying ~4% upside. Key opportunities include sustained defense spending and backlog execution, while risks involve margin pressures from specific programs and geopolitical dependencies. The stock's proximity to its 52-week high suggests cautious optimism amid robust operational performance.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Ametek is a diversified industrial conglomerate with over $6 billion in sales. The firm operates through an electronic instruments group and an electromechanical group. EIG designs and manufactures differentiated and advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power, and industrial end markets. EMG is a focused, niche supplier of highly engineered automation solutions, thermal management systems, specialty metals, and electrical interconnects, among other products. About half of the firm's sales are made in the United States. The firm's asset-light strategy in place for nearly two decades emphasizes growth through acquisitions, new product development through research and development, driving operational efficiencies, and global and market expansion.
Read more on AME →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 →