A O Smith Corp vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $62.81 (market cap $8.65B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $578.12 (market cap $81.78B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is far larger — about 9.5× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays the higher dividend (2.26%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $81.78B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | $95.77B |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 1.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS) trades at $62.47, showing modest daily gains. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend with strong moving average signals, though RSI levels suggest potential near-term overbought conditions. Fundamentally, the company maintains solid profitability with a net income margin of 13.15% and ROE of 27.13%, supported by consistent revenue around $3.8 billion. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, but Q1 2026 was a miss, reflecting some volatility. A quarterly dividend of $0.36 provides income appeal.
The outlook for AOS is cautiously optimistic, with a consensus price target of $67.25 implying upside potential. Strengths include robust cash flow from operations and high return metrics. Key risks involve exposure to input cost pressures, competitive markets, and mixed quarterly earnings performance. Investor sentiment is balanced, with analyst ratings leaning Hold. The stock presents a value opportunity for those comfortable with industrial sector cyclicality.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $577.12, down 0.13% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $7.68, and raised full-year guidance, supported by a record $105 billion backlog. Revenue growth is steady, with 2026 projected at $42.9 billion, and profitability remains solid with a net income margin of 10.48%.
The outlook is positive, driven by strategic contracts like the $7.6 billion Sentinel program and defense spending tailwinds. Risks include margin pressures from specific programs and geopolitical uncertainties. Analysts are bullish with a consensus price target of $598.57, suggesting upside potential from current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →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 →