BHP Billiton Limited vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? BHP Billiton Limited trades at $85.03 (market cap $205.61B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $529.52 (market cap $75.09B). The key difference: BHP Billiton Limited is far larger — about 2.7× Northrop Grumman Corporation's market cap, and BHP Billiton Limited pays the higher dividend (3.15%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BHP | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $205.61B | $75.09B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $93.15 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $50.37 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $219.82B | $89.31B |
Dividend Yield | 3.15% | 1.78% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BHP trades at $81.37, down 0.38% with neutral technical signals. The stock shows strong profitability with 18.97% net margin and 20.13% ROE, though recent earnings missed expectations in Q4 2025. Cash flow remains positive with $75M net in 2024, while debt-to-asset ratio increased to 17.65%. Recent news highlights labor strikes and a $2.3B writedown at the Jansen potash project.
Outlook is mixed: solid fundamentals and analyst buy ratings (22.58%) support potential upside, but near-term risks from operational disruptions and cost overruns may pressure shares. Investors should weigh strong cash generation against execution challenges under new leadership.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $541.82, up 0.41% with neutral technical signals. The company shows strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, a 10.8% net income margin, and a $96 billion backlog supporting growth. Recent news highlights expansion in defense and aerospace sectors, driven by increased government spending and new contracts.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $655, indicating 21% upside. Risks include political budget shifts and execution challenges. Analyst sentiment is bullish (57% buy ratings), but investors should monitor Q2 2026 earnings due July 21 for confirmation of growth trends.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
BHP Group Limited operates as a mining company. The Company engages in the exploration, development, production, and processing of iron ore, metallurgical coal, and copper. BHP Group serves customers worldwide.
Read more on BHP →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 →