CSX Corporation vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? CSX Corporation trades at $50.03 (market cap $92.88B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $575 (market cap $82.10B). The key difference: CSX Corporation and Northrop Grumman Corporation are close in size by market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.63%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CSX | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $92.88B | $82.10B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $53.21 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $32.05 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $110.85B | $96.08B |
Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 1.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CSX trades at $50.27, down 0.85% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $0.54 versus $0.518 expected, driven by 10% revenue growth and 17% operating income increase. The company raised 2026 guidance to mid-to-high-single-digit revenue growth and margin expansion. Analyst consensus is bullish with 59% buy ratings and a $52.57 price target, implying 4.6% upside from current levels.
Outlook remains positive due to strong volume growth and operational efficiency, but risks include fuel cost pressures and economic sensitivity. The stock offers value through consistent dividends and earnings momentum, though valuation multiples appear elevated with P/E at 29.23. Investors should monitor execution against raised guidance and industry headwinds.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $571.58, up 0.68% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages despite overbought RSI readings. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with $7.68 actual versus $6.82 expected, and raised full-year guidance amid a record $105 billion backlog. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 10.48% net income margin and 26.96% ROE, while valuation metrics like a P/E of 18.17 appear reasonable relative to growth.
Outlook remains positive given defense spending tailwinds and contract wins like the $7.6 billion Sentinel program, though margin pressures and high debt levels pose risks. Analysts are bullish with a $598.57 consensus target, implying ~5% upside from current levels, supported by 20 buy ratings versus 1 sell.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Operating in the Eastern United States, Class I railroad CSX generated revenue near $12.5 billion in 2021. On its more than 21,000 miles of track, CSX hauls shipments of coal (13% of consolidated revenue), chemicals (22%), intermodal containers (16%), automotive cargo (9%), and a diverse mix of other bulk and industrial merchandise.
Read more on CSX →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 →