Diageo plc vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Diageo plc trades at $82.56 (market cap $45.41B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $531.15 (market cap $75.09B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Diageo plc pays the higher dividend (4.02%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DEO | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $45.41B | $75.09B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $115.33 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $72.47 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $66.23B | $89.31B |
Dividend Yield | 4.02% | 1.78% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Diageo (DEO) trades at $82.50, up 0.57% today, with a bullish technical trend and strong profitability metrics including a 12.19% net margin and 22.29% ROE. Recent earnings show mixed results with a Q4 2025 beat but a Q2 2025 miss, while analyst sentiment is positive with 49% buy ratings. The stock faces headwinds from weak U.S. spirits demand and promotional pressures, as noted in recent Deutsche Bank and UBS reports from July 2026.
The outlook hinges on management's strategy reset in August 2026 to address U.S. volume declines and margin pressures. Investment appeal lies in its discounted valuation relative to historical multiples and dividend yield, but risks include sustained consumer moderation trends and execution challenges in key markets.
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
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Guinness. It operates a vast portfolio of spirits and beers across more than 180 countries.
Read more on DEO →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 →