W W Grainger Inc vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,400.31 (market cap $64.75B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $523.73 (market cap $74.60B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| GWW | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $64.75B | $74.60B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $1.39K | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $918.18 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $66.84B | $88.82B |
Dividend Yield | 0.68% | 1.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
GWW trades at $1,398.30, up 1.99% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong momentum indicators. The company reported robust Q1 2026 earnings of $11.65 per share, beating estimates, and raised its full-year guidance. Revenue growth and profitability remain solid, with a net income margin of 9.7% and ROE of 48.1% for 2025. Recent news highlights its inclusion in high-quality dividend and momentum stock lists, reflecting positive market recognition.
The outlook for GWW is positive, driven by earnings beats and upward guidance revisions, though valuation multiples like a P/E of 36.88 suggest premium pricing. Risks include competitive pressures in the industrial services sector and reliance on MRO market demand. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating, but the average price target of $1,260 implies modest upside potential from current levels.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $528.67, down 2.43% amid broader defense sector weakness. The stock shows strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, a 10.8% net margin, and $95.6B backlog supporting revenue visibility. Technical indicators signal bearish momentum with price near support at $523, while RSI at 24 suggests potential oversold conditions. Recent news highlights expansion in missile defense and space systems amid increased NATO spending expectations.
NOC presents a compelling value opportunity with 57% analyst buy ratings and $655 price target implying 24% upside. Key catalysts include Q2 earnings beat potential and defense budget tailwinds, though political uncertainty and execution risks on large contracts remain concerns. The stock's 16.5 P/E ratio appears attractive relative to historical averages given its earnings growth trajectory.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Grainger is a leading broad-line distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products. It serves millions of customers worldwide through an integrated network of branches and digital platforms.
Read more on GWW →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 →