W W Grainger Inc vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,289.79 (market cap $59.76B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $480.72 (market cap $68.83B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.04%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold W W Grainger Inc for 25 Days and Northrop Grumman Corporation for 81 Days on average.
| GWW | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $59.76B | $68.83B |
Volume | 186,697 | 1,081,989 |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $1.40K | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $918.18 | $473.46 |
Typical Hold Time | 25 Days | 81 Days |
Enterprise Value | $61.96B | $82.81B |
Dividend Yield | 0.79% | 2.04% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
GWW trades at $1,289.79, up 2.08% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a 47.92% ROE and recent earnings beats. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $12.01, beating expectations, and maintains a net income margin of 9.92%. Recent developments include the acquisition of technology assets from Adroit Worldwide Media for $210 million and the opening of a new distribution center in Oregon, supporting growth initiatives.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is a hold with a $1,310 price target, but strong profitability and strategic acquisitions offer upside. Risks include high valuation multiples like a P/E of 32.34 and competitive pressures in industrial distribution. Cash flow trends improved in 2026, with net cash flow near breakeven, reducing liquidity concerns.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $480.72, up 1.53% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but strong fundamentals including a P/E of 15.4 and ROE of 26.96%. Recent quarterly EPS beats and a consensus analyst price target of $600.62 suggest upside potential, though the stock faces headwinds from Boeing's recent $20 billion Navy fighter contract win (Seeking Alpha, 2026-10-02).
The outlook for NOC is supported by a record backlog and defense budget tailwinds, but competitive pressures and execution risks on key programs like the B-21 bomber pose challenges. Analyst sentiment is predominantly bullish with 54% buy ratings, indicating confidence in long-term growth despite near-term volatility.
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 →