Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc trades at $270.8 (market cap $10.64B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $511.92 (market cap $74.42B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is far larger — about 7× Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc's market cap, and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc pays the higher dividend (2.04%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HII | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.64B | $74.42B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $453.73 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $252.93 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $13.36B | $88.65B |
Dividend Yield | 2.04% | 1.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HII trades at $270.04, up 0.34% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but bullish oscillators. The company shows solid fundamentals with a P/E of 17.49 and ROE of 12.2%, supported by three consecutive quarterly earnings beats. Recent news highlights contract wins and shipbuilding milestones, reinforcing its defense sector presence. Cash flow improved to a net positive $49 million in 2026 from a net outflow of $57 million in 2025.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic given analyst consensus targets near $354.50, though technical resistance at $273 poses a near-term hurdle. Risks include execution delays on defense contracts and macroeconomic pressures on government spending. The stock offers value with a below-sector P/S of 0.82, but investors should monitor Q2 2026 earnings due July 30 for margin sustainability.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $524.14, up 0.49% with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamentals. The company shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $6.14 exceeding expectations of $6.06. Recent news highlights defense budget optimism and a $312.3M Navy contract for electronic warfare systems. Technical indicators show RSI at oversold levels near support at $518, while moving averages signal bearish momentum.
The investment outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at Buy (57% of 35 analysts) and a $655 price target representing 25% upside. Risks include execution challenges in defense programs and potential margin pressure. Strong cash flow generation and a $96B backlog support long-term growth, though near-term technical weakness may present entry opportunities for patient investors.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Huntington Ingalls is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. and a provider of professional services to government and industry partners, specializing in nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Read more on HII →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 →