Moody's Corporation vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Moody's Corporation trades at $495.95 (market cap $88.28B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $510.79 (market cap $74.42B). The key difference: Moody's 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.
| MCO | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $88.28B | $74.42B |
Sector | Financials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $539.61 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $412.23 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $94.08B | $88.65B |
Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 1.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
MCO trades at $505.12, down 1.12% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings near 76. The company shows strong fundamentals with Q1 2026 EPS beating estimates at $4.33, revenue growth to $7.72B in 2025, and robust profitability margins including a 31.69% net income margin. Recent news highlights AI integration initiatives and dividend sustainability, with a $1.03 dividend paid in June 2026.
Outlook remains positive given analyst consensus of $551.17 price target and 56% buy ratings, though valuation multiples like P/E of 36.65 pose risks if growth slows. Key risks include high debt levels and market sensitivity to credit cycles, but institutional support and recurring revenue model provide stability for long-term investors.
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
Moody's, along with S&P Ratings, is a leading provider of credit ratings on fixed income securities. Moody's ratings segment, known as Moody's Investors Service or MIS, includes corporates, structured finance, financial institutions, and public finance ratings. MIS represents a majority of the firm's revenue and profits. Moody's other segment is Moody's Analytics and consists of Research, Data, and Analytics or RD&A and Enterprise Risk Solutions or ERS. RD&A's products include credit research, quantitative credit scores, economic research, business intelligence, know your customer (KYC) tools, commercial real estate data and analytical tools, and training services. ERS includes risk management software solutions to financial institutions.
Read more on MCO →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 →