MPLX LP vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? MPLX LP trades at $60.05 (market cap $60.66B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $516.8 (market cap $73.16B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and MPLX LP pays the higher dividend (7.2%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MPLX | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $60.66B | $73.16B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $60.51 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $47.80 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $85.76B | $87.14B |
Dividend Yield | 7.2% | 1.92% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
MPLX trades at $59.83, up 0.27% with strong technical momentum as moving averages signal bullish conditions. The company demonstrates robust profitability with 40.45% net income margin and 33.95% ROE, though recent Q2 2026 earnings matched expectations without beating. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 19 buy ratings and a $64.00 price target, representing 7% upside potential. Recent news highlights management's commitment to 12.5% annual distribution growth through 2027.
MPLX offers attractive income with 7%+ yield and distribution growth potential, supported by fee-based midstream operations. Key risks include rising leverage approaching 4x and exposure to energy market volatility. The stock presents a compelling value proposition for income-focused investors seeking energy infrastructure exposure with growth catalysts from ongoing capacity expansions.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $518.58, up 0.7% with strong earnings beats in recent quarters. Technical indicators show a bearish trend with oversold RSI signals, while fundamentals remain solid with 10.48% net margin and 26.96% ROE. The company maintains a record $105 billion backlog and raised guidance after strong Q2 results, supported by rising defense spending globally.
NOC presents a compelling value with a 16.37 P/E below industry averages and a $618.43 consensus price target implying 19% upside. Risks include execution on massive contracts and defense budget volatility, but analyst sentiment is strongly bullish with 57% buy ratings. The stock offers defensive growth exposure amid geopolitical tensions.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
MPLX LP is a Master Limited Partnership (MLP) formed by Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC). It is a diversified, growth-oriented company primarily engaged in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs), as well as the transportation, storage, and distribution of crude oil and refined petroleum products. MPLX owns and operates a network of midstream energy infrastructure assets, providing essential services to the energy industry across the United States.
Read more on MPLX →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 →