Northrop Grumman Corporation vs Old Dominion Freight Line Inc — how do they compare? Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $516.8 (market cap $73.16B), while Old Dominion Freight Line Inc trades at $182.25 (market cap $38.77B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.92%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NOC | ODFL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $73.16B | $38.77B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $768.02 | $248.73 |
52-Week Low | $496.02 | $126.29 |
Enterprise Value | $87.14B | $38.51B |
Dividend Yield | 1.92% | 0.62% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
ODFL trades at $187.01, up 0.61% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a 19.44% net income margin and consistent earnings beats. Recent news highlights institutional buying and sustainability reporting, while August LTL revenue per day rose 12.4% year-over-year (Business Wire, 2026-09-03).
The outlook is mixed: high valuation ratios (P/E 35.96) and declining revenue trends pose risks, but analyst consensus targets $238.73 with a buy rating from 36% of coverage. Upside hinges on freight recovery and cost discipline, while competition and economic sensitivity are key concerns.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Old Dominion Freight Line is the fourth-largest less-than-truckload carrier in the United States, with more than 240 service centers and 9,200-plus tractors. OD is by far one of the most disciplined and efficient providers in the trucking industry, and its profitability and capital returns stand head and shoulders above its peers. Strategic initiatives revolve around increasing network density through market share gains and maintaining industry-leading service via consistent infrastructure investment.
Read more on ODFL →