Northrop Grumman Corporation vs Paychex, Inc. — how do they compare? Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $574.85 (market cap $82.10B), while Paychex, Inc. trades at $120.92 (market cap $43.10B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.93%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NOC | PAYX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $82.10B | $43.10B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $768.02 | $140.81 |
52-Week Low | $496.02 | $85.57 |
Enterprise Value | $96.08B | $46.59B |
Dividend Yield | 1.63% | 3.93% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $571.58, up 0.68% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages despite overbought RSI readings. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with $7.68 actual versus $6.82 expected, and raised full-year guidance amid a record $105 billion backlog. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 10.48% net income margin and 26.96% ROE, while valuation metrics like a P/E of 18.17 appear reasonable relative to growth.
Outlook remains positive given defense spending tailwinds and contract wins like the $7.6 billion Sentinel program, though margin pressures and high debt levels pose risks. Analysts are bullish with a $598.57 consensus target, implying ~5% upside from current levels, supported by 20 buy ratings versus 1 sell.
No Aura AI signal available yet.
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 →Paychex is a leading provider of payroll, human capital management, and insurance solutions servicing small and midsize clients primarily in the United States. The company, established in 1979, services over 730,000 clients and pays over 1 in 12 U.S. private-sector workers. Alongside its traditional payroll services, Paychex offers HCM solutions such as benefits administration and time and attendance software, as well as human resources outsourcing and insurance agency services.
Read more on PAYX →