Northrop Grumman Corporation vs Phillips 66 — how do they compare? Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $514.98 (market cap $74.42B), while Phillips 66 trades at $214.96 (market cap $83.72B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation and Phillips 66 are close in size by market cap, and Phillips 66 pays the higher dividend (2.43%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NOC | PSX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $74.42B | $83.72B |
Sector | Industrials | Energy |
52-Week High | $768.02 | $208.80 |
52-Week Low | $496.02 | $118.37 |
Enterprise Value | $88.65B | $105.69B |
Dividend Yield | 1.79% | 2.43% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $512.29, down 1.78% amid a bearish technical signal despite strong Q2 2026 earnings that beat estimates and a record $105 billion backlog. The stock faces margin pressures but maintains solid fundamentals with a P/E of 16.43 and ROE of 28.51%. Recent news highlights raised 2026 guidance driven by robust defense demand, though the stock's decline reflects investor concerns over cost challenges.
The outlook is mixed: bullish fundamentals and analyst consensus ($655 price target) support long-term growth, but near-term risks include execution on margin targets and technical bearishness. Investment appeal hinges on defense budget tailwinds offsetting operational headwinds.
Phillips 66 (PSX) trades at $212.27, up 2.62% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. Recent earnings beats, including Q1 2026's positive surprise, highlight operational strength amid volatile energy markets. The stock benefits from robust refining margins and disciplined capital returns, including a $1.27 quarterly dividend. Valuation metrics like a P/E of 20.63 and P/S of 0.63 suggest relative affordability compared to sector peers.
Outlook remains positive due to tight fuel markets and efficient refining operations, though risks include oil price volatility and declining revenue trends. With 57% of analysts rating it a buy and a consensus price target of $201.50, the stock offers upside potential, but investors should monitor debt levels and macroeconomic pressures on energy demand.
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 →Phillips 66 is an independent refiner with 12 refineries that have a total crude throughput capacity of 2.0 million barrels per day, or mmb/d, after converting its 255 mb/d Alliance refinery to a terminal. The midstream segment comprises extensive transportation and NGL processing assets. It also includes its DCP Midstream joint venture, which holds 45 natural gas processing facilities, 11 NGL fractionation plants, and a natural gas pipeline system with 58,000 miles of pipeline. Its CPChem chemical joint venture operates facilities in the United States and the Middle East and primarily produces olefins and polyolefins.
Read more on PSX →