Northrop Grumman Corporation vs VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals — how do they compare? Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $519.79 (market cap $73.24B), while VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals trades at $75. The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation pays a 1.92% dividend while VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals pays none, and VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals is trading nearer its 52-week high, Northrop Grumman Corporation nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NOC | REMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $73.24B | — |
Sector | Industrials | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $768.02 | $109.53 |
52-Week Low | $496.02 | $57.35 |
Enterprise Value | $87.23B | — |
Dividend Yield | 1.92% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $518.58, up 0.7% with a bullish technical oscillator signal despite bearish moving averages. The company shows strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, 10.48% net margin, and record $105 billion backlog. Recent news highlights defense spending growth and successful technology tests, while institutional ownership increased significantly in Q2 2026.
Outlook remains positive with 57% analyst buy ratings and $618.43 consensus target offering 19% upside. Key risks include defense budget volatility and execution challenges on large contracts. Revenue growth acceleration to 10.48% margin by 2026 supports valuation at reasonable 16.37 P/E multiple.
REMX trades at $76.72, up 1.4% today, but technical indicators show a bearish trend with moving averages signaling caution. The ETF faces high volatility (~50% annualized) and significant portfolio turnover, making it unsuitable for conservative investors. Recent news highlights institutional interest with Bank of America increasing its stake by 72.1% in the latest quarter (Defense World, August 14, 2026).
The outlook for REMX is mixed—geopolitical tensions and U.S. efforts to secure rare earth supply chains offer long-term potential, but high volatility and China-dependent holdings pose risks. Investors should weigh strategic exposure against the ETF's aggressive risk profile and monitor tariff policies impacting the sector.
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 →REMX invests in global companies involved in producing, refining, and recycling rare earth and strategic metals. It provides targeted exposure to critical minerals used in high-tech and green energy, with top holdings like Albemarle and Pilbara Minerals.
Read more on REMX →