Northrop Grumman Corporation vs United Parcel Service Inc — how do they compare? Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $577.99 (market cap $82.10B), while United Parcel Service Inc trades at $104.55 (market cap $89.09B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation and United Parcel Service Inc are close in size by market cap, and United Parcel Service Inc pays the higher dividend (6.26%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NOC | UPS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $82.10B | $89.09B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $768.02 | $120.00 |
52-Week Low | $496.02 | $82.58 |
Enterprise Value | $96.08B | $113.11B |
Dividend Yield | 1.63% | 6.26% |
Volume | — | 2,288,643 |
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.
UPS trades at $104.48, up 1.24% daily, with a bearish technical signal but recent earnings beats. Revenue declined to $88.66B in 2025, with net income margin at 5.08%, while valuation ratios like P/E of 19.42 and P/S of 0.99 suggest moderate pricing. The company maintains a strong dividend yield, with recent payouts of $1.64 per share, and analyst consensus is mixed amid cost-cutting efforts and Amazon volume reset.
Outlook is cautious due to margin pressures and competitive threats, but upside exists if operational efficiencies materialize. Risks include high debt-to-asset ratio of 33.02% and volatile cash flows. Analysts target $117.90 on average, implying potential growth, but investor sentiment remains divided given bearish technical trends.
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 →United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) delivers packages and documents throughout the United States and in other countries and territories. The Company also provides global supply chain services and less-than-truckload transportation, primarily in the US UPS's business consists of integrated air and ground pick-up and delivery network
Read more on UPS →