Compare Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Northrop Grumman Corporation vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $575 (market cap $81.78B), while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $53.17. The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation pays a 1.63% dividend while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund pays none, and Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund is trading nearer its 52-week high, Northrop Grumman Corporation nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NOC | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $81.78B | — |
Sector | Industrials | — |
52-Week High | $768.02 | $53.62 |
52-Week Low | $496.02 | $42.23 |
Enterprise Value | $95.77B | — |
Dividend Yield | 1.63% | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $577.11, down 0.13% on the day, with a bullish technical trend supported by moving averages despite overbought RSI signals. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with a record $105 billion backlog, driven by defense contracts like the Sentinel program. Fundamentals show solid profitability with a 10.48% net income margin and 26.96% ROE, though valuation ratios like P/E of 18.3 are moderate. Recent news highlights a $3 billion missile-interceptor agreement, reinforcing growth prospects.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus favoring Buy (57% of ratings) and a $598.57 price target, implying ~4% upside. Key opportunities include sustained defense spending and backlog execution, while risks involve margin pressures from specific programs and geopolitical dependencies. The stock's proximity to its 52-week high suggests cautious optimism amid robust operational performance.
XLB trades at $52.58, down 1.13% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but mixed oscillator readings. The stock recently crossed below its 200-day moving average, signaling potential trend change. A dividend of $0.19 is scheduled for June 2026. Recent news highlights materials sector strength from AI infrastructure demand and geopolitical supply chain shifts.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic given sector tailwinds from AI and infrastructure spending, though cyclical risks and valuation concerns after recent gains pose headwinds. The technical setup suggests near-term consolidation around $53 support with resistance at $54.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Northrop Grumman Corporation
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 →About Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund
In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging; and construction materials. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on XLB →
