Northrop Grumman Corporation vs Exxon Mobil Corporation — how do they compare? Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $514.98 (market cap $74.42B), while Exxon Mobil Corporation trades at $151.77 (market cap $614.94B). The key difference: Exxon Mobil Corporation is far larger — about 8.3× Northrop Grumman Corporation's market cap, and Exxon Mobil Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NOC | XOM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $74.42B | $614.94B |
Sector | Industrials | Energy |
52-Week High | $768.02 | $171.52 |
52-Week Low | $496.02 | $105.83 |
Enterprise Value | $88.65B | $654.17B |
Dividend Yield | 1.79% | 2.78% |
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.
ExxonMobil (XOM) trades at $147.39, up 0.99% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and oscillators. The stock has beaten earnings estimates for the last three quarters, though revenue and net income have trended lower since 2022. Analyst consensus is a buy with a $169.78 price target, and recent news highlights the company's Permian Basin advantage and potential oil price spikes.
XOM offers value through strong cash flow and a robust balance sheet, but faces headwinds from declining profitability and net cash outflows. Investment appeal hinges on oil price stability and execution in key growth areas, while risks include volatile energy markets and execution challenges.
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 →Exxon Mobil Corporation operates petroleum and petro chemicals businesses. The Company provides operations include exploration and production of oil and gas, electric power generation, and coal and minerals operations. Exxon Mobil also manufactures and markets fuels, lubricants, and chemicals. Exxon Mobil serves customers worldwide.
Read more on XOM →