Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) carries a Roarable Rating of C+ (Hold) with 68/100 RQD Confidence. The composite score sits in the neutral Hold band (59–69), meaning current holders don’t need to panic-sell while prospective buyers can wait for a move into the 70+ Buy zone.
As of 2026-11-02, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is rated C+ (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 68/100 at a spot price of $557.54 (-0.86% 1D, market cap $79.89B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 15/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 13/20, Executive Insider Alignment 14/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 10/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 16/20. Across 485 tracked Industrials issuers, NOC ranks #52 in composite RQD confidence.
Within the Industrials sector (Industrial Machinery/Components), NOC carries a Roarable C+ (68/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 19.1x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 13.0%. By comparison, ITW (Illinois Tool Works Inc.) holds a B+ grade (76/100 RQD, P/E 24.3x, ROIC 23.4%, cap $79.97B) and CMI (Cummins Inc.) posts a C grade (64/100 RQD, P/E 22.7x, ROIC 17.5%, cap $71.31B). Among the 5-stock peer group, NOC leads on earnings multiple (19.1x) while ITW leads on capital efficiency (23.4% ROIC).
Per NOC's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001133421), Northrop Grumman Corporation generated $41.95B in revenue (+2.2% YoY), $4.18B in net income, and $3.31B in free cash flow against $51.38B in total assets and $15.16B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (steady margins)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 80% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-2.36% YoY Shares)
SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 7.9% FCF Margin ($3.31B FCF) & 52% Gross Margin
Macro rate sensitivity & RSI-14 (65.5) create a -10 pt regime headwind
Even with a 68/100 (C+) score, NOC faces multiple-compression risk if 19.1x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.
Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity.
Dilution & Margin Drag: Cannibal Buyback (-2.36% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 49.5% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.
Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($520.83) or 200D SMA ($590.07) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($582.63) toward Bear Floor ($454.45).
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) slipped -0.86% to $557.54, trading at 29% of its 52-week range ($470.06 – $774). Solid steady margins (13% return on capital), mixed timing at 19x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.
Yahoo! Finance Canada report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
StockInvest.us report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Benzinga report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
24/7 Wall St. report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Defense stocks rebounded into the midterms as Lockheed rose 26% in October on a record backlog, but drone makers like AeroVironment and Kratos lagged.
For questions about this article or underlying research, email help@trefis.com.
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +2.2% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on NOC today. View full Setup Ledger →
Across 485 tracked Industrials securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) ranks #52 by composite RQD confidence (68/100, grade C+) and #19 by equity capitalization ($79.89B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, NOC leads on earnings valuation at 19.1x trailing P/E, while ITW leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 23.4% ROIC and 52.9% gross margin. ITW currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 76/100 (B+) compared with NOC at 68/100 (C+).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOC
ACTIVE
Northrop Grumman Corporation | C+ | 68/100 | 19.1x | — | 13.0% | -0.86% | $79.89B | Benchmark Subject |
| ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc. | B+ | 76/100 | 24.3x | 52.9% | 23.4% | -1.01% | $79.97B | /itw-vs-noc → |
| CMI Cummins Inc. | C | 64/100 | 22.7x | 25.3% | 17.5% | -3.46% | $71.31B | /cmi-vs-noc → |
| JCI Johnson Controls International plc Ordinary Share | B | 73/100 | 29.1x | 36.4% | 15.6% | -5.84% | $95.87B | /jci-vs-noc → |
| AME AMETEK Inc. | B+ | 76/100 | 39.0x | 36.0% | 13.4% | -4.23% | $57.72B | /ame-vs-noc → |
In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) reported GAAP revenue of $41.95B (+2.2% vs. FY2024 revenue of $41.03B , and +6.8% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $4.18B, operating cash flow of $4.76B, and free cash flow of $3.31B (+26.2% YoY). On the balance sheet, NOC closed FY2025 with $51.38B in total assets against $15.16B in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 2.97, Piotroski F-Score: 8/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $41.95B | $4.18B | $4.76B | $3.31B | $51.38B | $15.16B |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $41.03B | $4.17B | $4.39B | $2.62B | $49.36B | $14.69B |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $39.29B | $2.06B | $3.88B | $2.11B | $47.15B | $11.03B |
As of 2026-11-02, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is rated C+ (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 68/100 at a spot price of $557.54 (-0.86% 1D, market cap $79.89B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 15/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 13/20, Executive Insider Alignment 14/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 10/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 16/20. Across 485 tracked Industrials issuers, NOC ranks #52 in composite RQD confidence.
Within the Industrials sector (Industrial Machinery/Components), NOC carries a Roarable C+ (68/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 19.1x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 13.0%. By comparison, ITW (Illinois Tool Works Inc.) holds a B+ grade (76/100 RQD, P/E 24.3x, ROIC 23.4%, cap $79.97B) and CMI (Cummins Inc.) posts a C grade (64/100 RQD, P/E 22.7x, ROIC 17.5%, cap $71.31B). Among the 5-stock peer group, NOC leads on earnings multiple (19.1x) while ITW leads on capital efficiency (23.4% ROIC).
Per NOC's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001133421), Northrop Grumman Corporation generated $41.95B in revenue (+2.2% YoY), $4.18B in net income, and $3.31B in free cash flow against $51.38B in total assets and $15.16B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (steady margins)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
NOC last traded at $557.54 (-0.86% on volume of 987,650 shares), positioning the stock +7.05% above its 50-day simple moving average ($520.83) and -5.51% below its 200-day simple moving average ($590.07). Across its 52-week range of $470.06 to $774.00, NOC sits at the 28.8% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 65.5 (BULLISH MOMENTUM) and an implied next-earnings move of ±5.2% ($528.55 to $586.53).
Why NOC Stock slipped -0.86% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. Solid steady margins (13% return on capital), mixed timing at 19x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.
Per the Roarable RQD rating, NOC scores 68 out of 100, equating to a C+ grade and the verdict "Roarable Hold — Upper Neutral / Watch for Breakout." The five pillars are:
Taken together, the RQD framework implies that NOC's fundamentals, insider signals, and balance sheet are supportive, while macro fit and institutional flow are less compelling. The verdict's "Watch for Breakout" language suggests the rating frames the stock as a candidate for a directional move that has not yet been confirmed. The rating is an analytical scoring output, not a recommendation.
Per the profile, Northrop Grumman Corporation is a NYSE-listed issuer in the Industrials sector, Industrial Machinery/Components industry. Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, the company is linked to defense modernization, autonomous systems, and launch programs, and the graph references its role in solid rocket motor production and nuclear-triad programs including B-21 Raider and Sentinel ICBM. Not available in source data for detailed product segmentation, customer mix, or revenue-by-segment breakdown.
| Period | Revenue | Operating Income | Net Income | EPS | FCF | Cash | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $41954.0M | $4511.0M | $4182.0M | N/A | $3307.0M | $4403.0M | $15162.0M |
| FY 2024 | $41033.0M | $4370.0M | $4174.0M | N/A | $2621.0M | $4353.0M | $14692.0M |
| FY 2023 | $39290.0M | $2537.0M | $2056.0M | N/A | $2106.9M | N/A | $11032.6M |
Per the market data, operating margin is 10.8%, net margin is 10%, and ROIC is 13%. Per the RQD rating, the Altman Z-Score is 2.97 and the Piotroski F-Score is 8/9, with Debt/Equity of 0.91. Reported debt rose from $11032.6M in FY 2023 to $15162.0M in FY 2025 while revenue grew over the same span; cash moved from $4353.0M to $4403.0M across FY 2024 to FY 2025.
The recent news wire consists of six headlines, all flagged YELLOW under "MARKET WIRE," referencing Yahoo! Finance Canada, Seeking Alpha, StockInvest.us, Yahoo Finance, Benzinga, and 24/7 Wall St. Headlines reference a Q3 preview, forecaster revisions ahead of Q3 earnings, and dividend-discount commentary. The summaries are generic and do not disclose specific events. No proprietary signals are present in the Butterfly graph. The Butterfly graph lists two confirmed-filing links: the LHX-to-NOC solid rocket motor bottleneck relationship, a TAILWIND effect, and the GD-to-NOC policy dependency tied to nuclear-triad appropriations, also a TAILWIND effect. Risk watch items named in the graph include ammonium perchlorate energetics capacity constraints, Sentinel cost-growth reviews, and defense efficiency reviews that could trigger earnings charges. Named next catalysts include quarterly munitions book-to-bill releases and the FY NDAA strategic deterrence and shipbuilding appropriations.
Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, the solid rocket motor link identifies a duopoly in which L3Harris (via Aerojet Rocketdyne) and Northrop Grumman are described as controlling capacity for several munition and missile programs. The graph notes a 24–36 month timeline to clear replenishment backlogs, which is the key second-order constraint: capacity expansion is slow, supporting near-term pricing tailwind. The competing explanation is that emerging third-party rocket motor entrants could dilute that pricing power over time. The nuclear-triad link ties NOC and General Dynamics to shared federal appropriations; the graph's exposure label cites a disclosed concentration of approximately 70%–86%, while noting skilled-labor constraints at shipyards and Nunn-McCurdy cost-growth reviews on Sentinel that can compress margins even when top-line funding is protected. Investors should monitor NDAA and appropriations cycles as the primary policy dependency, and treat program-level cost overruns as the principal downside ripple. Not available in source data for quantified dollar exposure to either link.
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo! Finance Canada report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
StockInvest.us report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Benzinga report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
24/7 Wall St. report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Welcome to the NOC (Northrop Grumman Corporation) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 68/100 (Roarable Hold — Upper Neutral / Watch for Breakout) in Industrial Machinery/Components. Bulls point to capital efficiency (13.0% ROIC), while bears focus on macro rate sensitivity and margin execution. Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.
Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on NOC, but look at what you are paying: 19.1x trailing P/E with tightening sector spreads. Unless Northrop Grumman Corporation expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.
Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on NOC, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Industrial Machinery/Components and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $562.36 (52-wk range $470.06 - $774.00), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.
To protect compute speed and zero-delay Cboe BZX data quality for active members, our current $9.95/month Roarable Pro cohort is 100% full. Join the priority waiting list below and we will notify you the moment the next batch of Pro accounts opens (and lock in your $9.95/mo rate).
Link your personal ChatGPT, Claude Desktop, or Cursor via Roarable's Model Context Protocol (`mcp.roarable.com`) to query all 5,289 stocks, inspect Butterfly supply chains, and trade your `$100K Arena` account.
Interrogate SEC 10-K/10-Q filings on demand and ask custom ticker, valuation, or short-thesis questions directly to any of our 8 specialized AI Quant Analysts.
Command our AI agents to sort and sift 5,289 stocks by custom formulas, follow multi-indicator technical & cash-flow setups, and send you instant Email/SMS breakout & downgrade alerts.
Unlock sub-second Cboe BZX streaming quotes, pre-market/after-hours delta scanners, instant SEC Form 4 insider cluster alerts, and unlimited portfolio stress-testing.
All 8 Roarable Analysts (Mara Quenwick, Devon Kess, Gideon Vane, Eliott Vance, Sorel Thorne, Corin Hale, Tessa Rane, and Felix Orven) are proprietary AI Quant Analysts and automated algorithmic specialists — not human financial advisors, fiduciaries, or registered broker-dealers. While one-to-many daily stock ratings and briefings are free, custom 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alert agents, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections consume dedicated per-user compute and require a $9.95/month Roarable Pro membership. All AI outputs are for educational and research purposes only and never constitute individualized investment advice.
Enter your Google email below for instant 1-step account activation, daily A–E stock rating alerts, and immediate access to your $100,000.00 Virtual Cash Arena account (100% free — no credit card required).