Bloom Energy (BE) vs Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Bloom Energy (BE) has outperformed Northrop Grumman (NOC) over the past year, gaining 238.5% versus a loss of 23.8%. Over five years, BE leads with a +1278.6% price change compared with +19.8% for NOC. Bloom Energy is the larger company by market cap ($85.79 billion vs $67.26 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Northrop Grumman trades at a lower forward P/E (15.5x vs 58.9x for Bloom Energy). Northrop Grumman pays a dividend yielding 1.99%, while Bloom Energy does not currently pay one. Northrop Grumman converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.0% versus -4.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BE | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $291.29 | $473.46 |
| Market cap | $85.79B | $67.26B |
| 1-day change | -1.52% | -2.00% |
| YTD return | +235.24% | -16.97% |
| 1-year return | +238.47% | -23.84% |
| 5-year return | +1278.56% | +19.75% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 383.28 | 15.36 |
| Forward P/E | 58.94 | 15.55 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.76 | $30.83 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.99% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $9.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.02B | $41.95B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +37.33% | +2.24% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-87.14M | $4.18B |
| Gross margin | 29.02% | — |
| Operating margin | 3.60% | 10.75% |
| Net margin | -4.31% | 9.97% |
| 52-week high | $351.28 | $774.00 |
| 52-week low | $75.70 | $470.06 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.08% | -38.83% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | -2.58% | +33.92% |
| Average volume | 15.54M | 851.13K |
| Shares outstanding | 294.53M | 142.06M |
| Employees | 2,214 | 95,000 |
| Sector | Energy | Industrials |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- BE has outperformed NOC by 262.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Bloom Energy trades at a higher earnings multiple (383.3x vs 15.4x trailing P/E).
- Northrop Grumman offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.99% vs 0.00%).
- Northrop Grumman is more profitable, keeping 10.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -4.3 cents for Bloom Energy.
- Bloom Energy grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+37.33% vs +2.24%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Bloom Energy in Energy and Northrop Grumman in Industrials.
About Bloom Energy
BE stock →Bloom Energy Corporation designs, manufactures, sells, and installs solid oxide fuel cell systems for on-site power generation in the United States and internationally. It offers Bloom Energy Server, an energy server platform to convert fuel, such as natural gas, biogas, hydrogen, or a blend of these fuels, into electricity through a non-combustion electrochemical process.
Energy · Industrial Machinery/Components · 2,214 employees
About Northrop Grumman
NOC stock →Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company in the United States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems and Space Systems.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 95,000 employees
BE vs NOC FAQ
Which is bigger, Bloom Energy or Northrop Grumman?
Bloom Energy (BE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $85.79B compared with $67.26B for Northrop Grumman (NOC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BE or NOC?
BE returned +238.47% over the past 12 months, compared with -23.84% for NOC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BE or NOC?
NOC has the lower trailing P/E at 15.4, versus 383.3 for BE. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Bloom Energy or Northrop Grumman?
Northrop Grumman pays a dividend yielding 1.99%, while Bloom Energy does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Bloom Energy and Northrop Grumman in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Energy sector.