Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) has outperformed Northrop Grumman (NOC) over the past year, gaining 16.1% versus a loss of 24.1%. Over five years, HWM leads with a +610.4% price change compared with +22.5% for NOC. Howmet Aerospace is the larger company by market cap ($89.83 billion vs $68.29 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Northrop Grumman trades at a lower forward P/E (15.8x vs 34.7x for Howmet Aerospace). Northrop Grumman offers the higher dividend yield (1.96% vs 0.21%). Howmet Aerospace converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 18.3% versus 10.0%.
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 | HWM | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $225.26 | $480.72 |
| Market cap | $89.83B | $68.29B |
| 1-day change | +1.21% | -0.78% |
| YTD return | +8.56% | -15.03% |
| 1-year return | +16.13% | -24.06% |
| 5-year return | +610.37% | +22.54% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 48.55 | 15.28 |
| Forward P/E | 34.69 | 15.81 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.64 | $31.46 |
| Dividend yield | 0.21% | 1.96% |
| Annual dividend | $0.48 | $9.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $8.25B | $41.95B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.06% | +2.24% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.51B | $4.18B |
| Gross margin | 34.17% | — |
| Operating margin | 24.79% | 10.75% |
| Net margin | 18.27% | 9.97% |
| 52-week high | $310.00 | $774.00 |
| 52-week low | $183.83 | $470.06 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.34% | -37.89% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +47.16% | +31.89% |
| Average volume | 2.74M | 849.73K |
| Shares outstanding | 398.80M | 142.06M |
| Employees | 25,430 | 95,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Metal Fabrications | 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
- HWM has outperformed NOC by 40.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Howmet Aerospace trades at a higher earnings multiple (48.5x vs 15.3x trailing P/E).
- Northrop Grumman offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.96% vs 0.21%).
- Howmet Aerospace is more profitable, keeping 18.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.0 cents for Northrop Grumman.
- Howmet Aerospace grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+11.06% vs +2.24%).
About Howmet Aerospace
HWM stock →Howmet Aerospace Inc. provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Poland, China, and internationally.
Industrials · Metal Fabrications · 25,430 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
HWM vs NOC FAQ
Which is bigger, Howmet Aerospace or Northrop Grumman?
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $89.83B compared with $68.29B for Northrop Grumman (NOC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HWM or NOC?
HWM returned +16.13% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.06% for NOC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HWM or NOC?
NOC has the lower trailing P/E at 15.3, versus 48.5 for HWM. 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, Howmet Aerospace or Northrop Grumman?
Northrop Grumman has the higher yield at 1.96%, compared with 0.21% for Howmet Aerospace.
Are Howmet Aerospace and Northrop Grumman in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Metal Fabrications for Howmet Aerospace and Industrial Machinery/Components for Northrop Grumman.