Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) has outperformed Northrop Grumman (NOC) over the past year, gaining 4.7% versus a loss of 24.1%. Over five years, NOC leads with a +22.5% price change compared with +18.5% for ITW. Illinois Tool Works is the larger company by market cap ($75.39 billion vs $68.83 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Northrop Grumman is growing revenue faster (+2.2% vs +0.9%).
On valuation, Northrop Grumman trades at a lower forward P/E (15.9x vs 21.4x for Illinois Tool Works). Illinois Tool Works offers the higher dividend yield (2.43% vs 1.94%). Illinois Tool Works converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.1% 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 | ITW | NOC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $264.71 | $484.48 |
| Market cap | $75.39B | $68.83B |
| 1-day change | +1.36% | +2.33% |
| YTD return | +7.47% | -15.03% |
| 1-year return | +4.73% | -24.06% |
| 5-year return | +18.45% | +22.54% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.68 | 15.40 |
| Forward P/E | 21.37 | 15.94 |
| EPS (TTM) | $11.18 | $31.46 |
| Dividend yield | 2.43% | 1.94% |
| Annual dividend | $6.44 | $9.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $16.04B | $41.95B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.92% | +2.24% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $3.07B | $4.18B |
| Gross margin | 52.90% | — |
| Operating margin | 26.28% | 10.75% |
| Net margin | 19.11% | 9.97% |
| 52-week high | $303.16 | $774.00 |
| 52-week low | $238.82 | $470.06 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.68% | -37.41% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.25% | +30.87% |
| Average volume | 1.31M | 847.39K |
| Shares outstanding | 284.80M | 142.06M |
| Employees | 43,000 | 95,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | 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
- ITW has outperformed NOC by 28.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Illinois Tool Works trades at a higher earnings multiple (23.7x vs 15.4x trailing P/E).
- Illinois Tool Works is more profitable, keeping 19.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.0 cents for Northrop Grumman.
About Illinois Tool Works
ITW stock →Illinois Tool Works Inc. provides industrial products and equipment in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and South America.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 43,000 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
ITW vs NOC FAQ
Which is bigger, Illinois Tool Works or Northrop Grumman?
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $75.39B compared with $68.83B for Northrop Grumman (NOC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ITW or NOC?
ITW returned +4.73% 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, ITW or NOC?
NOC has the lower trailing P/E at 15.4, versus 23.7 for ITW. 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, Illinois Tool Works or Northrop Grumman?
Illinois Tool Works has the higher yield at 2.43%, compared with 1.94% for Northrop Grumman.
Are Illinois Tool Works and Northrop Grumman in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.