Is CTAS or NOC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NOC is cheaper: CTAS trades at a 36.27 P/E and NOC at 15.65.

Which has grown faster, CTAS or NOC?

Over the past five years, CTAS grew revenue faster — CTAS at a 9.83% CAGR versus NOC at 2.56%.

Does CTAS or NOC pay a bigger dividend?

CTAS yields 1.05% and NOC yields 1.98% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CTAS or NOC more profitable?

CTAS runs the higher net margin — CTAS at 17.57% versus NOC at 10.80%.

Which has been the better investment, CTAS or NOC?

Over the past 10-year, CTAS delivered the higher annualized total return — CTAS at 23.39% versus NOC at 10.68%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Cintas Corporation (CTAS) vs Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)

CTAS leads on 10 of 17 compared metrics, though NOC is the cheaper stock.

A side-by-side comparison of Cintas Corporation and Northrop Grumman Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 29, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Northrop Grumman Corporation

$71.02B

$500.03Industrials

Total return — CTAS vs NOC

growth of $100 · last 30y

CTAS +3737.1%NOC +1518.2%CTAS compounded faster

CTAS NOC

CTAS vs NOC: by the numbers

•NOC is the larger company ($71.02B vs $68.78B market cap).
•NOC trades at the lower earnings multiple (15.65 vs 36.27 P/E).
•CTAS converts more revenue to profit (17.57% vs 10.80% net margin).
•CTAS grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.83% vs 2.56% CAGR).
•NOC pays the higher dividend yield (1.98% vs 1.05%).

Which is better, CTAS or NOC?

Metric tally: CTAS 10 · NOC 7

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNOC(lower P/E)

GrowthCTAS(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeNOC(higher dividend yield)

QualityCTAS(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CTAS	NOC
P/E ratio	36.27	15.65●
Forward P/E	31.62	16.59●
P/S ratio	6.34	1.68●
P/B ratio	14.61	4.16●
PEG ratio	3.09●	7.41
EV / EBITDA	23.94	13.90●
FCF yield	2.56%	4.64%●

Profitability

Metric	CTAS	NOC
Gross margin	50.36%●	20.52%
Operating margin	22.95%●	11.08%
Net margin	17.57%●	10.80%
ROE	40.46%●	26.74%
ROIC	22.95%●	9.21%

Dividends

Metric	CTAS	NOC
Dividend yield	1.05%	1.98%●
Payout ratio	40.18%	33.91%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CTAS	NOC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	9.83%●	2.56%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	16.48%●	8.84%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	9.81%●	-3.15%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	13.74%●	7.75%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CTAS or NOC?: It depends on your goal. value: NOC (lower P/E); growth: CTAS (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: NOC (higher dividend yield); quality: CTAS (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, CTAS leads 10 to 7.
Is CTAS or NOC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NOC is cheaper: CTAS trades at a 36.27 P/E and NOC at 15.65.
Which has grown faster, CTAS or NOC?: Over the past five years, CTAS grew revenue faster — CTAS at a 9.83% CAGR versus NOC at 2.56%.
Does CTAS or NOC pay a bigger dividend?: CTAS yields 1.05% and NOC yields 1.98% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CTAS or NOC more profitable?: CTAS runs the higher net margin — CTAS at 17.57% versus NOC at 10.80%.
Which has been the better investment, CTAS or NOC?: Over the past 10-year, CTAS delivered the higher annualized total return — CTAS at 23.39% versus NOC at 10.68%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CTAS analysis Full NOC analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Cintas P/E ratio Northrop Grumman P/E ratio Cintas dividend yield Northrop Grumman dividend yield Cintas ROE Northrop Grumman ROE Cintas operating margin Northrop Grumman operating margin Cintas revenue growth Northrop Grumman revenue growth Cintas free cash flow Northrop Grumman free cash flow

Cintas & Northrop Grumman appear in these rankings

Dividend Aristocrats Highest ROE Stocks Highest ROIC Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 29, 2026.