Is MMM or NOC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NOC is cheaper: MMM trades at a 30.91 P/E and NOC at 16.27.

Which has grown faster, MMM or NOC?

Over the past five years, NOC grew revenue faster — MMM at a -5.36% CAGR versus NOC at 2.56%.

Does MMM or NOC pay a bigger dividend?

MMM yields 1.94% and NOC yields 1.90% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is MMM or NOC more profitable?

MMM runs the higher net margin — MMM at 11.14% versus NOC at 10.80%.

Which has been the better investment, MMM or NOC?

Over the past 10-year, NOC delivered the higher annualized total return — MMM at 4.24% versus NOC at 10.66%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

3M Company (MMM) vs Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)

NOC leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of 3M Company and Northrop Grumman Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of July 2, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Northrop Grumman Corporation

$77.98B

$549.01Industrials

Total return — MMM vs NOC

growth of $100 · last 30y

MMM +456.6%NOC +1576.7%NOC compounded faster

MMM NOC

MMM vs NOC: by the numbers

•MMM is the larger company ($83.68B vs $77.98B market cap).
•NOC trades at the lower earnings multiple (16.27 vs 30.91 P/E).
•MMM converts more revenue to profit (11.14% vs 10.80% net margin).
•NOC grew revenue faster over the past five years (2.56% vs -5.36% CAGR).
•MMM pays the higher dividend yield (1.94% vs 1.90%).

Which is better, MMM or NOC?

Metric tally: MMM 7 · NOC 9

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNOC(lower P/E)

GrowthNOC(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeMMM(higher dividend yield)

QualityMMM(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	MMM	NOC
P/E ratio	30.91	16.27●
Forward P/E	16.87●	17.24
P/S ratio	3.42	1.75●
P/B ratio	26.19	4.33●
PEG ratio	—	7.41
EV / EBITDA	15.09	14.36●
FCF yield	2.41%	4.46%●

Profitability

Metric	MMM	NOC
Gross margin	39.51%●	20.52%
Operating margin	19.60%●	11.08%
Net margin	11.14%●	10.80%
ROE	85.41%●	26.74%
ROIC	11.53%●	9.21%

Dividends

Metric	MMM	NOC
Dividend yield	1.94%●	1.90%
Payout ratio	51.66%	33.91%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	MMM	NOC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	-5.36%	2.56%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	-8.53%	8.84%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-21.95%	-3.15%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	2.80%	8.93%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, MMM or NOC?: It depends on your goal. value: NOC (lower P/E); growth: NOC (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: MMM (higher dividend yield); quality: MMM (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, NOC leads 9 to 7.
Is MMM or NOC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NOC is cheaper: MMM trades at a 30.91 P/E and NOC at 16.27.
Which has grown faster, MMM or NOC?: Over the past five years, NOC grew revenue faster — MMM at a -5.36% CAGR versus NOC at 2.56%.
Does MMM or NOC pay a bigger dividend?: MMM yields 1.94% and NOC yields 1.90% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is MMM or NOC more profitable?: MMM runs the higher net margin — MMM at 11.14% versus NOC at 10.80%.
Which has been the better investment, MMM or NOC?: Over the past 10-year, NOC delivered the higher annualized total return — MMM at 4.24% versus NOC at 10.66%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full MMM analysis Full NOC analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

3M P/E ratio Northrop Grumman P/E ratio 3M dividend yield Northrop Grumman dividend yield 3M ROE Northrop Grumman ROE 3M operating margin Northrop Grumman operating margin 3M revenue growth Northrop Grumman revenue growth 3M free cash flow Northrop Grumman free cash flow

3M & Northrop Grumman appear in these rankings

Highest ROE 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 July 2, 2026.