Is NOC or NSC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NOC is cheaper: NOC trades at a 15.65 P/E and NSC at 26.35.

Which has grown faster, NOC or NSC?

Over the past five years, NSC grew revenue faster — NOC at a 2.56% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.

Does NOC or NSC pay a bigger dividend?

NOC yields 1.98% and NSC yields 1.73% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is NOC or NSC more profitable?

NSC runs the higher net margin — NOC at 10.80% versus NSC at 21.91%.

Which has been the better investment, NOC or NSC?

Over the past 10-year, NSC delivered the higher annualized total return — NOC at 10.68% versus NSC at 16.57%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) vs Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)

NOC leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Northrop Grumman Corporation and Norfolk Southern 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).

NOC

Northrop Grumman Corporation

$71.02B

$500.03Industrials

NSC

Norfolk Southern Corporation

$70.26B

$312.81Industrials

Total return — NOC vs NSC

growth of $100 · last 30y

NOC +1518.2%NSC +974.2%NOC compounded faster

NOC NSC

NOC vs NSC: by the numbers

•NOC is the larger company ($71.02B vs $70.26B market cap).
•NOC trades at the lower earnings multiple (15.65 vs 26.35 P/E).
•NSC converts more revenue to profit (21.91% vs 10.80% net margin).
•NSC grew revenue faster over the past five years (4.45% vs 2.56% CAGR).
•NOC pays the higher dividend yield (1.98% vs 1.73%).

Which is better, NOC or NSC?

Metric tally: NOC 9 · NSC 8

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNOC(lower P/E)

GrowthNSC(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeNOC(higher dividend yield)

QualityNOC(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	NOC	NSC
P/E ratio	15.65●	26.35
Forward P/E	16.59●	23.08
P/S ratio	1.68●	5.78
P/B ratio	4.16●	4.46
PEG ratio	7.41	2.24●
EV / EBITDA	13.90●	16.12
FCF yield	4.64%	5.43%●

Profitability

Metric	NOC	NSC
Gross margin	20.52%	45.31%●
Operating margin	11.08%	32.39%●
Net margin	10.80%	21.91%●
ROE	26.74%●	16.89%
ROIC	9.21%●	7.47%

Dividends

Metric	NOC	NSC
Dividend yield	1.98%●	1.73%
Payout ratio	33.91%	42.35%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	NOC	NSC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	2.56%	4.45%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	8.84%	10.10%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-3.15%	10.65%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	7.75%●	5.48%

Frequently asked

Which is better, NOC or NSC?: It depends on your goal. value: NOC (lower P/E); growth: NSC (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: NOC (higher dividend yield); quality: NOC (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, NOC leads 9 to 8.
Is NOC or NSC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NOC is cheaper: NOC trades at a 15.65 P/E and NSC at 26.35.
Which has grown faster, NOC or NSC?: Over the past five years, NSC grew revenue faster — NOC at a 2.56% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.
Does NOC or NSC pay a bigger dividend?: NOC yields 1.98% and NSC yields 1.73% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is NOC or NSC more profitable?: NSC runs the higher net margin — NOC at 10.80% versus NSC at 21.91%.
Which has been the better investment, NOC or NSC?: Over the past 10-year, NSC delivered the higher annualized total return — NOC at 10.68% versus NSC at 16.57%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full NOC analysis Full NSC analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

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

Northrop Grumman & Norfolk Southern appear in these rankings

Highest ROE Stocks Highest Operating Margin Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return 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.