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Stock Comparison · Industry comparison · Aerospace & Defense

Curtiss-Wright vs Northrop Grumman: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Northrop Grumman carrying a narrow edge on valuation. Curtiss-Wright still leads on growth and profitability, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is broadly comparable for both — no clear directional signal from price behavior. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

The clearest separation starts in valuation, with stability adding a second layer of support.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Aerospace & Defense

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. CW and NOC share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how Curtiss-Wright and Northrop Grumman each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
CW
Curtiss-Wright Corporation
63
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
vs
NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation
68
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The largest gaps do not all point in the same direction.

Dimension spread: CW vs NOC Profitability 79 62 Stability 62 77 Valuation 38 74 Growth 79 63 CW NOC
Gap Ranking
#1 Valuation +36
#2 Profitability +17
#3 Growth +16
#4 Stability +15
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for CW and NOC Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer CWNOC Relative valuation Structural strength

Structure stays fairly close here, while current pricing still looks more supportive for Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Valuation
On valuation, Northrop Grumman Corporation ranks near the top of the group; Curtiss-Wright Corporation sits in the weaker half.
Profitability
On profitability, the edge still sits with Curtiss-Wright Corporation, even though both profiles look solid.
Valuation — Dominant Gap
CW
38
NOC
74
Gap+36in favour of NOC

The multiple-based pricing edge comes from a forward P/E that is 18.4 turns lower.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

A meaningful counterforce remains in profitability, which keeps the comparison from looking completely one-sided.

What this means for the comparison

Valuation points more clearly to Northrop Grumman Corporation, but profitability and current pricing keep the broader result mixed.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the CW vs NOC comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Similar valuation-driven comparisons

Explore how CW and NOC each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.