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Lockheed Martin vs Northrop Grumman: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Northrop Grumman carrying a narrow edge on valuation. The remaining gap is narrow enough that the comparison remains open to different readings. 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 lead is spread across valuation and stability, rather than sitting in one isolated gap.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Aerospace & Defense

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

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

Peer-Relative Score
LMT
Lockheed Martin 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.

Score differences across key dimensions.

Dimension spread: LMT vs NOC Profitability 65 62 Stability 61 77 Valuation 56 74 Growth 72 63 LMT NOC
Gap Ranking
#1 Valuation +18
#2 Stability +16
#3 Growth +9
#4 Profitability +3
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for LMT and NOC Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer LMTNOC Relative valuation Structural strength

The structural gap is limited here, but current pricing still leans against Lockheed Martin Corporation.

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

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Valuation
Both rank well on valuation, but Northrop Grumman Corporation still sits higher.
Stability
On stability, the same pattern holds: both rank well, but Northrop Grumman Corporation still sits higher.
Valuation — Dominant Gap
LMT
56
NOC
74
Gap+18in favour of NOC

The multiple-based pricing edge comes from a trailing P/E that is 4.8 turns lower.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Earnings growth also leans the other way, which keeps the score lead from reading as a full growth sweep.

What this means for the comparison

The lead is built on both valuation and stability, making it broader than a single-dimension result.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

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

Explore full breakdown →
Similar valuation-and-stability comparisons

Explore how LMT 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.