HWM vs NOC

Howmet Aerospace and Northrop Grumman, both Industrials

Howmet Aerospace is the larger company at $111B against $74B. On trailing earnings NOC is the cheaper of the two at a P/E of 17.5 against 58.0, a gap that is only a bargain if the two are growing at similar rates. Over the past year HWM returned +48% against -5.2% for NOC. Ryufin's sector-relative Smart Score puts HWM ahead, 9/10 against 8/10.

Howmet Aerospace and Northrop Grummancompared on valuation, return and Ryufin’s Smart Score
FigureHWMNOC
Last close$269$550
Market cap$111B$74B
Trailing P/Elower is cheaper for the same earnings, not automatically better58.017.5
Dividend yield0.2%1.6%
1-year return+48%-5.2%
5-year return+733%+64%
Ryufin Smart Scoresector-relative, 1–109/108/10

Figures from SEC filings and end-of-day closes. Highlighting marks the higher or lower number, which is not the same as the better investment, a low P/E can be a warning and a high one can be deserved.

Howmet Aerospace

Revenue of $2.5B in Q2 2026, net income $534M. Its largest reported line is Aerospace Commercial, 56% of the disclosed total.

Northrop Grumman

Revenue of $11B in Q2 2026, net income $1.1B. Its largest reported line is United States, 80% of the disclosed total.

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