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LMT vs NOC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Lockheed Martin (LMT) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- LMT has delivered positive year-to-date returns of approximately 6.4% through mid-July 2026, outperforming NOC which posted negative YTD performance of roughly -7.8%.
- Both companies operate in the aerospace and defense sector with substantial government contract backlogs, though LMT maintains a larger market capitalization and higher revenue base.
- Recent market activity shows LMT trading near $509 with upcoming second-quarter earnings scheduled for July 23, 2026, while NOC has faced relatively softer price momentum in recent weeks.
- Valuation metrics indicate NOC trades at a lower price-to-earnings ratio compared to LMT, presenting a potential contrast in investor positioning.
- Sector exposure to defense spending remains a shared driver, with relative performance influenced by contract awards, earnings consistency, and broader market sentiment in recent periods.
Introduction
Lockheed Martin (LMT) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) represent two leading players in the aerospace and defense industry. This comparison examines their relative performance, business profiles, and market positioning in the current environment. Investors and traders focused on sector-specific exposure, momentum analysis, or diversified defense holdings may find the analysis relevant for evaluating trade-offs between scale, valuation, and recent price behavior.
LMT Overview and Recent Performance
Lockheed Martin Corporation designs, manufactures, and integrates advanced technology systems for aerospace, defense, and information security applications. In recent market activity, LMT shares have traded around the $509 level following a period of volatility, with the stock closing at $508.77 on July 17, 2026. Year-to-date returns stand at approximately 6.4%, trailing the broader S&P 500 but remaining positive. Recent weeks have featured attention on contract developments and operational updates, alongside anticipation for second-quarter 2026 earnings results scheduled for July 23. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance earlier in the year, citing steady demand and backlog strength that have supported sentiment despite broader market fluctuations.
NOC Overview and Recent Performance
Northrop Grumman Corporation provides autonomous systems, cyber solutions, and advanced aircraft and space capabilities primarily to U.S. and allied government customers. In recent market activity, NOC shares have traded near $522, reflecting softer price action compared with the prior year. Year-to-date performance through mid-July 2026 shows a decline of roughly 7.8%. Developments in recent weeks have centered on contract execution and sector dynamics, with the stock exhibiting relatively muted momentum amid ongoing defense budget considerations. The company continues to benefit from long-term program visibility, though price behavior has been influenced by broader equity market rotations and comparative valuation assessments.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
LMT operates with greater scale, evidenced by higher market capitalization, revenues, and EBITDA relative to NOC. Growth drivers for both center on defense contract backlogs, yet LMT has shown stronger year-to-date returns and revenue growth consistency in recent periods. NOC trades at a comparatively lower price-to-earnings multiple, which may appeal to value-oriented participants, while carrying a different debt profile. Recent momentum favors LMT on a relative basis, though both face shared risks tied to government spending cycles and geopolitical developments. Sector exposure remains aligned, with trade-offs primarily in size, valuation, and observed price stability during recent market activity.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, relative returns, and positioning within the defense sector, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a probabilistic preference toward LMT. Stronger year-to-date performance and upcoming earnings visibility contribute to this assessment, though outcomes remain subject to contract flows and macroeconomic influences that could shift relative positioning.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) are two of the largest companies in the aerospace & Defense industry. Their primary source of revenue is government contracts to develop, manufacture, and deploy military assets such as aircraft, missiles, weapons, and information technology systems including cybersecurity and intelligence systems. LMT has been the world’s largest defense contractor by revenue, getting most of its contracts from the Pentagon as well as a substantial amount of foreign contracts from US allies. NOC’s business is very similar to LMT, but it is about 40% smaller. The companies have similar profit margins. Investors have not been overly impressed with LMT’s performance the past two years, but Lockheed is trying to convince investors that a large classified project, which has taken up company resources so far this year, will definitely turn out well for them in the future.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
LMT’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileNOC’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- LMT’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- NOC’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
LMT’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while NOC’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- LMT’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- NOC’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
LMT (@Aerospace & Defense) experienced а +14.51% price change this week, while NOC (@Aerospace & Defense) price change was +3.96% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Aerospace & Defense industry was -0.19%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -8.76%, and the average quarterly price growth was -10.50%.
Reported Earning Dates
LMT is expected to report earnings on Oct 27, 2026.
NOC is expected to report earnings on Oct 22, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Aerospace & Defense (-0.19% weekly)Aerospace & Defense is one of largest industries in the U.S., mainly comprising the following areas: commercial airliners, military aircraft, missiles, space, and general aviation. Focused heavily on research & development, it is also one of the fastest growing industries. Military aircraft has the largest market share in the industry’s sales, followed by space systems, civil aircraft, and missiles. Aerospace exports, directly and indirectly, support more jobs than the export of any other commodity, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation and General Electric Company are some of the most prominent players in this space.
| LMT | NOC | LMT / NOC | |
| Capitalization | 134B | 77B | 174% |
| EBITDA | 8.47B | 7.7B | 110% |
| Gain YTD | 21.882 | -4.181 | -523% |
| P/E Ratio | 21.48 | 17.24 | 125% |
| Revenue | 75.1B | 42.4B | 177% |
| Total Cash | 1.89B | 2.09B | 91% |
| Total Debt | 20.7B | 16.3B | 127% |
LMT | NOC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 78 | 23 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 67 Overvalued | 54 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 38 | 59 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 17 | 34 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 42 | 59 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 69 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | n/a | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
NOC's Valuation (54) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as LMT (67). This means that NOC’s stock grew similarly to LMT’s over the last 12 months.
LMT's Profit vs Risk Rating (38) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as NOC (59). This means that LMT’s stock grew similarly to NOC’s over the last 12 months.
LMT's SMR Rating (17) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as NOC (34). This means that LMT’s stock grew similarly to NOC’s over the last 12 months.
LMT's Price Growth Rating (42) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as NOC (59). This means that LMT’s stock grew similarly to NOC’s over the last 12 months.
LMT's P/E Growth Rating (59) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as NOC (69). This means that LMT’s stock grew similarly to NOC’s over the last 12 months.
| LMT | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 31% | 2 days ago 57% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 41% | 2 days ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 54% | 2 days ago 59% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 63% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 57% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 55% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 60% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 51% | 10 days ago 46% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 44% | 2 days ago 54% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 43% | 2 days ago 42% |
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LMT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, LMT has been loosely correlated with RTX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 55% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if LMT jumps, then RTX could also see price increases.
NOC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, NOC has been loosely correlated with LHX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 66% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if NOC jumps, then LHX could also see price increases.