NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation Industrials - Defense Investor Relations →
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) closed at $568.14 as of 2026-05-01, trading 15.5% above its 200-week moving average of $491.79. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 17.1% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 35, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 0.9x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.11 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 2265 weeks of data, NOC has crossed below its 200-week moving average 16 times. On average, these episodes lasted 24 weeks. Historically, investors who bought NOC at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +21.3%.
With a market cap of $80.7 billion, NOC is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 2.6%. Return on equity stands at 28.5%, indicating strong profitability. The stock trades at 4.7x book value.
The company has been aggressively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 7.3% over the past three years.
Over the past 33.3 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in NOC would have grown to $8185, compared to $2973 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 14.1% vs 10.7% for the index — confirming NOC as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 31.1% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: NOC vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After NOC Crosses Below the Line?
Across 15 historical episodes, buying NOC when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +21.5% after 12 months (median +24.0%), compared to +18.9% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 85% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +47.8% vs +22.8% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment NOC crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
NOC has crossed below its 200-week MA 16 times with an average 1-year return of +21.3% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1987 | Feb 1991 | 173 | 50.5% | +5.0% | +10369.9% |
| May 1991 | May 1991 | 3 | 1.6% | +21.9% | +12647.4% |
| Nov 1991 | Dec 1991 | 3 | 2.0% | +42.9% | +13162.6% |
| Aug 1998 | Oct 1998 | 9 | 19.3% | +1.1% | +3077.4% |
| Dec 1998 | May 2000 | 77 | 42.8% | -26.2% | +2980.2% |
| Jun 2000 | Aug 2000 | 10 | 14.5% | +16.7% | +2752.6% |
| Dec 2000 | Dec 2000 | 1 | 4.5% | +35.8% | +2739.4% |
| Mar 2003 | Apr 2003 | 7 | 4.2% | +20.3% | +2352.0% |
| Sep 2003 | Oct 2003 | 5 | 1.5% | +25.9% | +2234.0% |
| Sep 2008 | Feb 2010 | 73 | 45.0% | -15.9% | +1354.6% |
| May 2010 | Sep 2010 | 16 | 9.5% | +24.5% | +1381.3% |
| Aug 2011 | Aug 2011 | 2 | 5.7% | +36.9% | +1356.2% |
| Sep 2011 | Sep 2011 | 1 | 0.7% | +35.7% | +1366.2% |
| Dec 2018 | Dec 2018 | 1 | 0.1% | +49.4% | +171.8% |
| Oct 2020 | Nov 2020 | 1 | 2.6% | +25.5% | +114.5% |
| Jan 2021 | Mar 2021 | 9 | 4.8% | +41.4% | +114.7% |
| Average | 24 | — | +21.3% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NOC below its 200-week moving average?
No. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) is currently 15.5% above its 200-week moving average of $491.79. It would need to fall to $491.79 to cross below the line.
What is NOC's 200-week moving average price?
Northrop Grumman Corporation's 200-week moving average is $491.79 as of 2026-05-01. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when NOC drops below its 200-week moving average?
NOC has crossed below its 200-week moving average 16 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +21.3%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 24 weeks on average.
Is NOC a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about NOC as of 2026-05-01: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 35. Free cash flow yield is 2.6%. Return on equity is 28.5%. Price-to-book is 4.7x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does NOC compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 33.3 years, $100 invested in NOC would have grown to $8185, compared to $2973 for the S&P 500. That's 14.1% annualized vs 10.7% for the index. NOC has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does NOC pay a dividend?
Yes. Northrop Grumman Corporation currently pays a dividend yield of 163.00%.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-05-01