AXP vs. NOC
AXP (American Express Company) and NOC (Northrop Grumman Corporation) are both stocks. AXP operates in Credit Services (Financial Services), while NOC operates in Aerospace & Defense (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, AXP returned 18.88%/yr vs 11.47%/yr for NOC. At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
AXP vs. NOC - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AXP achieves a -13.48% return, which is significantly lower than NOC's -3.04% return. Over the past 10 years, AXP has outperformed NOC with an annualized return of 18.88%, while NOC has yielded a comparatively lower 11.47% annualized return.
AXP
- 1D
- 1.95%
- 1M
- 0.74%
- YTD
- -13.48%
- 6M
- -12.04%
- 1Y
- 6.68%
- 3Y*
- 24.31%
- 5Y*
- 15.83%
- 10Y*
- 18.88%
NOC
- 1D
- 1.45%
- 1M
- 0.28%
- YTD
- -3.04%
- 6M
- 0.40%
- 1Y
- 13.41%
- 3Y*
- 8.28%
- 5Y*
- 9.82%
- 10Y*
- 11.47%
AXP vs. NOC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AXP American Express Company | -13.48% | 25.99% | 60.32% | 28.67% | -8.52% | 36.88% | -1.14% | 32.52% | -2.62% | 36.22% |
NOC Northrop Grumman Corporation | -3.04% | 23.61% | 1.93% | -12.79% | 43.02% | 29.29% | -9.92% | 42.69% | -18.95% | 33.88% |
Correlation
The correlation between AXP and NOC is 0.07, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 31, 1981 | 0.29 |
Over the past year, the correlation between AXP and NOC has dropped to 0.07 - well below their long-term average of 0.29, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Fundamentals
AXP:
$218.41B
NOC:
$78.19B
AXP:
$16.23
NOC:
$31.95
AXP:
19.62
NOC:
17.17
AXP:
1.67
NOC:
2.53
AXP:
2.67
NOC:
1.85
AXP:
6.42
NOC:
4.57
AXP:
$82.41B
NOC:
$42.37B
AXP:
$68.81B
NOC:
$8.69B
AXP:
$18.41B
NOC:
$7.50B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
AXP vs. NOC — Risk / Return Rank
AXP
NOC
AXP vs. NOC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Express Company (AXP) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| AXP | NOC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.40 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.07 | 1.12 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.28 | 0.43 | -0.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.61 | 1.13 | -0.53 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| AXP | NOC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.26 | 0.51 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.54 | 0.39 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 | 0.45 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.29 | 0.46 | -0.17 |
Drawdowns
AXP vs. NOC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AXP drawdown since its inception was -83.91%, which is greater than NOC's maximum drawdown of -71.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AXP and NOC.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| AXP | NOC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -83.91% | -71.12% | -12.79% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -23.90% | -31.20% | +7.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -28.76% | -31.20% | +2.44% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.55% | -31.20% | -0.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -49.64% | -36.38% | -13.26% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -16.83% | -28.25% | +11.42% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -22.05% | -18.40% | -3.65% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.01% | 11.85% | -0.84% |
Volatility
AXP vs. NOC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Express Company (AXP) is 6.53%, while Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) has a volatility of 7.36%. This indicates that AXP experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NOC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| AXP | NOC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.53% | 7.36% | -0.83% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.14% | 21.17% | -1.03% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.28% | 26.46% | -0.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 29.49% | 25.27% | +4.22% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 31.84% | 25.42% | +6.42% |
Dividends
AXP vs. NOC - Dividend Comparison
AXP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.07%, less than NOC's 1.71% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AXP American Express Company | 1.07% | 0.85% | 0.91% | 1.24% | 1.35% | 1.05% | 1.42% | 1.29% | 1.51% | 1.32% | 1.61% | 1.58% |
NOC Northrop Grumman Corporation | 1.71% | 1.58% | 1.72% | 1.57% | 1.24% | 1.59% | 1.86% | 1.50% | 1.92% | 1.27% | 1.50% | 1.64% |
Financials
AXP vs. NOC - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between American Express Company and Northrop Grumman Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
AXP vs. NOC - Profitability Comparison
AXP - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, American Express Company reported a gross profit of 17.66B and revenue of 20.88B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 84.6%.
NOC - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Northrop Grumman Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.96B and revenue of 9.88B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 19.8%.
AXP - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, American Express Company reported an operating income of 6.60B and revenue of 20.88B, resulting in an operating margin of 31.6%.
NOC - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Northrop Grumman Corporation reported an operating income of 989.00M and revenue of 9.88B, resulting in an operating margin of 10.0%.
AXP - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, American Express Company reported a net income of 2.97B and revenue of 20.88B, resulting in a net margin of 14.2%.
NOC - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Northrop Grumman Corporation reported a net income of 875.00M and revenue of 9.88B, resulting in a net margin of 8.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions
AXP and NOC have a correlation of 0.07, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NOC has higher volatility (7.36%) compared to AXP (6.53%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AXP dropped -83.91% vs NOC's -71.12%.
NOC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.51 vs 0.26), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for AXP and NOC
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer