NOC vs. DEF

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

NOC (Northrop Grumman Corporation) is a stock, while DEF (Invesco Defensive Equity ETF) is Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Invesco Defensive Equity Index. Over the past 10 years, NOC returned 11.12%/yr vs 10.28%/yr for DEF. At a 0.47 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

NOC vs. DEF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) and Invesco Defensive Equity ETF (DEF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, NOC achieves a -7.04% return, which is significantly lower than DEF's -2.29% return. Over the past 10 years, NOC has outperformed DEF with an annualized return of 11.12%, while DEF has yielded a comparatively lower 10.28% annualized return.

NOC

• 1D: -1.96%
• 1M: -6.81%
• YTD: -7.04%
• 6M: -4.20%
• 1Y: 9.44%
• 3Y*: 7.60%
• 5Y*: 8.60%
• 10Y*: 11.12%

DEF

• 1D: 0.04%
• 1M: 0.44%
• YTD: -2.29%
• 6M: -2.55%
• 1Y: 4.21%
• 3Y*: 10.86%
• 5Y*: 7.41%
• 10Y*: 10.28%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

NOC vs. DEF - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
NOC Northrop Grumman Corporation	-7.04%	23.61%	1.93%	-12.79%	43.02%	29.29%	-9.92%	42.69%	-18.95%	33.88%
DEF Invesco Defensive Equity ETF	-2.29%	11.71%	13.18%	10.58%	-7.67%	24.93%	7.61%	27.98%	-3.96%	21.52%

Correlation

The correlation between NOC and DEF is 0.21, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.21
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.23
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.32
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.38
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 18, 2006	0.47

Over the past year, the correlation between NOC and DEF has dropped to 0.21 - well below their long-term average of 0.47, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

NOC vs. DEF — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

NOC

NOC Risk / Return Rank: 48
NOC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 53
NOC Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
NOC Omega Ratio Rank: 46
NOC Calmar Ratio Rank: 47
NOC Martin Ratio Rank: 49

DEF

DEF Risk / Return Rank: 14
DEF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 14
DEF Sortino Ratio Rank: 13
DEF Omega Ratio Rank: 13
DEF Calmar Ratio Rank: 14
DEF Martin Ratio Rank: 15

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

NOC vs. DEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) and Invesco Defensive Equity ETF (DEF). 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.

	NOC	DEF	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.36	0.36	0.00
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.71	0.61	+0.10
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.09	1.07	+0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.30	0.43	-0.13
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.84	1.18	-0.34
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

NOC vs. DEF - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current NOC Sharpe Ratio is 0.36, which is comparable to the DEF Sharpe Ratio of 0.36. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of NOC and DEF, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	NOC	DEF	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.36	0.36	0.00
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.34	0.54	-0.19
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.44	0.64	-0.20
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.45	0.54	-0.09

Drawdowns

NOC vs. DEF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum NOC drawdown since its inception was -71.12%, which is greater than DEF's maximum drawdown of -47.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NOC and DEF.

Drawdown Indicators

	NOC	DEF	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-71.12%	-47.91%	-23.21%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-31.20%	-9.76%	-21.44%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-31.20%	-15.00%	-16.20%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-31.20%	-17.75%	-13.45%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-36.38%	-36.53%	+0.15%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-31.20%	-6.44%	-24.76%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-18.40%	-6.24%	-12.16%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	11.28%	3.59%	+7.69%

Volatility

NOC vs. DEF - Volatility Comparison

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) has a higher volatility of 6.34% compared to Invesco Defensive Equity ETF (DEF) at 3.12%. This indicates that NOC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DEF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	NOC	DEF	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.34%	3.12%	+3.22%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	20.85%	8.80%	+12.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	26.20%	11.73%	+14.47%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	25.26%	13.92%	+11.34%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	25.39%	16.05%	+9.34%

Dividends

NOC vs. DEF - Dividend Comparison

NOC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.79%, more than DEF's 0.96% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
DEF Invesco Defensive Equity ETF	0.96%	0.94%	0.79%	1.60%	1.48%	1.06%	1.34%	1.16%	1.39%	1.63%	2.18%	3.31%
NOC Northrop Grumman Corporation	1.79%	1.58%	1.72%	1.57%	1.24%	1.59%	1.86%	1.50%	1.92%	1.27%	1.50%	1.64%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both NOC and DEF in my portfolio?

NOC and DEF have a correlation of 0.21, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, NOC or DEF?

NOC has higher volatility (6.34%) compared to DEF (3.12%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NOC dropped -71.12% vs DEF's -47.91%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

NOC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.36 vs 0.36), 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.