Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
CAT vs NOC
Caterpillar Inc. versus Northrop Grumman Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
CAT and NOC are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | CAT | NOC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.69% | 1.71% | NOC wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.8/10 | 8.8/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | -1.03% vs 5y | +0.17% vs 5y | CAT wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.60 | -0.11 | NOC wins |
| Scale | $440.3B | $76.8B | CAT wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
NOC wins on yield (1.71% vs 0.69%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $102 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Safety scores are too close to call (8.8/10 vs 8.8/10)
Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.
CAT shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CAT's yield is 1.03% below its 5y average, versus 0.17% for NOC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
NOC is less volatile (beta -0.11 vs 1.60)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
CAT is 5.7× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice.Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
Which is better, CAT or NOC?
CAT and NOC are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Does CAT or NOC have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $102 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is CAT or NOC a safer dividend?
CAT scores 8.8/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. NOC scores 8.8/10 (Strong). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both CAT and NOC?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own CAT or NOC? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding either to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →