Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
DE vs NOC
Deere & Company versus Northrop Grumman Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
NOC wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but DE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
NOC wins this comparison 3–2 across 6 dimensions. NOC yields 1.71% — higher than DE's 1.09% — and carries a 8.8/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 8.1/10 for DE (Strong). NOC wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but DE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, NOC generates 1.71% vs 1.09% — a 0.62% difference that translates to $620 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, NOC scores 8.8/10 (Strong) vs 8.1/10 (Strong) for DE — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | DE | NOC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.09% | 1.71% | NOC wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.1/10 | 8.8/10 | NOC wins |
| Growth trend | -0.15% vs 5y | +0.17% vs 5y | DE wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.90 | -0.11 | NOC wins |
| Scale | $160.1B | $76.8B | DE wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 3 wins | NOC wins |
Dimension by dimension
NOC wins on yield (1.71% vs 1.09%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $62 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
NOC's higher yield (1.71%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus DE's 1.09% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
NOC wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 8.1/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. NOC scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
NOC (8.8/10) scores 0.7 points higher than DE (8.1/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
DE shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
DE's yield is 0.15% 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 0.90)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
DE is 2.1× 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 for income, DE or NOC?
NOC wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but DE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
DE vs NOC: which has a higher dividend yield?
DE yields 1.09% and NOC yields 1.71%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $62 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is DE or NOC a safer dividend in 2026?
DE scores 8.1/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. NOC scores 8.8/10 (Strong). NOC is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, DE or NOC?
DE's yield is 0.15% below its 5y average, versus 0.17% for NOC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
DE vs NOC: which is more tax-efficient?
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.
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