Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
ITW vs NOC
Illinois Tool Works Inc. versus Northrop Grumman Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
NOC wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but ITW can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
NOC wins this comparison 2–1 across 6 dimensions. NOC yields 1.71% — lower than ITW's 2.44% — and carries a 8.8/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 8.3/10 for ITW (Strong). NOC wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but ITW can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, ITW generates 2.44% vs 1.71% — a 0.73% difference that translates to $730 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, NOC scores 8.8/10 (Strong) vs 8.3/10 (Strong) for ITW — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | ITW | NOC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.44% | 1.71% | ITW wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 8.8/10 | NOC wins |
| Growth trend | +0.18% vs 5y | +0.17% vs 5y | Tie |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.00 | -0.11 | NOC wins |
| Scale | $80.4B | $76.8B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 1 wins | 2 wins | NOC wins |
Dimension by dimension
ITW wins on yield (2.44% vs 1.71%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $73 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
ITW's higher yield (2.44%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus NOC's 1.71% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
NOC wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 8.3/10)
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 0.5 points higher than ITW (8.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
Yield trends are similar
Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.
NOC is less volatile (beta -0.11 vs 1.00)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
Comparable scale ($80.4B vs $76.8B)
Within 1.5x of each other on market cap / AUM — similar institutional footprint.
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, ITW or NOC?
NOC wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but ITW can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
ITW vs NOC: which has a higher dividend yield?
ITW yields 2.44% and NOC yields 1.71%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $73 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is ITW or NOC a safer dividend in 2026?
ITW scores 8.3/10 (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, ITW or NOC?
Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.
ITW 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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