Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
NOC vs RTX
Northrop Grumman Corporation versus RTX Corporation — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
NOC wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but RTX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
NOC or RTX — which is better?
NOC wins this comparison 3–2 across 6 dimensions. NOC yields 1.71% — higher than RTX's 1.39% — and carries a 8.8/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 8.3/10 for RTX (Strong). NOC wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but RTX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, NOC generates 1.71% vs 1.39% — a 0.32% difference that translates to $320 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, NOC scores 8.8/10 (Strong) vs 8.3/10 (Strong) for RTX — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | NOC | RTX | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.71% | 1.39% | NOC wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.8/10 | 8.3/10 | NOC wins |
| Growth trend | +0.17% vs 5y | -0.71% vs 5y | RTX wins |
| Volatility (beta) | -0.11 | 0.29 | NOC wins |
| Scale | $76.8B | $282.9B | RTX wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 2 wins | NOC wins |
Dimension by dimension
NOC wins on yield (1.71% vs 1.39%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $32 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 RTX's 1.39% — 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 RTX (8.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
RTX shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
RTX's yield is 0.71% 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 0.29)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
RTX is 3.7× 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.
Full breakdown per ticker: are NOC dividends qualified and are RTX dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
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
NOC or RTX — which is better?
NOC is better on our scoring, winning 3–2 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. NOC wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but RTX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, NOC or RTX?
NOC wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but RTX can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
NOC vs RTX: which has a higher dividend yield?
NOC yields 1.71% and RTX yields 1.39%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $32 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is NOC or RTX a safer dividend in 2026?
NOC scores 8.8/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. RTX scores 8.3/10 (Strong). NOC is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, NOC or RTX?
RTX's yield is 0.71% 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 vs RTX: 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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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put NOC and RTX into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding NOC diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.