NOC vs GD: which was the better investment?
Northrop Grumman Corporation against General Dynamics Corporation on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Dec 31, 1981 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did NOC beat GD?
No — measured from Dec 31, 1981 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, GD came out ahead: $4,434,793 versus $2,203,473 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.7% annual return against 12.9%.
What would $10,000 in NOC be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) on Dec 31, 1981 would be worth about $2,203,473 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 21934.7% (12.9% per year). The same $10,000 in GD would be worth $4,434,793.
Which was riskier — NOC or GD?
NOC swung with an annualized volatility of 27.4% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -69.4%; GD ran at 26.0% volatility with a -76.1% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.40 for NOC vs 0.49 for GD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Dec 31, 1981 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with NOC vs GD. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.