NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP /DE/ Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure
| $ in millions | Aeronautics Systems | Defense Systems | Mission Systems | Space Systems | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | 3,974 | $ | 3,722 | $ | 5,881 | $ | 3,940 | $ | 17,517 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other (1) | — | (5) | — | — | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | $ | 3,974 | $ | 3,717 | $ | 5,881 | $ | 3,940 | $ | 17,512 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Divestiture of training services business | — | (80) | — | — | (80) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other (1) | — | 5 | — | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2025 | $ | 3,974 | $ | 3,642 | $ | 5,881 | $ | 3,940 | $ | 17,437 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| $ in millions | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Gross customer-related and other intangible assets | $ | 3,372 | $ | 3,371 | ||||||||||
| Less accumulated amortization | (3,164) | (3,117) | ||||||||||||
| Net customer-related and other intangible assets | $ | 208 | $ | 254 | ||||||||||
| $ in millions | ||||||||
| 2026 | $ | 42 | ||||||
| 2027 | 31 | |||||||
| 2028 | 31 | |||||||
| 2029 | 31 | |||||||
| 2030 | 31 | |||||||
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 27, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Jan 30, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Jan 25, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Jan 26, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Jan 27, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Jan 28, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Jan 30, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Jan 31, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Jan 29, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Jan 30, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 1, 2016 | |
About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures
Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.
Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.