Northrop Grumman

RANK96

Northrop vaults into the Fortune 100 this year, up 12 spots from last year, as it continues—or perhaps caps—a decade-long turnaround. Revenue grew a solid 12.4%, though profits slumped more than 30%, in part due to operational challenges. Northrop faced a threat in 2019 when rival Boeing dropped out of the competition for an $85 billion missile contract, and demanded that regulators intervene over Northrop’s 2018 purchase of rocket engine maker Orbital ATK. The Federal Trade Commission started an inquiry, but no further action followed. That set up a game-changing 2020 surprise: With Boeing out of the picture for the missile contract and Northrop the de facto winner, the Air Force said that it may award Northrop the deal ahead of schedule.