W.W. Grainger (GWW) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at W.W. Grainger (GWW): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Capital Goods peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile Item	GWW
Name	W.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	67.45 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW

GSPC

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

W.W. Grainger (GWW) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: GWW	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	54.07%	6.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.16%	17.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.95%	9.09%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW

GSPC

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

W.W. Grainger (GWW) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: GWW	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.49%	44.38%
Beta (5Y)	0.93	1.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-24.50%	-49.95%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. GWW is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

W.W. Grainger (GWW) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: GWW	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.03	0.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.31	0.09

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) posts ROE of 52.33%, above the industry benchmark range. Equity is being turned into profit at an exceptional rate, but very high ROE should still be checked against leverage, buybacks, and the size of the equity base.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

52.33%

Group distribution

GWW: 52.33%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Largest peers

GEV: 93.04%
CAT: 56.14%
GWW: 52.33%
GE: 50.17%
DE: 18.24%
RTX: 12.85%
BA: --

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on ROE within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) keeps 11.17% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

11.17%

Group distribution

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
GWW: 11.17%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Largest peers

GEV: 23.54%
GE: 17.31%
CAT: 15.21%
GWW: 11.17%
DE: 10.17%
RTX: 8.75%
BA: 8.07%

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on net margin within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) turns 16.14% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

16.14%

Group distribution

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
GWW: 16.14%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Largest peers

CAT: 20.19%
GE: 18.49%
GWW: 16.14%
RTX: 15.54%
DE: 13.37%
GEV: 12.77%
BA: 0.30%

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on operating margin within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

W.W. Grainger (GWW) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: GWW	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	52.33%	12.12%
ROA (TTM)	20.34%	5.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.17%	6.30%
Operating Margin (TTM)	16.14%	11.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)	39.43%	29.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) grew revenue 4.51%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

W.W. Grainger (GWW): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Capital Goods industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) grew earnings per share -8.55%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

W.W. Grainger (GWW): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Capital Goods industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

W.W. Grainger (GWW) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: GWW	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.51%	8.11%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	6.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-8.55%	5.45%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.60%	7.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) has current ratio of 2.61, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

2.61

Group distribution

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
GWW: 2.61
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Largest peers

GWW: 2.61
DE: 2.13
CAT: 1.42
BA: 1.13
RTX: 1.05
GE: 0.98
GEV: 0.83

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on current ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

0.65

Group distribution

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
GWW: 0.65
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

BA: 7.39
DE: 2.30
CAT: 2.10
GE: 1.16
GWW: 0.65
RTX: 0.55
GEV: 0.30

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

W.W. Grainger (GWW) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: GWW	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.61	2.08
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.65	0.60
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.69	1.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) has dividend yield of 0.65%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

0.65%

Group distribution

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
GWW: 0.65%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

RTX: 1.47%
CAT: 1.13%
DE: 0.98%
GWW: 0.65%
GE: 0.56%
GEV: 0.26%
BA: 0.00%

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on dividend yield within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) has payout ratio of 20.87%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

20.87%

Group distribution

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
GWW: 20.87%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

RTX: 45.85%
DE: 36.02%
CAT: 24.18%
GWW: 20.87%
GE: 20.23%
GEV: 4.59%
BA: 0.00%

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on payout ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

W.W. Grainger (GWW) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: GWW	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.65%	0.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	20.87%	6.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) trades at P/E ratio of 31.66, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

31.66

Group distribution

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
GWW: 31.66
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Largest peers

DE: 37.33
GE: 36.94
GWW: 31.66
RTX: 30.82
CAT: 21.92
GEV: 20.32
BA: 17.89

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on P/E ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) trades at 3.48 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

3.48

Group distribution

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
GWW: 3.48
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Largest peers

GE: 6.38
GEV: 4.65
DE: 3.78
GWW: 3.48
CAT: 3.29
RTX: 2.66
BA: 1.45

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on P/S ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) trades at 15.56 on P/B ratio, above the industry benchmark range. Investors are putting an unusually rich price on each dollar of book equity relative to peers.

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

15.56

Group distribution

GWW: 15.56
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Largest peers

BA: 20.99
GE: 19.06
GEV: 18.00
GWW: 15.56
CAT: 11.90
DE: 6.47
RTX: 3.69

Where W.W. Grainger (GWW) stands on P/B ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

W.W. Grainger (GWW) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: GWW	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.66	25.41
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.48	2.15
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	15.56	3.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.97%	3.03%