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AER vs. GWW: AerCap vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) are both classified in the Trading Companies & Distributors sub-industry within the broader Trading Companies & Distributors industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemAERGWW
NameAerCap Holdings N.V.W.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization25.76 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 21, 2006February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AER
GWW
GSPC
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricAERGWW
Total Return (1Y)32.17%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)39.43%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.06%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AER
GWW
GSPC
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricAERGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.10%24.49%
Beta (5Y)0.950.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.81%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.13M250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AER and GWW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricAERGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.072.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.593.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than AerCap (AER) at 17.00%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

17.00%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
AER
17.00%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

52.33%

GWW
52.33%
Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

AerCap (AER) at 34.47% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

34.47%

AER
34.47%
Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

11.17%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
GWW
11.17%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

AerCap (AER) at 62.55% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% operates around its industry’s norm.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

62.55%

AER
62.55%
Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

16.14%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
GWW
16.14%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricAERGWW
ROE (TTM)17.00%52.33%
ROA (TTM)4.52%20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)34.47%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)62.55%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)63.02%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AerCap (AER) at 6.50% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

AerCap (AER) at 97.41% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for AER.

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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricAERGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.50%4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.69%5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)97.41%-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--5.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AerCap (AER) at 1.45 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

1.45

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
AER
1.45
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

2.61

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
GWW
2.61
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while AerCap (AER) at 2.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

2.33

AER
2.33
Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

0.65

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
GWW
0.65
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricAERGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.452.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.330.65
Net Debt / EBITDA7.770.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AerCap (AER) at 0.96% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

0.96%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
AER
0.96%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

0.65%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
GWW
0.65%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both AerCap (AER) at 7.52% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 20.87% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

7.52%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
AER
7.52%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

20.87%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
GWW
20.87%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricAERGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.96%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)7.52%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AerCap (AER) at 8.67 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for AER, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

8.67

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
AER
8.67
Min
3.03

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

31.66

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
GWW
31.66
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both AerCap (AER) at 2.84 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 3.48 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

2.84

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
AER
2.84
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

3.48

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
GWW
3.48
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AerCap (AER) at 1.36 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

AER

Capital Goods industry group

1.36

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
AER
1.36
Min
-1.08

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

15.56

GWW
15.56
Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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AerCap (AER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AerCap (AER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricAERGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.6731.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.843.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.3615.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-6.60%1.97%