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BA vs. GWW: Boeing vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do Boeing (BA) 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

Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but BA is classified in Aerospace & Defense while GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemBAGWW
NameThe Boeing CompanyW.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization137.41 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BA
GWW
GSPC
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Boeing (BA) 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 Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Boeing (BA) 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 Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricBAGWW
Total Return (1Y)-10.22%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.32%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-4.57%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BA
GWW
GSPC
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Boeing (BA) 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 Boeing (BA) 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 Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricBAGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.25%24.49%
Beta (5Y)1.310.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.29%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.77M250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BA 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 Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricBAGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.412.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.603.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: W.W. Grainger (GWW) earns 52.33% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Boeing (BA) has no ROE this period.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

--

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

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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Boeing (BA) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): BA does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; GWW is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Boeing (BA) at 8.07% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

8.07%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
BA
8.07%
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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Boeing (BA) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Boeing (BA) at 0.30% operates in the bottom quartile.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.30%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
BA
0.30%
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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Boeing (BA) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricBAGWW
ROE (TTM)--52.33%
ROA (TTM)-0.11%20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)8.07%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)0.30%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)9.45%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Boeing (BA) at 34.50% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for BA.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: W.W. Grainger (GWW) reports EPS growth of -8.55%, ranked against its industry; Boeing (BA) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricBAGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)34.50%4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.33%5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)---8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--5.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Boeing (BA) at 1.13 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BA.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.13

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
BA
1.13
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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Boeing (BA) 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 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Boeing (BA) at 7.39 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

7.39

BA
7.39
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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Boeing (BA) 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 Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricBAGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.132.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)7.390.65
Net Debt / EBITDA13.810.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Boeing (BA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile W.W. Grainger (GWW) reports a yield of 0.65%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Boeing (BA) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile W.W. Grainger (GWW) reports a payout of 20.87%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricBAGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Boeing (BA) at 17.89 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 BA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

17.89

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
BA
17.89
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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Boeing (BA) 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 Boeing (BA) at 1.45 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.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.45

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
BA
1.45
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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Boeing (BA) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Boeing (BA) at 20.99 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

20.99

BA
20.99
Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
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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Boeing (BA) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Boeing (BA) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricBAGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)17.8931.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.453.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)20.9915.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.44%1.97%