BE vs. GWW: Bloom Energy vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison
How do Bloom Energy (BE) 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
Bloom Energy (BE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but BE is classified in Electrical Equipment while GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.
| Profile Item | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bloom Energy Corp. Class A Common Stock | W.W. Grainger Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Electrical Equipment | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Heavy Electrical Equipment | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| Market Capitalization | 51.20 billion USD | 67.45 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 25, 2018 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 46.07% | 54.07% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 162.89% | 24.16% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 41.93% | 25.95% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Bloom Energy (BE) carries a highly aggressive beta of 3.61, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas W.W. Grainger (GWW) is closer to market-like at 0.93 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
Bloom Energy (BE) is heavily traded at around 15.48M shares per day, whereas W.W. Grainger (GWW) sees a more moderate 250.35K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 112.64% | 24.49% |
| Beta (5Y) | 3.61 | 0.93 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -74.98% | -24.50% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 15.48M | 250.35K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.37 | 2.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.57 | 3.31 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Bloom Energy (BE) at 39.61% also sits in the top quartile.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
39.61%
- Max
- 40.55%
- BE
- 39.61%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Bloom Energy (BE) at 13.53% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
13.53%
- Max
- 27.47%
- BE
- 13.53%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Bloom Energy (BE) at 18.49% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
18.49%
- Max
- 36.60%
- BE
- 18.49%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 39.61% | 52.33% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.45% | 20.34% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 13.53% | 11.17% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.49% | 16.14% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.77% | 39.43% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Bloom Energy (BE) at 37.33% 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 BE.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: W.W. Grainger (GWW) reports EPS growth of -8.55%, ranked against its industry; Bloom Energy (BE) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 37.33% | 4.51% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 19.06% | 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 Bloom Energy (BE) at 3.74 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
3.74
- Max
- 5.22
- BE
- 3.74
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Bloom Energy (BE) at 1.42 uses more debt funding than most peers.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
1.42
- Max
- 2.33
- BE
- 1.42
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.74 | 2.61 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.42 | 0.65 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.50 | 0.69 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Bloom Energy (BE) 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.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- BE
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Bloom Energy (BE) 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.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- BE
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.65% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 20.87% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Bloom Energy (BE) at 104.99 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for BE’s trailing earnings.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
104.99
- BE
- 104.99
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 3.48 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Bloom Energy (BE) at 13.37 clears its benchmark range — BE looks notably rich on sales.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
13.37
- BE
- 13.37
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Bloom Energy (BE) at 26.49 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
BE
Capital Goods industry group
26.49
- BE
- 26.49
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BE | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 104.99 | 31.66 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 13.37 | 3.48 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 26.49 | 15.56 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.00% | 1.97% |