CAT vs. GWW: Caterpillar vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Caterpillar (CAT) 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

Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile Item	CAT	GWW
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	W.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	255.63 billion USD	67.45 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

GWW

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) 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 Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Caterpillar (CAT) 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 Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Metric	CAT	GWW
Total Return (1Y)	6.75%	54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.34%	24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.28%	25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

GWW

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) 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 Caterpillar (CAT) 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 Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Metric	CAT	GWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.33%	24.49%
Beta (5Y)	1.65	0.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.82M	250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT 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 Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Metric	CAT	GWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	2.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.08	3.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

56.14%

CAT: 56.14%
Max: 40.55%
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%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 15.21% 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.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

15.21%

Max: 27.47%
CAT: 15.21%
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%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

20.19%

Max: 36.60%
CAT: 20.19%
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%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Metric	CAT	GWW
ROE (TTM)	56.14%	52.33%
ROA (TTM)	9.09%	20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.21%	11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.19%	16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.54%	39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Metric	CAT	GWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	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 Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CAT.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

1.42

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
CAT: 1.42
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

Caterpillar (CAT) 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 Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.10 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

2.10

Max: 2.33
CAT: 2.10
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

Caterpillar (CAT) 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 Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Metric	CAT	GWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	2.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.10	0.65
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.25	0.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

1.13%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
CAT: 1.13%
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%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 24.18% 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.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

24.18%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
CAT: 24.18%
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%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Metric	CAT	GWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.13%	0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.18%	20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

21.92

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
CAT: 21.92
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

Caterpillar (CAT) 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 Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 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.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

3.29

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
CAT: 3.29
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

Caterpillar (CAT) 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 Caterpillar (CAT) at 11.90 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

11.90

CAT: 11.90
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

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Metric	CAT	GWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.92	31.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.29	3.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.90	15.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.55%	1.97%