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CMI vs. GWW: Cummins vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do Cummins (CMI) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemCMIGWW
NameCummins Inc.W.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation EquipmentTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization61.69 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMI
GWW
GSPC
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Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCMIGWW
Total Return (1Y)-0.52%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)31.79%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.12%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMI
GWW
GSPC
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Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCMIGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.83%24.49%
Beta (5Y)1.260.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.12%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.14M250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMI 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 Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCMIGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.132.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.183.31

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; Cummins (CMI) at 25.05% also sits in the top quartile.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

25.05%

Max
40.55%
CMI
25.05%
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%
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Cummins (CMI) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 9.26% 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.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

9.26%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
CMI
9.26%
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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Cummins (CMI) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 13.95% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

13.95%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
CMI
13.95%
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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Cummins (CMI) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCMIGWW
ROE (TTM)25.05%52.33%
ROA (TTM)7.60%20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)9.26%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.95%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.32%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Cummins (CMI) at -1.27% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Cummins (CMI) at -27.74% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCMIGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.27%4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.25%5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)-27.74%-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.68%5.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 1.74 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.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.74

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
CMI
1.74
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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Cummins (CMI) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 0.52 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

0.52

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
CMI
0.52
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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Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCMIGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.742.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.520.65
Net Debt / EBITDA0.620.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 1.83% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CMI the richer one.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.83%

Max
2.66%
CMI
1.83%
Q3
1.14%
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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Cummins (CMI) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 20.87% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Cummins (CMI) at 34.21% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

34.21%

Max
67.39%
CMI
34.21%
Q3
28.02%
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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Cummins (CMI) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCMIGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.83%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)34.21%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 18.78 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 CMI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

18.78

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
CMI
18.78
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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Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) at 1.72 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.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.72

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
CMI
1.72
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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Cummins (CMI) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cummins (CMI) at 4.63 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices above its benchmark range — GWW looks rich relative to book.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

4.63

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
CMI
4.63
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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Cummins (CMI) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cummins (CMI) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCMIGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.7831.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.723.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.6315.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.06%1.97%