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CSL vs. GWW: Carlisle vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do Carlisle (CSL) 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

Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CSL is classified in Building Products while GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemCSLGWW
NameCarlisle Companies IncorporatedW.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryBuilding ProductsTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryBuilding ProductsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization14.52 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSL
GWW
GSPC
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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCSLGWW
Total Return (1Y)24.99%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.85%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.02%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSL
GWW
GSPC
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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCSLGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.46%24.49%
Beta (5Y)0.760.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.72%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)509.16K250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSL 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 Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCSLGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.542.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.873.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Carlisle (CSL) at 42.34% 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

42.34%

CSL
42.34%
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%
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 13.78% 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

13.78%

Max
27.47%
CSL
13.78%
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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Carlisle (CSL) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 20.21% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

20.21%

Max
36.60%
CSL
20.21%
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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Carlisle (CSL) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCSLGWW
ROE (TTM)42.34%52.33%
ROA (TTM)10.20%20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)13.78%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.21%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)34.66%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Carlisle (CSL) at 0.33% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) at -38.46% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCSLGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.33%4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.70%5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)-38.46%-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.84%5.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Carlisle (CSL) at 2.41 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.41

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
CSL
2.41
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
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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) at 2.01 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.01

Max
2.33
CSL
2.01
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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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCSLGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.412.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.010.65
Net Debt / EBITDA1.930.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 1.20% 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, CSL the richer one.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

1.20%

Max
2.66%
CSL
1.20%
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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Carlisle (CSL) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Carlisle (CSL) at 25.50% 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

25.50%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
CSL
25.50%
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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Carlisle (CSL) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCSLGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.20%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.50%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Carlisle (CSL) at 21.06 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

21.06

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
CSL
21.06
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
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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) at 2.79 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.79

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
CSL
2.79
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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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) at 10.11 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

10.11

CSL
10.11
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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Carlisle (CSL) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricCSLGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.0631.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.793.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.1115.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.01%1.97%