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EME vs. GWW: EMCOR vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do EMCOR (EME) 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

EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but EME is classified in Construction & Engineering while GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemEMEGWW
NameEMCOR Group, Inc.W.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryConstruction & EngineeringTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction & EngineeringTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization26.64 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 10, 1995February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EME
GWW
GSPC
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EMCOR (EME) 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 EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for EMCOR (EME) 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 EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricEMEGWW
Total Return (1Y)0.07%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)46.16%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)38.01%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EME
GWW
GSPC
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EMCOR (EME) 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 EMCOR (EME) 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 EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricEMEGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.79%24.49%
Beta (5Y)1.170.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.85%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)402.73K250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EME 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 EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricEMEGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.102.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.143.31

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; EMCOR (EME) at 40.55% also sits in the top quartile.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

40.55%

EME
40.55%
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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EMCOR (EME) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both EMCOR (EME) at 7.78% 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.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

7.78%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
EME
7.78%
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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EMCOR (EME) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both EMCOR (EME) at 10.46% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

10.46%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
EME
10.46%
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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EMCOR (EME) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricEMEGWW
ROE (TTM)40.55%52.33%
ROA (TTM)12.33%20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)7.78%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.46%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)19.59%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both EMCOR (EME) at 16.62% 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.

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

EPS Growth

EMCOR (EME) at 30.99% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for EME.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricEMEGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)16.62%4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)15.32%5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)30.99%-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)51.54%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 EMCOR (EME) at 1.17 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for EME.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

1.17

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
EME
1.17
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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EMCOR (EME) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

EMCOR (EME) at 0.13 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

0.13

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
EME
0.13
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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EMCOR (EME) 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 EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricEMEGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.172.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.130.65
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.100.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both EMCOR (EME) at 0.07% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

0.07%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
EME
0.07%
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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EMCOR (EME) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both EMCOR (EME) at 4.19% 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.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

4.19%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
EME
4.19%
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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EMCOR (EME) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricEMEGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.07%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)4.19%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

EMCOR (EME) at 17.59 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 EME, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

17.59

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
EME
17.59
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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EMCOR (EME) 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 EMCOR (EME) at 1.34 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.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

1.34

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
EME
1.34
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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EMCOR (EME) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: EMCOR (EME) at 6.26 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices even higher, above its industry range.

EME

Capital Goods industry group

6.26

Max
9.66
EME
6.26
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
Loading chart…
EMCOR (EME) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for EMCOR (EME) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricEMEGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)17.5931.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.343.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.2615.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.82%1.97%