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FER vs. GWW: Ferrovial vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do Ferrovial (FER) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemFERGWW
NameFerrovial N.V.W.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionNetherlandsUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryConstruction & EngineeringTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction & EngineeringTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization42.19 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 13, 2012February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FER
GWW
GSPC
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Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGWW
Total Return (1Y)-1.10%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.01%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.20%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FER
GWW
GSPC
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Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.38%24.49%
Beta (5Y)0.360.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-33.67%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.95M250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FER 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 Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.202.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.303.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Ferrovial (FER) at 11.62%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

11.62%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
FER
11.62%
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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Ferrovial (FER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 6.15% 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.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

6.15%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
FER
6.15%
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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Ferrovial (FER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 10.45% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

10.45%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
FER
10.45%
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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Ferrovial (FER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGWW
ROE (TTM)11.62%52.33%
ROA (TTM)2.62%20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)6.15%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.45%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)87.14%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 5.24% 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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Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) at -72.26% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.24%4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.43%5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)-72.26%-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)70.54%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 Ferrovial (FER) at 1.20 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for FER.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

1.20

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
FER
1.20
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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Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) at 1.44 uses more debt funding than most peers.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

1.44

Max
2.33
FER
1.44
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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Ferrovial (FER) 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 Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.202.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.440.65
Net Debt / EBITDA4.390.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 0.94% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

0.94%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
FER
0.94%
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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Ferrovial (FER) 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% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Ferrovial (FER) at 71.24% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

71.24%

FER
71.24%
Max
67.39%
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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Ferrovial (FER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.94%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)71.24%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 32.26 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.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

32.26

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
FER
32.26
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
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Ferrovial (FER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 3.48 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ferrovial (FER) at 4.28 sits in the pricier quartile — FER costs more per dollar of sales.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

4.28

Max
7.54
FER
4.28
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
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Ferrovial (FER) 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: Ferrovial (FER) at 6.59 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices even higher, above its industry range.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

6.59

Max
9.66
FER
6.59
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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Ferrovial (FER) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.2631.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.283.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.5915.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.11%1.97%