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FERG vs. GWW: Ferguson Enterprises vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) are both classified in the Trading Companies & Distributors sub-industry within the broader Trading Companies & Distributors industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemFERGGWW
NameFerguson Enterprises Inc.W.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization45.21 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 5, 2010February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FERG
GWW
GSPC
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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGGWW
Total Return (1Y)6.92%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.73%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)13.21%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FERG
GWW
GSPC
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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.85%24.49%
Beta (5Y)1.080.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.31%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.46M250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FERG 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.082.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.123.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: W.W. Grainger (GWW) earns 52.33% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) has no ROE this period.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

--

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
FERG
--

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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): FERG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; GWW is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 6.32% 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.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

6.32%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
FERG
6.32%
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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 10.16% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

10.16%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
FERG
10.16%
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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGGWW
ROE (TTM)--52.33%
ROA (TTM)--20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)6.32%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.16%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)30.63%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: W.W. Grainger (GWW) reports revenue growth of 4.51%, ranked against its industry; Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 19.11% 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.

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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)--4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)--5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)19.11%-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--5.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.73 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.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.73

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
FERG
1.73
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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.11 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.11

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
FERG
1.11
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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.732.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.110.65
Net Debt / EBITDA2.100.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.80% 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, FERG the richer one.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.80%

Max
2.66%
FERG
1.80%
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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 33.57% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

33.57%

Max
67.39%
FERG
33.57%
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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.80%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.57%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 23.00 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.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

23.00

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
FERG
23.00
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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.44 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.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.44

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
FERG
1.44
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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Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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: Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 7.29 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices even higher, above its industry range.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

7.29

Max
9.66
FERG
7.29
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…
Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFERGGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.0031.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.443.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.2915.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--1.97%