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FLS vs. GWW: Flowserve vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do Flowserve (FLS) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemFLSGWW
NameFlowserve CorporationW.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization10.19 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FLS
GWW
GSPC
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Flowserve (FLS) 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 Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Flowserve (FLS) 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 Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFLSGWW
Total Return (1Y)24.11%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)33.68%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)22.48%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FLS
GWW
GSPC
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Flowserve (FLS) 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 Flowserve (FLS) 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 Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFLSGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.18%24.49%
Beta (5Y)1.240.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.76%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.61M250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FLS 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 Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFLSGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.472.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.703.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Flowserve (FLS) at 11.61%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

11.61%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
FLS
11.61%
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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Flowserve (FLS) at 5.42% 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.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

5.42%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
FLS
5.42%
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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Flowserve (FLS) at 13.45% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

13.45%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
FLS
13.45%
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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFLSGWW
ROE (TTM)11.61%52.33%
ROA (TTM)6.36%20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)5.42%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.45%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)35.30%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Flowserve (FLS) at 3.76% 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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Flowserve (FLS) at 23.36% 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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFLSGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.76%4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.37%5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)23.36%-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)22.39%5.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Flowserve (FLS) at 2.10 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.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

2.10

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
FLS
2.10
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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Flowserve (FLS) at 0.95 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

0.95

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
FLS
0.95
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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Flowserve (FLS) 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 Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFLSGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.102.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.950.65
Net Debt / EBITDA2.080.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Flowserve (FLS) at 1.11% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

1.11%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
FLS
1.11%
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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Flowserve (FLS) 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 Flowserve (FLS) at 43.50% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

43.50%

Max
67.39%
FLS
43.50%
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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFLSGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.11%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)43.50%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Flowserve (FLS) at 40.19 sits in the richer quartile — FLS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

40.19

Max
59.38
FLS
40.19
Q3
35.92
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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Flowserve (FLS) 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 Flowserve (FLS) at 2.17 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.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

2.17

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
FLS
2.17
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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Flowserve (FLS) at 4.40 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.

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

4.40

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
FLS
4.40
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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Flowserve (FLS) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Flowserve (FLS) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricFLSGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.1931.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.173.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.4015.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.62%1.97%