GGG vs. WWD: Graco vs. Woodward Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD) 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

Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GGG is classified in Machinery while WWD is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Profile Item	GGG	WWD
Name	Graco Inc.	Woodward, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	10.88 billion USD	18.74 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	April 4, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GGG

WWD

GSPC

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD), 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 Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	GGG	WWD
Total Return (1Y)	-12.76%	25.66%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-1.59%	36.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.14%	23.54%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GGG

WWD

GSPC

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD), 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 Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	GGG	WWD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	26.08%	40.29%
Beta (5Y)	0.87	0.87
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-29.55%	-37.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.99M	665.85K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

GGG and WWD 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 Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	GGG	WWD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.65	0.53
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.80	0.85

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Graco (GGG) at 20.38% and Woodward (WWD) at 22.34% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

20.38%

Max: 40.55%
GGG: 20.38%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

22.34%

Max: 40.55%
WWD: 22.34%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Graco (GGG) at 22.40% and Woodward (WWD) at 13.17% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

22.40%

Max: 27.47%
GGG: 22.40%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.17%

Max: 27.47%
WWD: 13.17%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Graco (GGG) at 25.26% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Woodward (WWD) at 17.76%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

25.26%

Max: 36.60%
GGG: 25.26%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

17.76%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
WWD: 17.76%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	GGG	WWD
ROE (TTM)	20.38%	22.34%
ROA (TTM)	12.02%	8.62%
Net Margin (TTM)	22.40%	13.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)	25.26%	17.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)	51.96%	29.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Graco (GGG) at 5.83% and Woodward (WWD) at 7.30% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Graco (GGG) at 9.22% and Woodward (WWD) at 19.63% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	GGG	WWD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.83%	7.30%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.43%	14.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.22%	19.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.01%	38.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Graco (GGG) at 2.13 and Woodward (WWD) at 1.65 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

2.13

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
GGG: 2.13
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

1.65

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
WWD: 1.65
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Graco (GGG) at 0.07 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Woodward (WWD) at 0.56 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

0.07

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
GGG: 0.07
Min: 0.00

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
WWD: 0.56
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	GGG	WWD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.13	1.65
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.07	0.56
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.03	1.13

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Graco (GGG) at 1.74% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Woodward (WWD) at 0.32% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GGG the richer one.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

1.74%

Max: 2.66%
GGG: 1.74%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.32%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WWD: 0.32%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Woodward (WWD) at 13.35% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Graco (GGG) at 37.42% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

37.42%

Max: 67.39%
GGG: 37.42%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WWD: 13.35%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	GGG	WWD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.74%	0.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	37.42%	13.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Graco (GGG) at 21.89 and Woodward (WWD) at 35.30 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

21.89

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
GGG: 21.89
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

35.30

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
WWD: 35.30
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Graco (GGG) at 4.71 and Woodward (WWD) at 4.47 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

4.71

Max: 7.54
GGG: 4.71
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

4.47

Max: 7.54
WWD: 4.47
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Graco (GGG) at 4.41 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Woodward (WWD) at 7.60 carries an above-peer premium to book — WWD is pricier on assets.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

4.41

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
GGG: 4.41
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

7.60

Max: 9.66
WWD: 7.60
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Graco (GGG) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Graco (GGG) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	GGG	WWD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.89	35.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.71	4.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.41	7.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.94%	1.00%