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GWW vs. HEI: W.W. Grainger vs. HEICO Stock Comparison

How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI) 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

W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while HEI is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
Profile ItemGWWHEI
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.HEICO Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD46.49 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
HEI
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI), 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 W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
MetricGWWHEI
Total Return (1Y)54.07%6.50%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%28.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%18.19%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
HEI
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI), 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 W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
MetricGWWHEI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%33.37%
Beta (5Y)0.931.06
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-27.11%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K480.74K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and HEI 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 W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
MetricGWWHEI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.030.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.310.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than HEICO (HEI) at 17.73%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

17.73%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
HEI
17.73%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

HEICO (HEI) at 16.38% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

16.38%

Max
27.47%
HEI
16.38%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

HEICO (HEI) at 25.14% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

25.14%

Max
36.60%
HEI
25.14%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
MetricGWWHEI
ROE (TTM)52.33%17.73%
ROA (TTM)20.34%8.50%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%16.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%25.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%40.40%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and HEICO (HEI) at 16.26% 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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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

HEICO (HEI) at 33.52% 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 HEI.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
MetricGWWHEI
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%16.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%26.64%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%33.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%24.32%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 and HEICO (HEI) at 2.72 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

2.72

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
HEI
2.72
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 and HEICO (HEI) at 0.45 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

0.45

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
HEI
0.45
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
MetricGWWHEI
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.612.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.45
Net Debt / EBITDA0.691.56

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% and HEICO (HEI) at 0.08% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

0.08%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
HEI
0.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 20.87% and HEICO (HEI) at 4.17% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

4.17%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
HEI
4.17%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
MetricGWWHEI
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%0.08%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%4.17%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while HEICO (HEI) at 55.44 sits in the richer quartile — HEI needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

55.44

Max
59.38
HEI
55.44
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): 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 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while HEICO (HEI) at 8.98 clears its benchmark range — HEI looks notably rich on sales.

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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

8.98

HEI
8.98
Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: HEICO (HEI) at 9.40 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

9.40

Max
9.66
HEI
9.40
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and HEICO (HEI)
MetricGWWHEI
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6655.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.488.98
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.569.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%1.82%