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GWW vs. HON: W.W. Grainger vs. Honeywell Stock Comparison

How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Honeywell (HON) 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 Honeywell (HON) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while HON is classified in Industrial Conglomerates.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Honeywell (HON)
Profile ItemGWWHON
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.Honeywell International Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsIndustrial Conglomerates
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsIndustrial Conglomerates
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD69.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
HON
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON), 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 Honeywell (HON). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Honeywell (HON). 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 Honeywell (HON)
MetricGWWHON
Total Return (1Y)54.07%14.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%9.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%2.32%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
HON
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON), 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 Honeywell (HON). 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 Honeywell (HON)
MetricGWWHON
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%27.11%
Beta (5Y)0.930.80
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-25.21%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K2.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and HON 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 Honeywell (HON)
MetricGWWHON
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.030.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.310.52

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% and Honeywell (HON) at 44.39% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

44.39%

HON
44.39%
Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Honeywell (HON) at 18.68% 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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

18.68%

Max
27.47%
HON
18.68%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% and Honeywell (HON) at 16.92% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

16.92%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
HON
16.92%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Honeywell (HON)
MetricGWWHON
ROE (TTM)52.33%44.39%
ROA (TTM)20.34%7.13%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%18.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%16.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%37.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and Honeywell (HON) at 7.85% 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. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Honeywell (HON) at -8.27% 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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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Honeywell (HON)
MetricGWWHON
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%7.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%1.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%-8.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%3.20%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Honeywell (HON) at 0.96 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for HON.

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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

0.96

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
HON
0.96
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): 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 Honeywell (HON) at 0.76 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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

0.76

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
HON
0.76
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): 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 Honeywell (HON)
MetricGWWHON
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.610.96
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.76
Net Debt / EBITDA0.691.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pays an industry-typical yield; Honeywell (HON) at 3.63% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

3.63%

HON
3.63%
Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): 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 Honeywell (HON) at 38.87% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

38.87%

Max
67.39%
HON
38.87%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Honeywell (HON)
MetricGWWHON
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%3.63%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%38.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Honeywell (HON) at 10.91 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for HON, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

10.91

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
HON
10.91
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 3.48 and Honeywell (HON) at 1.85 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

1.85

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
HON
1.85
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Honeywell (HON) at 3.12 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.

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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

3.12

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Honeywell (HON)
MetricGWWHON
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6610.91
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.481.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.563.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%10.07%