Seek Returns

GWW vs. HUBB: W.W. Grainger vs. Hubbell Stock Comparison

How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB) 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 Hubbell (HUBB) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while HUBB is classified in Electrical Equipment.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB)
Profile ItemGWWHUBB
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.Hubbell Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsElectrical Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsElectrical Components & Equipment
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD22.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973June 5, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
HUBB
GSPC
Loading price history…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB). 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 Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricGWWHUBB
Total Return (1Y)54.07%-2.60%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%17.51%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%18.15%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
HUBB
GSPC
Loading price history…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB). 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 Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricGWWHUBB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%32.90%
Beta (5Y)0.930.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-32.65%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K557.78K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
GWW and HUBB 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 Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricGWWHUBB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.03-0.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.31-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Hubbell (HUBB) at 23.43% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

23.43%

Max
40.55%
HUBB
23.43%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Hubbell (HUBB) at 13.78% 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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

13.78%

Max
27.47%
HUBB
13.78%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Hubbell (HUBB) at 20.52% 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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

20.52%

Max
36.60%
HUBB
20.52%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricGWWHUBB
ROE (TTM)52.33%23.43%
ROA (TTM)20.34%8.53%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%13.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%20.52%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%35.02%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and Hubbell (HUBB) at 3.84% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Hubbell (HUBB) at 15.10% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricGWWHUBB
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%3.84%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%5.71%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%15.10%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%20.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 and Hubbell (HUBB) at 1.53 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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

1.53

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
HUBB
1.53
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Hubbell (HUBB) at 1.29 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

1.29

Max
2.33
HUBB
1.29
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): 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 Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricGWWHUBB
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.611.53
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.651.29
Net Debt / EBITDA0.693.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Hubbell (HUBB) at 1.36% 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, HUBB the richer one.

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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

1.36%

Max
2.66%
HUBB
1.36%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): 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 Hubbell (HUBB) at 33.31% 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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

33.31%

Max
67.39%
HUBB
33.31%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricGWWHUBB
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%1.36%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%33.31%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 and Hubbell (HUBB) at 25.19 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

25.19

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
HUBB
25.19
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): 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 Hubbell (HUBB) at 3.44 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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

3.44

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
HUBB
3.44
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Hubbell (HUBB) at 5.53 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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

5.53

Max
9.66
HUBB
5.53
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricGWWHUBB
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6625.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.483.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.565.53
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%2.44%