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GWW vs. LMT: W.W. Grainger vs. Lockheed Martin Stock Comparison

How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while LMT is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Lockheed Martin (LMT)
Profile ItemGWWLMT
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.Lockheed Martin 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 USD131.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
LMT
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT), 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Lockheed Martin (LMT). 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT)
MetricGWWLMT
Total Return (1Y)54.07%31.17%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%12.79%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%14.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
LMT
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT), 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT). 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT)
MetricGWWLMT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%31.09%
Beta (5Y)0.930.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-31.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K1.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and LMT 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT)
MetricGWWLMT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.030.86
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.311.38

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 80.19% 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%

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

80.19%

LMT
80.19%
Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17% and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 8.23% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

8.23%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
LMT
8.23%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 11.41% 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%

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

11.41%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
LMT
11.41%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Lockheed Martin (LMT)
MetricGWWLMT
ROE (TTM)52.33%80.19%
ROA (TTM)20.34%8.58%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%8.23%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%11.41%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%11.73%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 5.64% 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. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at -3.68% 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. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Lockheed Martin (LMT)
MetricGWWLMT
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%5.64%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%4.38%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%-3.68%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%-0.26%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 1.26 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LMT.

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

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

1.26

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
LMT
1.26
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 2.04 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

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

2.04

Max
2.33
LMT
2.04
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT)
MetricGWWLMT
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.611.26
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.652.04
Net Debt / EBITDA0.691.47

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 2.40% 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, LMT 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%

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

2.40%

Max
2.66%
LMT
2.40%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 49.01% 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%

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

49.01%

Max
67.39%
LMT
49.01%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Lockheed Martin (LMT)
MetricGWWLMT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%2.40%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%49.01%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 20.14 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

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

20.14

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
LMT
20.14
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): 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 Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 1.66 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

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

1.66

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
LMT
1.66
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 12.96 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark 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

LMT

Capital Goods industry group

12.96

LMT
12.96
Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Lockheed Martin (LMT)
MetricGWWLMT
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6620.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.481.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.5612.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%4.31%