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GWW vs. NVT: W.W. Grainger vs. nVent Electric Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
Profile ItemGWWNVT
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.nVent Electric plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsElectrical Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsElectrical Components & Equipment
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD17.16 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973April 24, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
NVT
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT), 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 nVent Electric (NVT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and nVent Electric (NVT). 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 nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricGWWNVT
Total Return (1Y)54.07%2.86%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%32.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%26.96%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
NVT
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT), 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 nVent Electric (NVT). 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 nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricGWWNVT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%53.94%
Beta (5Y)0.931.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-46.67%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K2.54M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and NVT 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 nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricGWWNVT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.03-0.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.31-0.03

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than nVent Electric (NVT) at 17.42%, 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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

17.42%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
NVT
17.42%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

nVent Electric (NVT) at 12.83% 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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

12.83%

Max
27.47%
NVT
12.83%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

nVent Electric (NVT) at 18.75% 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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

18.75%

Max
36.60%
NVT
18.75%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricGWWNVT
ROE (TTM)52.33%17.42%
ROA (TTM)20.34%7.88%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%12.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%18.75%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%36.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

nVent Electric (NVT) at 29.51% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for NVT.

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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

nVent Electric (NVT) at 118.78% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricGWWNVT
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%29.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%19.26%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%118.78%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%21.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 and nVent Electric (NVT) at 2.40 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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

2.40

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
NVT
2.40
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): 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 nVent Electric (NVT) at 0.57 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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

0.57

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
NVT
0.57
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): 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 nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricGWWNVT
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.612.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.57
Net Debt / EBITDA0.691.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% and nVent Electric (NVT) at 0.84% 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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

0.84%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
NVT
0.84%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): 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 nVent Electric (NVT) at 20.15% 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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

20.15%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
NVT
20.15%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricGWWNVT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%0.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%20.15%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 and nVent Electric (NVT) at 25.78 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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

25.78

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
NVT
25.78
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): 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 nVent Electric (NVT) at 3.24 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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

3.24

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
NVT
3.24
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

nVent Electric (NVT) at 4.17 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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

4.17

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
NVT
4.17
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricGWWNVT
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6625.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.483.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.564.17
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%2.93%