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GWW vs. NXT: W.W. Grainger vs. Nextracker Stock Comparison

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

W.W. Grainger (GWW) has more than two decades of public-market history since February 21, 1973, whereas Nextracker (NXT) listed on February 9, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Nextracker (NXT)
Profile ItemGWWNXT
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.Nextpower Inc. Class A Common Stock
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 USD16.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 9, 2023
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
NXT
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT), 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 Nextracker (NXT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Nextracker (NXT). 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 Nextracker (NXT)
MetricGWWNXT
Total Return (1Y)54.07%0.06%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%45.51%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
NXT
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT), 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 Nextracker (NXT). 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 Nextracker (NXT)
MetricGWWNXT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%68.10%
Beta (5Y)0.931.66
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-51.10%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and NXT 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 Nextracker (NXT)
MetricGWWNXT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.03-0.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.31-0.09

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; Nextracker (NXT) at 26.46% 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%

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

26.46%

Max
40.55%
NXT
26.46%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Nextracker (NXT) at 15.98% 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%

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

15.98%

Max
27.47%
NXT
15.98%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Nextracker (NXT) at 20.06% 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%

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

20.06%

Max
36.60%
NXT
20.06%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Nextracker (NXT)
MetricGWWNXT
ROE (TTM)52.33%26.46%
ROA (TTM)20.34%10.75%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%15.98%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%20.06%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%21.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Nextracker (NXT) at 20.28% 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 NXT.

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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Nextracker (NXT) at 10.66% 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. Nextracker (NXT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Nextracker (NXT)
MetricGWWNXT
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%20.28%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%23.23%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%10.66%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%476.90%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 and Nextracker (NXT) at 2.23 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

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

2.23

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
NXT
2.23
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Nextracker (NXT) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.02

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
NXT
0.02
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): 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 Nextracker (NXT)
MetricGWWNXT
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.612.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.02
Net Debt / EBITDA0.69-1.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Nextracker (NXT) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile W.W. Grainger (GWW) reports a yield of 0.65%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Nextracker (NXT) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile W.W. Grainger (GWW) reports a payout of 20.87%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Nextracker (NXT)
MetricGWWNXT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 and Nextracker (NXT) at 26.42 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

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

26.42

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
NXT
26.42
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): 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 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Nextracker (NXT) at 4.17 sits in the pricier quartile — NXT costs more per dollar of 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

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

4.17

Max
7.54
NXT
4.17
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Nextracker (NXT) at 5.98 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

NXT

Capital Goods industry group

5.98

Max
9.66
NXT
5.98
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Nextracker (NXT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Nextracker (NXT)
MetricGWWNXT
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6626.42
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.484.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.565.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%2.32%