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GWW vs. PCAR: W.W. Grainger vs. PACCAR Stock Comparison

How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) and PACCAR (PCAR) 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 PACCAR (PCAR) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while PCAR is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Profile ItemGWWPCAR
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.PACCAR Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD53.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
PCAR
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR), 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 PACCAR (PCAR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and PACCAR (PCAR). 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 PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricGWWPCAR
Total Return (1Y)54.07%9.49%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%11.04%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%16.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
PCAR
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR), 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 PACCAR (PCAR). 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 PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricGWWPCAR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%27.23%
Beta (5Y)0.930.94
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-27.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K3.33M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and PCAR 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 PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricGWWPCAR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.030.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.310.30

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than PACCAR (PCAR) at 13.71%, 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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

13.71%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
PCAR
13.71%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17% and PACCAR (PCAR) at 9.50% 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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

9.50%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
PCAR
9.50%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): 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 PACCAR (PCAR) at 12.59% 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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

12.59%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
PCAR
12.59%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricGWWPCAR
ROE (TTM)52.33%13.71%
ROA (TTM)20.34%4.53%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%9.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%12.59%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%14.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while PACCAR (PCAR) at -15.50% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while PACCAR (PCAR) at -42.91% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricGWWPCAR
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%-15.50%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%-0.44%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%-42.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%-7.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while PACCAR (PCAR) at 5.47 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

5.47

PCAR
5.47
Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): 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 PACCAR (PCAR) at 0.72 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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

0.72

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
PCAR
0.72
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): 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 PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricGWWPCAR
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.615.47
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.72
Net Debt / EBITDA0.691.62

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 1.30% 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, PCAR 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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

1.30%

Max
2.66%
PCAR
1.30%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): 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 PACCAR (PCAR) at 25.95% 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%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

25.95%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
PCAR
25.95%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricGWWPCAR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%1.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%25.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 19.46 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 PCAR, 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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

19.46

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
PCAR
19.46
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): 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 PACCAR (PCAR) 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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

1.85

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 2.57 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

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

2.57

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
PCAR
2.57
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricGWWPCAR
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6619.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.481.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.562.57
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%3.23%