Seek Returns

GWW vs. PNR: W.W. Grainger vs. Pentair Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Pentair (PNR)
Profile ItemGWWPNR
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.Pentair plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD10.88 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973May 3, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
PNR
GSPC
Loading price history…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR), 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 Pentair (PNR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Pentair (PNR). 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 Pentair (PNR)
MetricGWWPNR
Total Return (1Y)54.07%-33.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%6.19%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%0.13%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
PNR
GSPC
Loading price history…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR), 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 Pentair (PNR). 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 Pentair (PNR)
MetricGWWPNR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%36.79%
Beta (5Y)0.930.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-53.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K3.26M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
GWW and PNR 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 Pentair (PNR)
MetricGWWPNR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.03-1.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.31-1.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Pentair (PNR) at 15.61%, 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

15.61%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
PNR
15.61%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 15.44% 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

15.44%

Max
27.47%
PNR
15.44%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 21.90% 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

21.90%

Max
36.60%
PNR
21.90%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Pentair (PNR)
MetricGWWPNR
ROE (TTM)52.33%15.61%
ROA (TTM)20.34%7.91%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%15.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%21.90%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%40.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and Pentair (PNR) at 2.28% 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. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Pentair (PNR) at 5.88% 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. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Pentair (PNR)
MetricGWWPNR
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%2.28%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%0.44%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%5.88%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%10.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 and Pentair (PNR) at 1.47 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

1.47

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
PNR
1.47
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR) at 0.42 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

0.42

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
PNR
0.42
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR)
MetricGWWPNR
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.611.47
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.42
Net Debt / EBITDA0.691.61

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 1.52% 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, PNR 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

1.52%

Max
2.66%
PNR
1.52%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR) at 28.88% 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

28.88%

Max
67.39%
PNR
28.88%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Pentair (PNR)
MetricGWWPNR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%1.52%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%28.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 18.56 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 PNR, 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

18.56

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
PNR
18.56
Min
3.03
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR) at 2.74 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

2.74

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
PNR
2.74
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pentair (PNR) at 2.82 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

2.82

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
PNR
2.82
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Pentair (PNR)
MetricGWWPNR
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6618.56
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.482.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.562.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%4.77%