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GWW vs. SNA: W.W. Grainger vs. Snap-on Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Snap-on (SNA)
Profile ItemGWWSNA
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.Snap-on Incorporated
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD18.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
SNA
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA), 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 Snap-on (SNA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Snap-on (SNA). 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGWWSNA
Total Return (1Y)54.07%12.48%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%15.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%14.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
SNA
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA), 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 Snap-on (SNA). 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGWWSNA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%19.41%
Beta (5Y)0.930.73
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-20.77%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K333.56K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and SNA 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGWWSNA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.030.42
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.310.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Snap-on (SNA) at 17.32%, 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

17.32%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
SNA
17.32%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 19.21% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

19.21%

Max
27.47%
SNA
19.21%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 24.88% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

24.88%

Max
36.60%
SNA
24.88%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGWWSNA
ROE (TTM)52.33%17.32%
ROA (TTM)20.34%9.70%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%19.21%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%24.88%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%51.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Snap-on (SNA) at 0.93% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Snap-on (SNA) at -1.64% 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. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGWWSNA
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%0.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%2.11%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%-1.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%4.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Snap-on (SNA) at 3.55 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.55

Max
5.22
SNA
3.55
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Snap-on (SNA) at 0.21 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

0.21

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
SNA
0.21
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGWWSNA
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.613.55
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.21
Net Debt / EBITDA0.69-0.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 2.66% 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, SNA 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

2.66%

SNA
2.66%
Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA) at 50.70% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

50.70%

Max
67.39%
SNA
50.70%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGWWSNA
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%2.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%50.70%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 19.08 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 SNA, 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

19.08

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
SNA
19.08
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA) at 3.60 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.60

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
SNA
3.60
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Snap-on (SNA) at 3.11 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.11

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
SNA
3.11
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
Loading chart…
W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGWWSNA
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6619.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.483.60
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.563.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%5.77%