GWW vs. TDG: W.W. Grainger vs. TransDigm Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) and TransDigm (TDG) 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 TransDigm (TDG) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while TDG is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and TransDigm (TDG)
Profile Item	GWW	TDG
Name	W.W. Grainger Inc.	TransDigm Group Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	67.45 billion USD	66.17 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	March 15, 2006
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW

TDG

GSPC

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG), 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 TransDigm (TDG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and TransDigm (TDG). 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 TransDigm (TDG)
Metric	GWW	TDG
Total Return (1Y)	54.07%	-3.42%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.16%	14.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.95%	16.86%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW

TDG

GSPC

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG), 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 TransDigm (TDG). 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 TransDigm (TDG)
Metric	GWW	TDG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.49%	28.03%
Beta (5Y)	0.93	0.94
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-24.50%	-29.05%
Avg. Volume (3M)	250.35K	369.72K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

GWW and TDG 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 TransDigm (TDG)
Metric	GWW	TDG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.03	-0.27
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.31	-0.38

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: W.W. Grainger (GWW) earns 52.33% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; TransDigm (TDG) has no ROE this period.

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%

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%
TDG: --

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): TDG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; GWW is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

TransDigm (TDG) at 21.28% 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%

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

21.28%

Max: 27.47%
TDG: 21.28%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

TransDigm (TDG) at 46.01% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% operates 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%

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

46.01%

TDG: 46.01%
Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and TransDigm (TDG)
Metric	GWW	TDG
ROE (TTM)	52.33%	--
ROA (TTM)	20.34%	11.82%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.17%	21.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)	16.14%	46.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)	39.43%	59.82%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and TransDigm (TDG) at 11.22% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and TransDigm (TDG) at 25.21% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and TransDigm (TDG)
Metric	GWW	TDG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.51%	11.22%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	17.61%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-8.55%	25.21%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.60%	33.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while TransDigm (TDG) at 3.02 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

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

3.02

Max: 5.22
TDG: 3.02
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: W.W. Grainger (GWW) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65 against its industry range, while TransDigm (TDG) reports no figure this period.

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

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00
TDG: --

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): TDG does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; GWW is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and TransDigm (TDG)
Metric	GWW	TDG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.61	3.02
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.65	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.69	6.03

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

TransDigm (TDG) 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%

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
TDG: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

TransDigm (TDG) 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%

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
TDG: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and TransDigm (TDG)
Metric	GWW	TDG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.65%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	20.87%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while TransDigm (TDG) at 36.31 sits in the richer quartile — TDG needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

36.31

Max: 59.38
TDG: 36.31
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): 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 TransDigm (TDG) at 6.61 sits in the pricier quartile — TDG 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

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

6.61

Max: 7.54
TDG: 6.61
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

TransDigm (TDG) reports a negative P/B ratio of -6.74, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile W.W. Grainger (GWW) reports 15.56, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

TDG

Capital Goods industry group

-6.74

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08
TDG: -6.74

W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. TransDigm (TDG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and TransDigm (TDG)
Metric	GWW	TDG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.66	36.31
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.48	6.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	15.56	-6.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.97%	2.20%