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GWW vs. TT: W.W. Grainger vs. Trane Technologies Stock Comparison

How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Trane Technologies (TT) 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 Trane Technologies (TT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while TT is classified in Building Products.

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Trane Technologies (TT)
Profile ItemGWWTT
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.Trane Technologies plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesIreland
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsBuilding Products
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsBuilding Products
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD87.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
TT
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT), 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 Trane Technologies (TT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Trane Technologies (TT). 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 Trane Technologies (TT)
MetricGWWTT
Total Return (1Y)54.07%-2.56%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%25.06%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%18.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
TT
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT), 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 Trane Technologies (TT). 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 Trane Technologies (TT)
MetricGWWTT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%30.26%
Beta (5Y)0.931.18
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-39.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K1.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and TT 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 Trane Technologies (TT)
MetricGWWTT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.03-0.23
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.31-0.31

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; Trane Technologies (TT) at 36.94% 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%

TT

Capital Goods industry group

36.94%

Max
40.55%
TT
36.94%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Trane Technologies (TT) at 13.56% 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%

TT

Capital Goods industry group

13.56%

Max
27.47%
TT
13.56%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Trane Technologies (TT) at 19.85% 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%

TT

Capital Goods industry group

19.85%

Max
36.60%
TT
19.85%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Trane Technologies (TT)
MetricGWWTT
ROE (TTM)52.33%36.94%
ROA (TTM)20.34%11.42%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%13.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%19.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%34.99%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and Trane Technologies (TT) at 7.48% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Trane Technologies (TT) at 15.48% 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. Trane Technologies (TT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Trane Technologies (TT)
MetricGWWTT
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%7.48%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%10.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%15.48%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%20.17%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Trane Technologies (TT) at 1.12 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for TT.

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

TT

Capital Goods industry group

1.12

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
TT
1.12
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): 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 Trane Technologies (TT) at 0.46 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

TT

Capital Goods industry group

0.46

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
TT
0.46
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): 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 Trane Technologies (TT)
MetricGWWTT
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.611.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.46
Net Debt / EBITDA0.690.66

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% and Trane Technologies (TT) at 1.04% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

TT

Capital Goods industry group

1.04%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
TT
1.04%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): 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 Trane Technologies (TT) at 28.42% 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%

TT

Capital Goods industry group

28.42%

Max
67.39%
TT
28.42%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Trane Technologies (TT)
MetricGWWTT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%1.04%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%28.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 and Trane Technologies (TT) at 27.92 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

TT

Capital Goods industry group

27.92

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
TT
27.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): 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 Trane Technologies (TT) at 3.79 sits in the pricier quartile — TT 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

TT

Capital Goods industry group

3.79

Max
7.54
TT
3.79
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Trane Technologies (TT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Trane Technologies (TT) at 9.66 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

TT

Capital Goods industry group

9.66

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Trane Technologies (TT)
MetricGWWTT
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6627.92
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.483.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.569.66
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%3.94%