GWW vs. TXT: W.W. Grainger vs. Textron Stock Comparison
How do W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Textron (TXT) 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 Textron (TXT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while TXT is classified in Aerospace & Defense.
| Profile Item | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | W.W. Grainger Inc. | Textron 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 | 14.15 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 54.07% | 3.94% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 24.16% | 4.49% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 25.95% | 2.30% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.49% | 29.18% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.93 | 0.87 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -24.50% | -37.33% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 250.35K | 1.72M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.03 | -0.01 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.31 | -0.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Textron (TXT) at 12.48%, 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%
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
12.48%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- TXT
- 12.48%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17% and Textron (TXT) at 6.30% 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%
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
6.30%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- TXT
- 6.30%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% and Textron (TXT) at 9.33% 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%
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
9.33%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- TXT
- 9.33%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 52.33% | 12.48% |
| ROA (TTM) | 20.34% | 4.51% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.17% | 6.30% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 16.14% | 9.33% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 39.43% | 17.53% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and Textron (TXT) at 8.01% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Textron (TXT) at 18.02% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.51% | 8.01% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.62% | 4.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -8.55% | 18.02% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.60% | 8.42% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 and Textron (TXT) at 1.80 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
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
1.80
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- TXT
- 1.80
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 and Textron (TXT) at 0.52 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
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
0.52
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- TXT
- 0.52
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.61 | 1.80 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.65 | 0.52 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.69 | 1.54 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% and Textron (TXT) at 0.09% 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%
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
0.09%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- TXT
- 0.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 20.87% and Textron (TXT) at 1.44% 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%
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
1.44%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- TXT
- 1.44%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.65% | 0.09% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 20.87% | 1.44% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Textron (TXT) at 15.03 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 TXT, 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
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
15.03
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- TXT
- 15.03
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Textron (TXT) at 0.92 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 3.48 prices around its industry’s middle — TXT costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
0.92
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- TXT
- 0.92
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Textron (TXT) at 1.74 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
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
TXT
Capital Goods industry group
1.74
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- TXT
- 1.74
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GWW | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 31.66 | 15.03 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.48 | 0.92 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 15.56 | 1.74 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.97% | 5.35% |