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GWW vs. WWD: W.W. Grainger vs. Woodward Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Woodward (WWD)
Profile ItemGWWWWD
NameW.W. Grainger Inc.Woodward, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization67.45 billion USD18.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973April 4, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWW
WWD
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD), 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 Woodward (WWD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Woodward (WWD). 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 Woodward (WWD)
MetricGWWWWD
Total Return (1Y)54.07%25.66%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.16%36.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.95%23.54%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWW
WWD
GSPC
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD), 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 Woodward (WWD). 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 Woodward (WWD)
MetricGWWWWD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.49%40.29%
Beta (5Y)0.930.87
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.50%-37.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)250.35K665.85K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWW and WWD 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 Woodward (WWD)
MetricGWWWWD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.030.53
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.310.85

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; Woodward (WWD) at 22.34% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

22.34%

Max
40.55%
WWD
22.34%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Woodward (WWD) at 13.17% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.17%

Max
27.47%
WWD
13.17%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% and Woodward (WWD) at 17.76% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

17.76%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
WWD
17.76%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricGWWWWD
ROE (TTM)52.33%22.34%
ROA (TTM)20.34%8.62%
Net Margin (TTM)11.17%13.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.14%17.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.43%29.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% and Woodward (WWD) at 7.30% 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. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% and Woodward (WWD) at 19.63% 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. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricGWWWWD
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.51%7.30%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%14.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)-8.55%19.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.60%38.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 and Woodward (WWD) at 1.65 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

1.65

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
WWD
1.65
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 0.56 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
WWD
0.56
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD)
MetricGWWWWD
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.611.65
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.650.56
Net Debt / EBITDA0.691.13

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% and Woodward (WWD) at 0.32% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.32%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
WWD
0.32%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 20.87% and Woodward (WWD) at 13.35% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
WWD
13.35%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricGWWWWD
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%0.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.87%13.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 and Woodward (WWD) at 35.30 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

35.30

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
WWD
35.30
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 4.47 sits in the pricier quartile — WWD 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

4.47

Max
7.54
WWD
4.47
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Woodward (WWD) at 7.60 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

7.60

Max
9.66
WWD
7.60
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for W.W. Grainger (GWW) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricGWWWWD
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.6635.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.484.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.567.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.97%1.00%