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WW GRAINGER INC (GWW) Stock Fundamental Analysis

USA - New York Stock Exchange - NYSE:GWW - US3848021040 - Common Stock

1082.21 USD
+12.2 (+1.14%)
Last: 1/29/2026, 8:24:08 PM
1082.21 USD
0 (0%)
After Hours: 1/29/2026, 8:24:08 PM
Fundamental Rating

6

We assign a fundamental rating of 6 out of 10 to GWW. GWW was compared to 50 industry peers in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. Both the health and profitability get an excellent rating, making GWW a very profitable company, without any liquidiy or solvency issues. While showing a medium growth rate, GWW is valued expensive at the moment.


Dividend Valuation Growth Profitability Health

8

1. Profitability

1.1 Basic Checks

  • In the past year GWW was profitable.
  • GWW had a positive operating cash flow in the past year.
  • Each year in the past 5 years GWW has been profitable.
  • In the past 5 years GWW always reported a positive cash flow from operatings.
GWW Yearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCFGWW Yearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCFYearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCF 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 500M 1B 1.5B 2B 2.5B

1.2 Ratios

  • GWW has a Return On Assets of 19.55%. This is amongst the best in the industry. GWW outperforms 98.00% of its industry peers.
  • GWW has a better Return On Equity (48.58%) than 94.00% of its industry peers.
  • With an excellent Return On Invested Capital value of 27.94%, GWW belongs to the best of the industry, outperforming 98.00% of the companies in the same industry.
  • Measured over the past 3 years, the Average Return On Invested Capital for GWW is significantly above the industry average of 9.64%.
Industry RankSector Rank
ROA 19.55%
ROE 48.58%
ROIC 27.94%
ROA(3y)21.49%
ROA(5y)18.26%
ROE(3y)59.66%
ROE(5y)54.53%
ROIC(3y)30.88%
ROIC(5y)27.39%
GWW Yearly ROA, ROE, ROICGWW Yearly ROA, ROE, ROICYearly ROA, ROE, ROIC 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 20 40 60

1.3 Margins

  • With a decent Profit Margin value of 9.75%, GWW is doing good in the industry, outperforming 78.00% of the companies in the same industry.
  • GWW's Profit Margin has improved in the last couple of years.
  • GWW has a Operating Margin of 14.05%. This is in the better half of the industry: GWW outperforms 76.00% of its industry peers.
  • GWW's Operating Margin has improved in the last couple of years.
  • The Gross Margin of GWW (39.09%) is better than 74.00% of its industry peers.
  • GWW's Gross Margin has been stable in the last couple of years.
Industry RankSector Rank
OM 14.05%
PM (TTM) 9.75%
GM 39.09%
OM growth 3Y9.16%
OM growth 5Y5.04%
PM growth 3Y11.56%
PM growth 5Y8.51%
GM growth 3Y2.79%
GM growth 5Y0.56%
GWW Yearly Profit, Operating, Gross MarginsGWW Yearly Profit, Operating, Gross MarginsYearly Profit, Operating, Gross Margins 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 10 20 30 40

8

2. Health

2.1 Basic Checks

  • GWW has a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), which is well above the Cost of Capital (WACC), which means it is creating value.
  • The number of shares outstanding for GWW has been reduced compared to 1 year ago.
  • Compared to 5 years ago, GWW has less shares outstanding
  • GWW has a worse debt/assets ratio than last year.
GWW Yearly Shares OutstandingGWW Yearly Shares OutstandingYearly Shares Outstanding 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 10M 20M 30M 40M 50M
GWW Yearly Total Debt VS Total AssetsGWW Yearly Total Debt VS Total AssetsYearly Total Debt VS Total Assets 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2B 4B 6B 8B

2.2 Solvency

  • An Altman-Z score of 11.49 indicates that GWW is not in any danger for bankruptcy at the moment.
  • GWW's Altman-Z score of 11.49 is amongst the best of the industry. GWW outperforms 98.00% of its industry peers.
  • GWW has a debt to FCF ratio of 1.92. This is a very positive value and a sign of high solvency as it would only need 1.92 years to pay back of all of its debts.
  • With an excellent Debt to FCF ratio value of 1.92, GWW belongs to the best of the industry, outperforming 82.00% of the companies in the same industry.
  • GWW has a Debt/Equity ratio of 0.66. This is a neutral value indicating GWW is somewhat dependend on debt financing.
  • GWW has a Debt to Equity ratio (0.66) which is comparable to the rest of the industry.
  • Although GWW does not score too well on debt/equity it has very limited outstanding debt, which is well covered by the FCF. We will not put too much weight on the debt/equity number as it may be because of low equity, which could be a consequence of a share buyback program for instance. This needs to be investigated.
Industry RankSector Rank
Debt/Equity 0.66
Debt/FCF 1.92
Altman-Z 11.49
ROIC/WACC2.88
WACC9.7%
GWW Yearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCFGWW Yearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCFYearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCF 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 1B 2B 3B

2.3 Liquidity

  • A Current Ratio of 2.72 indicates that GWW has no problem at all paying its short term obligations.
  • The Current ratio of GWW (2.72) is better than 72.00% of its industry peers.
  • GWW has a Quick Ratio of 1.59. This is a normal value and indicates that GWW is financially healthy and should not expect problems in meeting its short term obligations.
  • GWW's Quick ratio of 1.59 is fine compared to the rest of the industry. GWW outperforms 62.00% of its industry peers.
Industry RankSector Rank
Current Ratio 2.72
Quick Ratio 1.59
GWW Yearly Current Assets VS Current LiabilitesGWW Yearly Current Assets VS Current LiabilitesYearly Current Assets VS Current Liabilites 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 1B 2B 3B 4B 5B

4

3. Growth

3.1 Past

  • The Earnings Per Share has been growing slightly by 5.77% over the past year.
  • GWW shows quite a strong growth in Earnings Per Share. Measured over the last years, the EPS has been growing by 17.64% yearly.
  • GWW shows a small growth in Revenue. In the last year, the Revenue has grown by 4.83%.
  • Measured over the past years, GWW shows a quite strong growth in Revenue. The Revenue has been growing by 8.37% on average per year.
EPS 1Y (TTM)5.77%
EPS 3Y25.23%
EPS 5Y17.64%
EPS Q2Q%3.44%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)4.83%
Revenue growth 3Y9.65%
Revenue growth 5Y8.37%
Sales Q2Q%6.13%

3.2 Future

  • Based on estimates for the next years, GWW will show a quite strong growth in Earnings Per Share. The EPS will grow by 9.39% on average per year.
  • GWW is expected to show a small growth in Revenue. In the coming years, the Revenue will grow by 6.65% yearly.
EPS Next Y2.44%
EPS Next 2Y6.67%
EPS Next 3Y8.1%
EPS Next 5Y9.39%
Revenue Next Year4.32%
Revenue Next 2Y4.72%
Revenue Next 3Y5.3%
Revenue Next 5Y6.65%

3.3 Evolution

  • The EPS growth rate is decreasing: in the next years the growth will be less than in the last years.
  • The Revenue growth rate is decreasing: in the next years the growth will be less than in the last years.
GWW Yearly Revenue VS EstimatesGWW Yearly Revenue VS EstimatesYearly Revenue VS Estimates 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 5B 10B 15B 20B
GWW Yearly EPS VS EstimatesGWW Yearly EPS VS EstimatesYearly EPS VS Estimates 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 20 40 60

3

4. Valuation

4.1 Price/Earnings Ratio

  • With a Price/Earnings ratio of 27.23, GWW can be considered very expensive at the moment.
  • The rest of the industry has a similar Price/Earnings ratio as GWW.
  • GWW is valuated at similar levels of the S&P average when we compare the Price/Earnings ratio to 28.39, which is the current average of the S&P500 Index.
  • A Price/Forward Earnings ratio of 24.41 indicates a rather expensive valuation of GWW.
  • GWW's Price/Forward Earnings ratio is in line with the industry average.
  • GWW is valuated at similar levels of the S&P average when we compare the Price/Forward Earnings ratio to 25.72, which is the current average of the S&P500 Index.
Industry RankSector Rank
PE 27.23
Fwd PE 24.41
GWW Price Earnings VS Forward Price EarningsGWW Price Earnings VS Forward Price Earnings ChartPrice Earnings - Forward Price Earnings PE FPE 10 20 30

4.2 Price Multiples

  • Compared to the rest of the industry, the Enterprise Value to EBITDA ratio of GWW indicates a slightly more expensive valuation: GWW is more expensive than 62.00% of the companies listed in the same industry.
  • 62.00% of the companies in the same industry are more expensive than GWW, based on the Price/Free Cash Flow ratio.
Industry RankSector Rank
P/FCF 41.77
EV/EBITDA 19.2
GWW Per share dataGWW EPS, Sales, OCF, FCF, BookValue per sharePer Share Data Per Share 100 200 300

4.3 Compensation for Growth

  • The high PEG Ratio(NY), which compensates the Price/Earnings for growth, indicates an expensive valuation of the company.
  • GWW has an outstanding profitability rating, which may justify a higher PE ratio.
PEG (NY)11.14
PEG (5Y)1.54
EPS Next 2Y6.67%
EPS Next 3Y8.1%

6

5. Dividend

5.1 Amount

  • GWW has a yearly dividend return of 0.85%, which is pretty low.
  • GWW's Dividend Yield is a higher than the industry average which is at 1.31.
  • With a Dividend Yield of 0.85, GWW pays less dividend than the S&P500 average, which is at 1.82.
Industry RankSector Rank
Dividend Yield 0.85%

5.2 History

  • On average, the dividend of GWW grows each year by 7.57%, which is quite nice.
  • GWW has been paying a dividend for at least 10 years, so it has a reliable track record.
  • GWW has not decreased its dividend for at least 10 years, so it has a reliable track record of non decreasing dividend.
Dividend Growth(5Y)7.57%
Div Incr Years34
Div Non Decr Years34
GWW Yearly Dividends per shareGWW Yearly Dividends per shareYearly Dividends per share 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2 4 6 8

5.3 Sustainability

  • 26.47% of the earnings are spent on dividend by GWW. This is a low number and sustainable payout ratio.
  • The dividend of GWW is growing, but earnings are growing more, so the dividend growth is sustainable.
DP26.47%
EPS Next 2Y6.67%
EPS Next 3Y8.1%
GWW Yearly Income VS Free CF VS DividendGWW Yearly Income VS Free CF VS DividendYearly Income VS Free CF VS Dividend 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 500M 1B 1.5B
GWW Dividend Payout.GWW Dividend Payout, showing the Payout Ratio.GWW Dividend Payout.PayoutRetained Earnings

WW GRAINGER INC / GWW FAQ

Can you provide the ChartMill fundamental rating for WW GRAINGER INC?

ChartMill assigns a fundamental rating of 6 / 10 to GWW.


What is the valuation status for GWW stock?

ChartMill assigns a valuation rating of 3 / 10 to WW GRAINGER INC (GWW). This can be considered as Overvalued.


What is the profitability of GWW stock?

WW GRAINGER INC (GWW) has a profitability rating of 8 / 10.


How financially healthy is WW GRAINGER INC?

The financial health rating of WW GRAINGER INC (GWW) is 8 / 10.


Can you provide the expected EPS growth for GWW stock?

The Earnings per Share (EPS) of WW GRAINGER INC (GWW) is expected to grow by 2.44% in the next year.