W.W. Grainger, Inc.
- Open
- 1290.45
- Day high
- 1309.59
- Day low
- 1283.48
- Prev close
- 1284.85
- Volume
- 40K
- Mkt cap
- $61.6B
- P/E (TTM)
- 33.3
- EPS (TTM)
- $39.24
- P/B
- 14.9
- P/S
- 3.3
- Yield
- 0.73%
- Per share
- $9.50
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is a Industrials company listed on NYSE. The stock is up 27% over the past year. Drillr has 1 published research article covering GWW.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 8 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
GWW earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2026 | $11.28 | $12.01 | +6.4% | $5.0B | +1.4% |
| May 7, 2026 | $10.21 | $11.65 | +14.1% | $4.7B | +3.7% |
| Feb 3, 2026 | $9.48 | $9.44 | -0.4% | $4.4B | +0.6% |
| Oct 31, 2025 | $9.99 | $10.21 | +2.2% | $4.7B | +0.4% |
| Aug 1, 2025 | $10.08 | $9.97 | -1.1% | $4.6B | +0.6% |
| May 1, 2025 | $9.49 | $9.86 | +3.8% | $4.3B | -0.4% |
| Jan 31, 2025 | $9.72 | $9.71 | -0.1% | $4.2B | -0.1% |
| Oct 31, 2024 | $9.97 | $9.87 | -1.1% | $4.4B | -0.3% |
| Aug 1, 2024 | $9.60 | $9.76 | +1.7% | $4.3B | -1.0% |
| Apr 25, 2024 | $9.66 | $9.62 | -0.5% | $4.2B | -0.8% |
| Feb 2, 2024 | $8.07 | $8.33 | +3.2% | $4.0B | -1.2% |
| Oct 26, 2023 | $8.97 | $9.43 | +5.1% | $4.2B | +3.4% |
GWW insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Davis George Sdirector | Grant | 2 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Williams Susan Slavikdirector | Grant | 4 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | NOVICH NEIL Sdirector | Grant | 64 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Miller Cindy Jdirector | Grant | 1 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Adkins Rodney Cdirector | Grant | 12 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | KLEIN CHRISTOPHER Jdirector | Grant | 2 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | SANTI ERNEST SCOTTdirector | Grant | 20 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Perez Beatriz Rdirector | Grant | 10 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | White Steven Andrewdirector | Grant | 5 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Jaspon Katherine D.director | Grant | 4 | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Watson Lucas Edirector | Grant | 12 | — |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Watson Lucas Edirector | Grant | 12 | — |
| Jun 2, 2026 | SANTI ERNEST SCOTTdirector | Grant | 21 | — |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Perez Beatriz Rdirector | Grant | 11 | — |
| Jun 2, 2026 | KLEIN CHRISTOPHER Jdirector | Grant | 1 | — |
Source: GWW SEC Form 4 filings, latest Sep 1, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full GWW insider & 13F page →W.W. Grainger, Inc. company profile
Overview
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) is a leading North American distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products and services, founded in 1927 and headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. The company has evolved from a small motor sales business into a comprehensive industrial distribution powerhouse serving businesses, corporations, government entities, and institutions across the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and other international markets. With nearly a century of operations, Grainger has established itself as a critical link in the industrial supply chain, helping organizations maintain their facilities and equipment through both traditional high-touch sales relationships and modern digital commerce platforms.
Business
Grainger operates in the industrial distribution sector, specifically focusing on maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products - the essential supplies that keep businesses running day-to-day but aren't part of their core manufacturing processes. MRO encompasses everything from safety equipment and cleaning supplies to pumps, tools, and electrical components that facilities need for ongoing operations and maintenance. The company operates through two primary business segments that serve different customer needs and market approaches: 1. High-Touch Solutions North America represents approximately 85% of total revenue and focuses on providing personalized service through sales representatives, technical support, and comprehensive inventory management. This segment serves larger customers who value relationship-based selling, expert consultation, and customized solutions. The business model emphasizes deep customer relationships, with sales teams helping clients optimize their procurement processes, reduce inventory costs, and improve operational efficiency. 2. Endless Assortment accounts for roughly 15% of revenue and operates through digital-first platforms including Zoro in the United States and MonotaRO in Japan. These platforms offer vast product catalogs - often millions of SKUs - through e-commerce channels, targeting customers who prefer self-service purchasing with competitive pricing. Zoro focuses on small-to-medium businesses and individual buyers, while MonotaRO serves the Japanese market with a similar model but tailored to local business practices. Grainger's product portfolio spans safety and security supplies, material handling equipment, pumps and plumbing systems, cleaning and maintenance supplies, metalworking tools, hand tools, and electrical components. The company stocks hundreds of thousands of products from thousands of suppliers, serving as a one-stop shop for facility maintenance needs.
Revenue model
Grainger generates revenue primarily through product sales with markup pricing, operating as a traditional distributor that purchases products from manufacturers and sells them to end customers at higher prices. The company's customers include businesses of all sizes, government entities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and other organizations that require ongoing maintenance supplies. The High-Touch Solutions segment commands higher margins through value-added services including inventory management, technical consultation, customized procurement solutions, and dedicated sales support. Customers pay premium prices for the convenience, expertise, and relationship-based service. This segment typically achieves gross margins around 42% and operating margins near 17%. The Endless Assortment segment operates on lower margins but higher volumes, leveraging digital platforms to serve price-sensitive customers efficiently. These platforms achieve profitability through scale, automated processes, and reduced overhead costs, though margins are compressed compared to the high-touch model, with operating margins around 8-9%. Several factors influence Grainger's profitability: supplier cost inflation directly impacts margins, though the company typically passes these costs through pricing with some lag time. Market demand cycles affect volumes, with industrial activity, construction spending, and general economic conditions driving MRO consumption. Competition from online retailers and direct manufacturer sales creates pricing pressure, particularly in standardized commodity products. Labor costs for sales representatives and distribution center workers impact operating leverage. Fuel and transportation costs affect distribution expenses, while foreign exchange rates influence international operations, particularly MonotaRO's contribution to consolidated results.
Competitive moat
Grainger's competitive moat stems from several reinforcing advantages, though the strength varies by customer segment. The company's scale and purchasing power with suppliers enables competitive pricing and product availability that smaller distributors cannot match. Its extensive distribution network with strategically located warehouses provides rapid delivery capabilities, critical for customers facing equipment downtime. The breadth of product assortment - hundreds of thousands of SKUs from thousands of suppliers - creates convenience value for customers who prefer single-source purchasing rather than managing multiple vendor relationships. Grainger's technical expertise and customer relationships in the High-Touch segment create switching costs, as sales representatives develop deep understanding of customer operations and provide customized solutions. However, the moat faces significant challenges. Product commoditization makes many MRO items easily comparable on price, reducing differentiation. Digital disruption from Amazon Business, direct manufacturer sales, and other online competitors threatens traditional distribution models. The rise of procurement software and e-procurement platforms reduces the value of Grainger's traditional relationship-based selling. The company's moat is strongest with complex, mission-critical applications where technical expertise and rapid availability justify premium pricing. It's weakest in standardized commodity products where customers can easily compare alternatives. Grainger's strategic response involves investing heavily in digital capabilities, data analytics, and automation to defend its position while adapting to changing customer preferences.
Risks & safety
Grainger demonstrates solid financial stability with moderate safety margins: • Strong liquidity position: $666 million cash plus $3.5 billion current assets versus $2.0 billion current liabilities, providing 2.7x current ratio • Manageable debt levels: Debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, with strong cash generation capability to service obligations • Consistent profitability: Operating margins around 15-16% with $2.1 billion annual operating cash flow • Valuation metrics: Trading at 24.9x P/E ratio and 18.5x EV/EBITDA, representing moderate premium to historical averages • Free cash flow generation: $1.57 billion annual free cash flow supports dividend payments and share repurchases • Market position risks: Exposure to economic cycles and ongoing competitive pressure from digital disruptors creates some uncertainty around future margins and growth rates
Recent development
Over the past several years, Grainger has undergone significant strategic transformation focused on digital capabilities and operational efficiency. The company has invested heavily in artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, implementing AI-powered chatbots in customer service, inventory optimization algorithms, and predictive analytics for demand forecasting. These technologies leverage Grainger's proprietary customer and product data to create competitive advantages. The company has expanded its distribution network substantially, increasing warehouse square footage by 35% and opening new distribution centers in key markets like Houston and the Pacific Northwest. This expansion supports faster delivery times and improved service levels, critical differentiators in MRO distribution. Sales force expansion has been another key initiative, with Grainger adding 70 new sales representatives to deepen customer relationships and capture market share. The company has also enhanced its marketing efforts and developed new analytical tools for the sales team to improve productivity and customer targeting. In the Endless Assortment segment, Grainger has focused on enterprise customer growth at both MonotaRO and Zoro, shifting away from lower-margin consumer business toward higher-value B2B relationships. MonotaRO has achieved consistent double-digit growth in Japan, while Zoro has improved its customer retention and repeat purchase rates. The company has also prioritized sustainability initiatives, setting targets for 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, and has been recognized for workplace culture improvements, ranking as a top company on the American Opportunity Index.
GWW company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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