W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) Stock Analysis
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) Stock Analysis
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
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W.W. GRAINGER, INC. faces challenges in financial performance that warrant careful analysis.
Key Metrics:
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | 28.1% | Above industry average |
| FCF Margin | 7.4% | Healthy cash flow |
| Debt/Equity | 0.7x | Moderate leverage |
Investment Thesis: Strong return on invested capital of 28.1% suggests durable competitive advantages and efficient capital allocation.
What is W.W. GRAINGER, INC.'s Profitability and ROIC?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. generates strong returns on invested capital at 28.1%, indicating efficient capital allocation and competitive advantages. Gross margin of 39.1% with operating margin at 13.9% reflects the company's moderate market position.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 28.1% | Excellent | Strong capital efficiency |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 47.8% | Excellent | Efficient use of shareholder equity |
| Gross Margin | 39.1% | Good | Competitive pricing environment |
| Operating Margin | 13.9% | Good | Moderate operational efficiency |
How Strong is W.W. GRAINGER, INC.'s Cash Flow Quality?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. generated $1.3B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months, representing a 7.4% margin. Cash earnings quality is strong, with operating cash flow exceeding net income by 1.2x.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 7.4% | Adequate | Healthy cash generation |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $1.3B | Good | Positive cash generation |
| OCF/Net Income | 1.2x | Excellent | High earnings quality |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
What is W.W. GRAINGER, INC.'s Financial Health?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC.'s debt-to-equity ratio of 0.7x indicates conservative leverage.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 0.7x | Good | Moderate leverage |
| Net Cash Position | $-2.0B | Warning | Net debt position |
Is W.W. GRAINGER, INC. Stock Overvalued or Undervalued?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. trades at a P/E of 28.5x, representing a premium to the sector median of N/A. Free cash flow yield of 2.8% reflects market expectations for growth.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 28.5x | Adequate | Premium valuation |
| EV/Sales | 2.8x | Good | Attractive revenue multiple |
| FCF Yield | 2.8% | Adequate | Lower cash yield |
| Dividend Yield | 1.0% | Adequate | Growth focus over income |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 28.1% | Top 5% | 6.6x above |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 7.4% | Top 25% | - |
| Gross Margin | 39.1% | Top 50% | 1.3x above |
| Operating Margin | 13.9% | Top 25% | 2.3x above |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 47.8% | Top 5% | 5.9x above |
| P/E Ratio | 28.5x | N/A | - |
Rating Thresholds
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
Measures how efficiently a company uses its debt and equity capital to generate profits. ROIC above 15% typically indicates a competitive moat.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 20% | Exceptional capital efficiency, strong competitive moat |
| Good | 12% - 20% | Above-average returns, sustainable competitive position |
| Adequate | 8% - 12% | Around cost of capital, moderate competitive position |
| Warning | 4% - 8% | Below cost of capital, value may be eroding |
| Red flag | < 4% | Significant capital destruction, fundamental issues |
Current: 28.1% (Excellent - Top 5% of sector (median: 4.3%))
Free Cash Flow Margin
The percentage of revenue converted to free cash flow. Higher margins indicate stronger cash generation and business quality.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 20% | Strong cash generation, high-quality business |
| Good | 10% - 20% | Healthy cash conversion |
| Adequate | 5% - 10% | Moderate cash generation |
| Warning | 0% - 5% | Thin cash margins, capital intensive |
| Red flag | < 0% | Cash burn, potential liquidity concerns |
Current: 7.4% (Adequate - Top 25% of sector (median: 0.0%))
Gross Margin
Revenue minus cost of goods sold as a percentage. Higher gross margins indicate pricing power and competitive advantage.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 50% | Strong pricing power and competitive moat |
| Good | 30% - 50% | Healthy margins, differentiated product |
| Adequate | 20% - 30% | Moderate margins, competitive industry |
| Warning | 10% - 20% | Thin margins, commodity-like business |
| Red flag | < 10% | Very thin margins, structural challenges |
Current: 39.1% (Good - Top 50% of sector (median: 31.2%))
Debt to Equity Ratio
Total debt divided by shareholders' equity. Lower ratios indicate more conservative financing and reduced financial risk.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | < 0.3x | Conservative leverage, strong balance sheet |
| Good | 0.3x - 0.7x | Moderate leverage, healthy financial position |
| Adequate | 0.7x - 1.5x | Elevated leverage, monitor closely |
| Warning | 1.5x - 3.0x | High leverage, increased financial risk |
| Red flag | > 3.0x | Excessive leverage, potential distress risk |
Current: 69.9% (Good)
P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings)
Stock price divided by earnings per share. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation, while higher P/E suggests growth expectations.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | < 15x | Attractively valued, potential opportunity |
| Good | 15x - 25x | Fair value for quality company |
| Adequate | 25x - 35x | Growth premium, justify with earnings growth |
| Warning | 35x - 50x | High expectations priced in |
| Red flag | > 50x or negative | Speculative valuation or losses |
Current: 28.5x (Adequate)
Free Cash Flow Yield
Free cash flow per share divided by stock price. Higher FCF yield indicates better cash return relative to valuation.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 8% | High cash return, potential value opportunity |
| Good | 5% - 8% | Solid cash yield |
| Adequate | 3% - 5% | Moderate cash return |
| Warning | 1% - 3% | Low cash yield, growth expectations |
| Red flag | < 1% | Minimal cash return to shareholders |
Current: 2.8% (Warning)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is W.W. GRAINGER, INC.'s Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 28.1%. This compares above the sector median of 4.3%. An ROIC above 20% indicates exceptional capital efficiency and strong competitive advantages.
Q: What is W.W. GRAINGER, INC.'s Free Cash Flow Margin?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) has a free cash flow margin of 7.4%, generating $1.3 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. A FCF margin between 5-10% is typical for capital-intensive businesses.
Q: Is W.W. GRAINGER, INC. stock overvalued or undervalued?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) trades at a P/E ratio of 28.5x, which is above the sector median of N/A. The EV/Sales multiple is 2.8x. Free cash flow yield is 2.8%, reflecting growth expectations priced into the stock.
Q: Does W.W. GRAINGER, INC. pay a dividend?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) currently pays a dividend yield of 1.0%. Including share buybacks, the total shareholder yield is 3.1%. The relatively low yield suggests the company prioritizes growth reinvestment over income distribution.
Q: How much debt does W.W. GRAINGER, INC. have?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.7x with total debt of $2.6 billion. Net debt position is $2.0 billion.
Q: What is W.W. GRAINGER, INC.'s revenue and earnings growth?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) grew revenue by 4.5% year-over-year. Earnings per share decreased by 8.6% compared to the prior year. Modest growth indicates a mature business with stable demand.
Q: Is W.W. GRAINGER, INC. buying back stock?
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) repurchased $1.0 billion of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 2.2%.
Q: How does W.W. GRAINGER, INC. compare to competitors in Other?
Compared to other companies in Other, W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) shows: ROIC of 28.1% is above the sector median of 4.3% (Top 0%). FCF margin of 7.4% exceeds the sector median of 0.0% (Top 25% of sector). Gross margin at 39.1% is 7.9 percentage points higher than sector peers. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Other companies with available SEC filings.
Q: What warning signs should I watch for with W.W. GRAINGER, INC.?
Investors in W.W. GRAINGER, INC. (GWW) should monitor these potential warning signs: 1) ROIC has been declining, potentially signaling deteriorating competitive position. Regular monitoring of SEC filings and quarterly trends is recommended.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-10-31. TTM metrics as of Q4 2025.
Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.