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W.w. Grainger, Inc.. (GWW) Stock Fundamental Analysis & AI Rating 2026

GWW NYSE Wholesale-Durable Goods IL CIK: 0000277135
Updated This Month • Analysis: May 9, 2026 • SEC Data: 2026-03-31
Combined AI Rating
BUY
75% Confidence
AGREEMENT
HOLD
72% Conf
BUY
78% Conf

📊 GWW Key Takeaways

Revenue: $4.7B
Net Margin: 11.7%
Free Cash Flow: $569.0M
Current Ratio: 2.69x
Debt/Equity: 0.61x
EPS: $11.65
AI Rating: HOLD with 72% confidence
W.w. Grainger, Inc.. (GWW) receives a BUY rating with 75% confidence from our AI fundamental analysis based on SEC 10-K filings. With revenue of $4.7B, net profit margin of 11.7%, and return on equity (ROE) of 14.1%, W.w. Grainger, Inc.. demonstrates strong fundamentals in the Market sector. Below is our complete GWW stock analysis for 2026.

Is W.w. Grainger, Inc.. (GWW) a Good Investment?

Claude

W.W. Grainger exhibits solid financial health with excellent liquidity (2.69x current ratio), conservative leverage (0.61x debt/equity), and robust free cash flow generation ($569M, 12% FCF margin). However, the company faces profitability headwinds with net income declining 5.6% despite 4.5% revenue growth, suggesting margin compression that warrants monitoring before resuming accumulation.

ChatGPT

Grainger exhibits strong profitability and exceptional returns on capital, supported by robust cash generation and a solid balance sheet. Despite mid-single-digit revenue growth, net income and EPS declined YoY, indicating near-term margin pressure. High liquidity and interest coverage, coupled with reinvestment, position the company to stabilize margins and re-accelerate earnings.

Why Buy W.w. Grainger, Inc.. Stock? GWW Key Strengths

Claude
  • + Excellent liquidity position with 2.69x current ratio and $695M cash
  • + Conservative leverage with 0.61x debt/equity ratio and 12.4x interest coverage
  • + Strong free cash flow generation at $569M with 12% FCF margin
  • + Solid profitability with 16.7% operating margin and 40% gross margin
  • + Healthy balance sheet with $3.9B stockholders equity
ChatGPT
  • + High returns on capital: ROE 45.7%, ROA 19.0%
  • + Healthy margins with strong cash generation: 13.9% operating margin, $1.33B FCF
  • + Conservative balance sheet and liquidity: 2.83x current ratio, 39x interest coverage, D/E 0.67x

GWW Stock Risks: W.w. Grainger, Inc.. Investment Risks

Claude
  • ! Margin compression: net income declining 5.6% despite 4.5% revenue growth
  • ! EPS declining faster than net income (-8.6% vs -5.6%), indicating efficiency concerns or dilution
  • ! Moderate revenue growth at 4.5% suggests potential market headwinds or competitive pressures
  • ! Operating leverage deterioration in wholesale distribution model
ChatGPT
  • ! Margin pressure evidenced by -5.6% YoY net income and -8.6% EPS
  • ! Exposure to cyclical industrial demand and pricing competition
  • ! Elevated capex ($684M) could constrain FCF margins if returns lag

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Operating margin stabilization and recovery trajectory
  • * Free cash flow sustainability and conversion rate
  • * Revenue growth acceleration above 4.5% threshold
  • * Gross margin trend and pricing power
  • * Debt/equity ratio and debt service capacity
ChatGPT
  • * Operating margin trend
  • * Free cash flow margin (FCF/Revenue)

W.w. Grainger, Inc.. (GWW) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios

Revenue
$4.7B
Net Income
$555.0M
EPS (Diluted)
$11.65
Free Cash Flow
$569.0M
Total Assets
$9.5B
Cash Position
$695.0M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

Strong liquidity with a 2.69x current ratio provides a solid financial cushion.

GWW Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis

Gross Margin 40.0%
Operating Margin 16.7%
Net Margin 11.7%
ROE 14.1%
ROA 5.9%
FCF Margin 12.0%

GWW vs Market Sector: How W.w. Grainger, Inc.. Compares

How W.w. Grainger, Inc.. compares to Market sector averages

Net Margin
GWW 11.7%
vs
Sector Avg 12.0%
GWW Sector
ROE
GWW 14.1%
vs
Sector Avg 15.0%
GWW Sector
Current Ratio
GWW 2.7x
vs
Sector Avg 1.8x
GWW Sector
Debt/Equity
GWW 0.6x
vs
Sector Avg 0.7x
GWW Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is W.w. Grainger, Inc.. Stock Overvalued? GWW Valuation Analysis 2026

Based on fundamental analysis, W.w. Grainger, Inc.. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Market sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
14.1%
Sector avg: 15%
Net Profit Margin
11.7%
Sector avg: 12%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
0.61x
Sector avg: 0.7x

Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.

W.w. Grainger, Inc.. Balance Sheet: GWW Debt, Cash & Liquidity

Current Ratio
2.69x
Quick Ratio
1.60x
Debt/Equity
0.61x
Debt/Assets
0.0%
Interest Coverage
12.39x
Long-term Debt
$2.4B

GWW Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend

GWW 5-year financial data: Year 2021: Revenue $13.0B, Net Income $849.0M, EPS $15.32. Year 2022: Revenue $15.2B, Net Income $695.0M, EPS $12.82. Year 2023: Revenue $16.5B, Net Income $1.0B, EPS $19.84. Year 2024: Revenue $17.2B, Net Income $1.5B, EPS $30.06. Year 2025: Revenue $17.9B, Net Income $1.8B, EPS $36.23.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: W.w. Grainger, Inc..'s revenue has grown significantly by 38% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $36.23 reflects profitable operations.

GWW Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
12.0%
Free cash flow / Revenue

GWW Quarterly Earnings & Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for W.w. Grainger, Inc.. including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q1 2026 $4.3B $479.0M $9.86
Q3 2025 $4.4B $294.0M $6.12
Q2 2025 $4.3B $470.0M $9.51
Q1 2025 $4.2B $478.0M $9.62
Q3 2024 $4.2B $476.0M $9.43
Q2 2024 $4.2B $470.0M $9.28
Q1 2024 $4.1B $478.0M $9.61
Q3 2023 $3.9B $426.0M $8.27

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

W.w. Grainger, Inc.. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$739.0M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$237.0M
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$170.0M
Investment in assets
Dividends Paid
$108.0M
Returned to shareholders

GWW SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for W.w. Grainger, Inc.. (CIK: 0000277135)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
May 14, 2026 4 xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778771886.xml View →
May 14, 2026 4 xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778771855.xml View →
May 14, 2026 4 xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778771830.xml View →
May 12, 2026 4 xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778620487.xml View →
May 12, 2026 4 xslF345X06/wk-form4_1778620456.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about GWW

What is the AI rating for GWW?

W.w. Grainger, Inc.. (GWW) has a Combined AI Rating of BUY from Claude (HOLD) and ChatGPT (BUY) with 75% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are GWW's key strengths?

Claude: Excellent liquidity position with 2.69x current ratio and $695M cash. Conservative leverage with 0.61x debt/equity ratio and 12.4x interest coverage. ChatGPT: High returns on capital: ROE 45.7%, ROA 19.0%. Healthy margins with strong cash generation: 13.9% operating margin, $1.33B FCF.

What are the risks of investing in GWW?

Claude: Margin compression: net income declining 5.6% despite 4.5% revenue growth. EPS declining faster than net income (-8.6% vs -5.6%), indicating efficiency concerns or dilution. ChatGPT: Margin pressure evidenced by -5.6% YoY net income and -8.6% EPS. Exposure to cyclical industrial demand and pricing competition.

What is GWW's revenue and growth?

W.w. Grainger, Inc.. reported revenue of $4.7B.

Does GWW pay dividends?

W.w. Grainger, Inc.. pays dividends, with $108.0M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.

Where can I find GWW SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for W.w. Grainger, Inc.. (CIK: 0000277135) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is GWW's EPS?

W.w. Grainger, Inc.. has a diluted EPS of $11.65.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

Is GWW a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in May 2026, W.w. Grainger, Inc.. has a BUY rating with 75% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.

Is GWW stock overvalued or undervalued?

Valuation metrics for GWW: ROE of 14.1% (sector avg: 15%), net margin of 11.7% (sector avg: 12%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.

Should I buy GWW stock in 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives W.w. Grainger, Inc.. a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.

What is GWW's free cash flow?

W.w. Grainger, Inc..'s operating cash flow is $739.0M, with capital expenditures of $170.0M. FCF margin is 12.0%.

How does GWW compare to other Market stocks?

Vs Default sector averages: Net margin 11.7% (avg: 12%), ROE 14.1% (avg: 15%), current ratio 2.69 (avg: 1.8).

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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: May 9, 2026 | Data as of: 2026-03-31 | Powered by Claude AI