W.W. Grainger Inc. (GWW) Stock

W.W. Grainger Inc. trades at a P/E ratio of 24.46, which is near the market average of approximately 20, suggesting the market views it as fairly valued relative to its earnings. Looking ahead, the forward P/E of 21.83 is lower than the current P/E, indicating analysts expect earnings to grow over the next year. The PEG ratio of 1.94 indicates reasonable value when growth is considered.

With a beta of 1.18, W.W. Grainger Inc. is roughly as volatile as the market, moving in line with broad market trends. This moderate beta suggests the stock offers market-level returns without excessive volatility. The price-to-book ratio of 12.49 shows investors value the company above its book value, which often reflects intangible assets or growth prospects.

W.W. Grainger Inc. achieves a profit margin of 11.00%, meaning it retains $11.00 from every $100 in revenue after all expenses. This represents a solid margin typical of well-run businesses, showing the company can effectively balance revenue generation with cost control. The operating margin of 14.90% reveals how efficiently the company runs its core business operations before interest and taxes. With ROE at 52.40% and ROA at 19.60%, the company generates strong returns on invested capital.

W.W. Grainger Inc.'s revenue grew by 5.60% year-over-year, showing steady progress in growing the business. This positive trajectory indicates the company maintains competitive positioning in its markets. Earnings increased by 4.80% year-over-year, reflecting the bottom-line impact of business performance. These growth metrics should be evaluated against INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION industry averages for proper context.

W.W. Grainger Inc. offers a dividend yield of 0.89%, paying $8.41 per share annually. This modest yield below 2% suggests the company prioritizes growth investments over current income. While the dividend provides some return, investors are likely attracted more by capital appreciation potential than income generation. To receive the next dividend, shares must be purchased before the ex-dividend date of Aug 11, 2025.

The dividend sustainability can be assessed through the payout ratio - W.W. Grainger Inc. pays $8.41 per share in dividends against earnings of $38.96 per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 21.59%. This conservative payout below 30% indicates excellent dividend safety with substantial room for future increases. The company retains most earnings for growth while still rewarding shareholders. The next dividend payment is scheduled for Sep 1, 2025.

W.W. Grainger Inc. has a market capitalization of $46.1B, classifying it as a large-cap stock ($10B-$200B). Large-caps are typically industry leaders with established business models, offering a balance of stability and growth potential. They often provide dividend income and are core holdings in institutional portfolios. With 47.83M shares outstanding, the company's ownership is relatively concentrated. As a participant in the INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION industry, it competes with other firms in this sector.

W.W. Grainger Inc.'s book value per share is $76.69, while the current stock price is $958.97, resulting in a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 12.50. This high P/B ratio indicates significant intangible assets, strong brand value, or high growth expectations. Technology and consumer brand companies often trade at elevated P/B ratios due to intellectual property and competitive advantages not reflected on the balance sheet. As a common stock, this represents equity ownership with voting rights.

19 analysts cover GWW with 16% recommending buy/strong buy ratings. Analyst predictions have mixed reliability - studies show consensus rarely beats market returns consistently. The bearish sentiment could create opportunity if analysts are wrong. The consensus target of $1,040.62 implies 8.5% upside, but targets are often adjusted to follow price moves rather than predict them.

Current analyst recommendations:03 Buy, 14 Hold, 1 Sell, 1 Strong Sell. The neutral stance suggests uncertainty or fair valuation at current levels.Remember that analyst opinions often lag price movements and can be influenced by investment banking relationships.