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With a market cap of $51.8 billion, W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is a broad-line distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products and services with operations. Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, the company operates through two segments: High-Touch Solutions North America and Endless Assortment.
Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally classified as “large-cap” stocks, and W.W. Grainger fits this description perfectly. The company has a strong logistics network and digital capabilities, it offers over 2 million products through its branches, e-commerce platforms, and catalog services.
GWW stock declined 12.2% from its 52-week high of $1,227.66. W.W. Grainger stock has gained 7% over the past three months, slightly underperforming the broader Nasdaq Composite ($NASX), which increased 7.7% during the same period.
Longer term, GWW stock is up 2.3% on a YTD basis, outperforming NASX's 1.5% return. Moreover, shares of W.W. Grainger have climbed 20.9% over the past 52 weeks, compared to NASX’s 14.4% increase over the same period.
The stock has been trading above its 50-day moving average since late April and its 200-day moving average since May.
W.W. Grainger stock rose 2.8% after the release of its Q1 2025 earnings on May 1. Quarterly net sales came in at $4.3 billion, up 1.7% year-over-year, though it missed Street expectations. EPS grew 2.5% from the prior-year quarter to $9.86, exceeding the consensus estimate by 4.2%. For fiscal 2025, Grainger reaffirmed its outlook, expecting revenue in the range of $17.6 billion to $18.1 billion and EPS between $39 and $41.50.
However, its rival, Core & Main, Inc. (CNM), has outperformed GWW stock. CNM stock has surged 24.9% over the past 52 weeks and nearly 16.5% on a YTD basis.
Despite GWW’s outperformance relative to the Nasdaq Composite over the past year, analysts remain cautious about its prospects. Among the 16 analysts covering the stock, there is a consensus rating of “Hold,” and it is currently trading below the mean price target of $1,109.55.
