W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) Valuation
Historical valuation analysis based on 1279 data points (2021-09-14 to 2026-10-16)
Founded in 1927, W.W. Grainger originally distributed various motors via a mail-order catalog. Over the course of the 20th century, the firm expanded into new industrial product categories and laun...
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) currently trades at a P/E ratio of 33.52 (historical range: 17.36–36.57, median: 25.91), placing it at the 96th percentile — expensive relative to its history, P/S ratio of 3.33 (range: 1.63–3.55, 94th percentile — expensive relative to its history), EV/EBITDA of 23.64 (range: 12.97–25.57, 95th percentile).
Over the historical period (2021-09-14 to 2026-10-16), W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s P/E ratio has expanded by 24% over the observed period (from an average of 23.1 to 28.5).
W.W. Grainger, Inc. trades well above its own historical valuation range across most metrics.
Historical Valuation Metrics
| Metric | Current | Median | %ile | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 33.52 | 25.91 | 96th | expensive relative to its history |
| P/S Ratio | 3.33 | 2.63 | 94th | expensive relative to its history |
| EV/EBITDA | 23.64 | 18.97 | 95th | expensive relative to its history |
| FCF Yield | 2.41% | 3.07% | 10th | expensive relative to its history |
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) Valuation & P/E History
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is a US-listed stock operating in the Industrials sector, specifically the Wholesale-Durable Goods industry currently trading at $1330.70 with a market capitalization of $62.7 billion. This page provides historical valuation analysis for GWW based on 1279 data points covering 2021-09-14 to 2026-10-16. The P/E ratio of 33.52 is above the historical median of 25.91, placing GWW at the 96th percentile of its valuation range. The P/S ratio of 3.33 compares to a median of 2.63.
GWW Valuation Metrics & Historical Range
The valuation table above shows W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s current and historical valuation multiples, including P/E ratio, P/S ratio, EV/EBITDA, FCF yield, and dividend yield. Each metric is compared to its own historical range to determine whether GWW is currently trading above or below its typical valuation levels.
- P/E ratio: Price-to-earnings measures how much investors pay per dollar of earnings. A P/E above the historical median suggests GWW is expensively valued; below the median suggests it is cheap.
- P/S ratio: Price-to-sales is useful for companies with volatile or negative earnings. Lower P/S relative to history may indicate value.
- EV/EBITDA: Enterprise value to EBITDA adjusts for debt and cash, providing a capital-structure-neutral valuation measure for W.W. Grainger, Inc..
- FCF yield: Free cash flow yield shows the cash return relative to market price. Higher yields may indicate undervaluation.
Is GWW Overvalued or Undervalued?
W.W. Grainger, Inc. trades well above its own historical valuation range across most metrics. The overall valuation percentile of 95 combines P/E, P/S, and EV/EBITDA percentiles into a single measure of how expensive GWW is relative to its own history. A percentile below 25 suggests the stock may be undervalued, while a percentile above 75 suggests it may be overvalued.
However, valuation is only one factor in investment decisions. A stock can remain "overvalued" for years if growth accelerates, or "undervalued" if the business deteriorates. Always combine valuation analysis with financial statement analysis and the full GWW analysis page for a complete picture.
Valuation data is computed from historical price and fundamental data via Polygon.io and Finnhub.GWW trades on NYSE/NASDAQ. This page is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.