Core & Main [CNM] vs W.W. Grainger [GWW] Detailed Stock Comparison

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Core & Main Inc. wins in 7 metrics, W.W. Grainger, Inc. wins in 13 metrics, with 0 ties. W.W. Grainger, Inc. appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Core & Main Inc. W.W. Grainger, Inc. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 21.19 32.58 Core & Main Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 4.63 14.65 Core & Main Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 118.47 69.11 W.W. Grainger, Inc.
PEG Ratio 2.40 -10.94 Core & Main Inc.
EV/EBITDA 12.60 19.36 Core & Main Inc.
Profit Margin (TTM) 5.77% 9.51% W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Operating Margin (TTM) 7.46% 14.73% W.W. Grainger, Inc.
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 7.46% 14.73% W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Return on Equity 24.01% 46.10% W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Return on Assets (TTM) 7.55% 19.03% W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $604.00M $1.33B W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Dividend Yield N/A 0.75% N/A
1-Year Return -9.78% 13.49% W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 1.25 3.05 Core & Main Inc.
Enterprise Value $11.51B $57.36B W.W. Grainger, Inc.
EV/Revenue Ratio 1.51 3.20 Core & Main Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 27.07% 39.46% W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Revenue per Share (TTM) $40 $375 W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $2.31 $35.43 W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Beta (Stock Volatility) 1.00 1.09 Core & Main Inc.
Short % of Float 4.83% 2.61% W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Core & Main Inc. vs W.W. Grainger, Inc. Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Core & Main Inc.3.25%3.49%4.17%-7.66%3.06%-5.49%
W.W. Grainger, Inc.1.31%1.53%11.05%10.08%31.96%26.35%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Core & Main Inc.-9.78%81.14%108.65%108.65%108.65%108.65%
W.W. Grainger, Inc.13.49%82.10%165.63%441.83%759.68%1,576.96%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Core & Main Inc. vs W.W. Grainger, Inc.

MetricCNMGWW
Market Information
Market Cap i$9.57B$55.19B
Market Cap CategoryMid capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i2,936,516222,099
90 Day Avg. Volume i2,927,339228,693
Last Close$52.12$1,284.98
52 Week Range$43.96 - $67.18$906.52 - $1,296.03
% from 52W High-22.42%-0.85%
All-Time High$67.18 (Sep 05, 2025)$1,296.03 (Jun 03, 2026)
% from All-Time High-22.42%-0.85%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth-0.07%0.05%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.09%-0.05%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.06%0.10%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.07%0.15%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.24%0.46%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i118.4769.11
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$10.58$78.79
Cash per Share (MRQ)$1.22$12.35
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$650.00M$2.02B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$464.25M$1.09B
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield iN/A0.75%
Last 12-Month Dividend iN/A$9.04

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Core & Main Inc. vs W.W. Grainger, Inc.

MetricCNM (Apr 24, 2026)GWW (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i21.1932.58
Forward P/E i16.4023.75
PEG Ratio i2.40-10.94
Price to Sales (TTM) i1.253.05
Price to Book (MRQ) i4.6314.65
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$9.57B$55.19B
Enterprise Value i$11.51B$57.36B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i1.513.20
Enterprise to EBITDA i12.6019.36
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i1.001.09
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$10.58$78.79

Financial Statements Comparison: Core & Main Inc. vs W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricCNM (2026)GWW (2025)
Revenue/Sales i7.65B17.94B
Cost of Goods Sold i5.59B10.93B
COGS % of Revenue i73.1%60.9%
Gross Profit i2.06B7.01B
Gross Margin i26.9%39.1%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i722.00M2.50B
Operating Margin i9.4%13.9%
EBITDA i919.00M2.77B
EBITDA Margin i12.0%15.4%
Pre-Tax Income i607.00M2.43B
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i7.9%13.5%
Income Tax i145.00M622.00M
Income Tax % of Revenue i1.9%3.5%
Net Income (Profit) i462.00M1.81B
Profit Margin i6.0%10.1%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricCNM (2026)GWW (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i220.00M585.00M
Total Current Assets i2.30B5.48B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i30.1%30.6%
Total Current Liabilities i874.00M1.94B
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i11.4%10.8%
Long-Term Debt i2.34B2.66B
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i30.6%14.8%
Total Shareholders Equity i2.07B4.14B
Retained Earnings i755.00M14.96B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i9.9%83.4%
Property, Plant & Equipment i287.00M345.00M

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricCNM (2026)GWW (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i602.00M1.83B
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i7.9%10.2%
Capital Expenditures iN/AN/A
Free Cash Flow i604.00M1.33B
FCF Margin i7.9%7.4%
Debt Repayment i-267.00M-506.00M
Common Stock Repurchase iN/A-1.05B

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricCNMGWW
Shares Short i8.11M1.04M
Short Ratio i3.024.37
Short % of Float i4.83%2.61%
Shares Outstanding i188.77M47.42M
Float Shares i187.68M43.37M
% Held by Insiders i0.59%6.25%
% Held by Institutions i114.29%76.43%
% Held by Public i-14.88%17.32%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Core & Main Inc. vs W.W. Grainger, Inc.

MetricCNMGWW
Last 12-Month Dividend iN/A$9.04
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield iN/A0.75%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend iN/A$8.23
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield iN/A0.22%
3-Year Total Dividends iN/A$24.68
Ex-Dividend DateN/AFeb 09, 2026