Alcon AG vs W W Grainger Inc — how do they compare? Alcon AG trades at $74.32 (market cap $36.44B), while W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,305.49 (market cap $61.32B). The key difference: W W Grainger Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and W W Grainger Inc pays the higher dividend (0.77%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALC | GWW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.44B | $61.32B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $90.12 | $1.40K |
52-Week Low | $62.02 | $918.18 |
Enterprise Value | $40.28B | $63.53B |
Dividend Yield | 0.48% | 0.77% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALC trades at $73.59, down slightly by 0.05% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $86.67 implying 17.8% upside. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $0.84 versus $0.77 expected, and the company raised its 2026 profitability outlook, driving positive investor sentiment. Revenue growth has been steady, reaching $10.40 billion in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 5.92%.
The outlook is positive given strong earnings beats, raised guidance, and bullish analyst ratings, but risks include elevated P/E of 57.52, high RSI levels suggesting overbought conditions, and margin pressures from rising costs. Institutional ownership trends and recent collaborations, like with RxSight, support growth, yet macroeconomic and competitive factors warrant caution.
W.W. Grainger (GWW) trades at $1,304.88, up 0.57% today, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results, beating EPS and revenue estimates, and raised its full-year outlook. Revenue grew to $18.8 billion in 2026, with a net income margin of 9.92%. Analyst consensus is a 'Hold' with a $1,320 price target, though institutional sentiment is mixed amid high valuation multiples.
GWW's earnings momentum and market share gains support upside potential, but elevated P/E of 33.19 and bearish technicals pose near-term risks. Investors should weigh robust fundamentals against valuation concerns and macroeconomic pressures affecting industrial demand.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Alcon, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the global eyecare leader with a diverse portfolio in ophthalmology including contact lenses, eye drops, surgical equipment, and related surgical products. Novartis purchased Alcon from Nestle in 2010 and, following nine years as a Novartis subsidiary, the company was spun off as a public company in April 2019. The company reports five distinct segments: implantables (16% of revenue), consumables (31%), equipment (9%), contact lenses (27%), and ocular health (17%). The company is geographically diversified, with only about 40% of revenue from the U.S. market, and the firm has a strong presence in the European Union and Japan.
Read more on ALC →Grainger is a leading broad-line distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products. It serves millions of customers worldwide through an integrated network of branches and digital platforms.
Read more on GWW →