W W Grainger Inc vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,293.1 (market cap $59.76B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $223.54 (market cap $71.94B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and W W Grainger Inc is more actively traded (186,697 versus 2,002,519). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold W W Grainger Inc for 25 Days and Ross Stores, Inc. for 48 Days on average.
| GWW | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $59.76B | $71.94B |
Volume | 186,697 | 2,002,519 |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.40K | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $918.18 | $147.71 |
Typical Hold Time | 25 Days | 48 Days |
Enterprise Value | $61.96B | $72.39B |
Dividend Yield | 0.79% | 0.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
W.W. Grainger (GWW) trades at $1,263.51, down 0.94% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal. Recent earnings show mixed results with Q4 2025 missing estimates but Q1 and Q2 2026 beating expectations. The company maintains strong profitability with a net income margin of 9.92% and ROE of 47.92%, though valuation ratios like P/E of 32.34 appear elevated. Recent news highlights institutional buying and expansion efforts, including a new distribution center in Oregon and the acquisition of technology assets from Adroit Worldwide Media.
The outlook for GWW is cautiously optimistic, supported by earnings beats and solid fundamentals, but risks include high valuation and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus leans hold with a $1,310 price target, suggesting limited upside. Investors should weigh strong cash flow and dividend consistency against potential margin compression and market volatility.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $222.41, down 1.38% amid broader market weakness. The stock shows strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats (Q4 2025-Q2 2026) and robust profitability metrics including 42.63% ROE and 10.85% net margin. Technical indicators signal bearish momentum with the price near key support at $221, while analyst consensus remains bullish with a $274.14 price target. Recent news highlights store expansion initiatives and strong closeout supply positioning the company for growth.
ROST presents a compelling investment case with strong operational performance and analyst confidence, though near-term technical weakness and competitive pressures warrant caution. The 16% upside to consensus target offers potential reward, but investors should monitor execution of expansion plans and consumer spending trends given the bearish technical signals.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →