W W Grainger Inc vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,397.45 (market cap $64.75B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $233.23 (market cap $72.47B). The key difference: W W Grainger Inc and Ross Stores, Inc. are close in size by market cap, and Ross Stores, Inc. pays the higher dividend (0.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| GWW | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $64.75B | $72.47B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.39K | $240.13 |
52-Week Low | $918.18 | $129.10 |
Enterprise Value | $66.84B | $73.07B |
Dividend Yield | 0.68% | 0.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
GWW trades at $1,398.30, up 1.99% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong momentum indicators. The company reported robust Q1 2026 earnings of $11.65 per share, beating estimates, and raised its full-year guidance. Revenue growth and profitability remain solid, with a net income margin of 9.7% and ROE of 48.1% for 2025. Recent news highlights its inclusion in high-quality dividend and momentum stock lists, reflecting positive market recognition.
The outlook for GWW is positive, driven by earnings beats and upward guidance revisions, though valuation multiples like a P/E of 36.88 suggest premium pricing. Risks include competitive pressures in the industrial services sector and reliance on MRO market demand. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating, but the average price target of $1,260 implies modest upside potential from current levels.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $220.90, up 0.66% with a bullish technical signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, revenue growth to $21.13B in 2025, and robust profitability metrics including 9.74% net margin and 38.98% ROE. Recent analyst upgrades highlight growing optimism about the company's growth trajectory and operational efficiency improvements.
The outlook remains positive with analyst consensus price target of $259 (17.3% upside), though valuation multiples appear elevated (P/E 31.55, P/B 11.49). Key risks include competitive retail pressures and execution challenges in maintaining margin expansion amid economic uncertainty. The stock's proximity to recent highs suggests near-term consolidation may precede further gains.
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 →