W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs HNI (HNI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
W.W. Grainger (GWW) has outperformed HNI (HNI) over the past year, gaining 33.2% versus a gain of 5.8%. Over five years, GWW leads with a +200.6% price change compared with +21.8% for HNI. W.W. Grainger is the larger company by market cap ($60.75 billion vs $3.38 billion), about 18.0 times the size, while HNI is growing revenue faster (+12.4% vs +4.5%).
On valuation, HNI trades at a lower forward P/E (9.8x vs 25.3x for W.W. Grainger). HNI offers the higher dividend yield (2.92% vs 0.72%). W.W. Grainger converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.5% versus 1.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | GWW | HNI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $1,289.79 | $46.86 |
| Market cap | $60.75B | $3.38B |
| 1-day change | +1.66% | -0.11% |
| YTD return | +27.82% | +11.47% |
| 1-year return | +33.17% | +5.80% |
| 5-year return | +200.62% | +21.78% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 32.89 | — |
| Forward P/E | 25.29 | 9.76 |
| EPS (TTM) | $39.21 | $-0.03 |
| Dividend yield | 0.72% | 2.92% |
| Annual dividend | $9.27 | $1.37 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $17.94B | $2.84B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.51% | +12.37% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.71B | $54.20M |
| Gross margin | 39.06% | 41.43% |
| Operating margin | 13.91% | 4.44% |
| Net margin | 9.51% | 1.91% |
| 52-week high | $1,419.91 | $52.79 |
| 52-week low | $906.52 | $28.93 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.16% | -11.23% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +3.24% | +51.52% |
| Average volume | 262.90K | 560.08K |
| Shares outstanding | 47.10M | 72.18M |
| Employees | 22,100 | 18,500 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Office Equipment/Supplies/Services | Office Equipment/Supplies/Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- W.W. Grainger is about 18.0 times larger than HNI by market value ($60.75B vs $3.38B).
- GWW has outperformed HNI by 27.4 percentage points over the past year.
- HNI offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.92% vs 0.72%).
- W.W. Grainger is more profitable, keeping 9.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 1.9 cents for HNI.
- HNI grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+12.37% vs +4.51%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: W.W. Grainger in Industrials and HNI in Consumer Discretionary.
About W.W. Grainger
GWW stock →W.W. Grainger, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Industrials · Office Equipment/Supplies/Services · 22,100 employees
About HNI
HNI stock →HNI Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture, sale, and marketing of workplace furnishings and residential building products primarily in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Workplace Furnishings and Residential Building Products.
Consumer Discretionary · Office Equipment/Supplies/Services · 18,500 employees
GWW vs HNI FAQ
Which is bigger, W.W. Grainger or HNI?
W.W. Grainger (GWW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $60.75B compared with $3.38B for HNI (HNI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, GWW or HNI?
GWW returned +33.17% over the past 12 months, compared with +5.80% for HNI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, W.W. Grainger or HNI?
HNI has the higher yield at 2.92%, compared with 0.72% for W.W. Grainger.
Are W.W. Grainger and HNI in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Office Equipment/Supplies/Services industry within the Industrials sector.