W.W. Grainger (GWW) vs Pitney Bowes (PBI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Pitney Bowes (PBI) has outperformed W.W. Grainger (GWW) over the past year, gaining 45.7% versus a gain of 33.2%. Over five years, GWW leads with a +200.6% price change compared with +136.6% for PBI. W.W. Grainger is the larger company by market cap ($60.75 billion vs $2.30 billion), about 26.4 times the size.
On valuation, Pitney Bowes trades at a lower forward P/E (9.2x vs 25.3x for W.W. Grainger). Pitney Bowes offers the higher dividend yield (2.14% vs 0.72%). W.W. Grainger converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.5% versus 7.6%.
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 | PBI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $1,289.79 | $16.80 |
| Market cap | $60.75B | $2.30B |
| 1-day change | +1.66% | -1.06% |
| YTD return | +27.82% | +58.94% |
| 1-year return | +33.17% | +45.71% |
| 5-year return | +200.62% | +136.62% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 32.36 | 13.77 |
| Forward P/E | 25.29 | 9.22 |
| EPS (TTM) | $39.86 | $1.22 |
| Dividend yield | 0.72% | 2.14% |
| Annual dividend | $9.27 | $0.36 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $17.94B | $1.89B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.51% | -6.61% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.71B | $144.70M |
| Gross margin | 39.06% | — |
| Operating margin | 13.91% | — |
| Net margin | 9.51% | 7.65% |
| 52-week high | $1,419.91 | $19.07 |
| 52-week low | $906.52 | $8.95 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.16% | -11.90% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +3.24% | +16.43% |
| Average volume | 262.90K | 1.67M |
| Shares outstanding | 47.10M | 137.09M |
| Employees | 22,100 | 6,600 |
| Sector | Industrials | Miscellaneous |
| 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 26.4 times larger than Pitney Bowes by market value ($60.75B vs $2.30B).
- PBI has outperformed GWW by 12.5 percentage points over the past year.
- W.W. Grainger trades at a higher earnings multiple (32.4x vs 13.8x trailing P/E).
- Pitney Bowes offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.14% vs 0.72%).
- W.W. Grainger grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+4.51% vs -6.61%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: W.W. Grainger in Industrials and Pitney Bowes in Miscellaneous.
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 Pitney Bowes
PBI stock →Pitney Bowes Inc. provides digital shipping solutions, mailing innovation, and financial services worldwide.
Miscellaneous · Office Equipment/Supplies/Services · 6,600 employees
GWW vs PBI FAQ
Which is bigger, W.W. Grainger or Pitney Bowes?
W.W. Grainger (GWW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $60.75B compared with $2.30B for Pitney Bowes (PBI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, GWW or PBI?
PBI returned +45.71% over the past 12 months, compared with +33.17% for GWW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, GWW or PBI?
PBI has the lower trailing P/E at 13.8, versus 32.4 for GWW. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, W.W. Grainger or Pitney Bowes?
Pitney Bowes has the higher yield at 2.14%, compared with 0.72% for W.W. Grainger.
Are W.W. Grainger and Pitney Bowes in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Office Equipment/Supplies/Services industry within the Industrials sector.