GWW vs. FUL
GWW (W.W. Grainger, Inc.) and FUL (H.B. Fuller Company) are both stocks. GWW operates in Industrial Distribution (Industrials), while FUL operates in Specialty Chemicals (Basic Materials). Over the past 10 years, GWW returned 21.17%/yr vs 3.54%/yr for FUL. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
GWW vs. FUL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GWW achieves a 29.79% return, which is significantly higher than FUL's 1.73% return. Over the past 10 years, GWW has outperformed FUL with an annualized return of 21.17%, while FUL has yielded a comparatively lower 3.54% annualized return.
GWW
- 1D
- 0.35%
- 1M
- 5.96%
- YTD
- 29.79%
- 6M
- 36.56%
- 1Y
- 20.24%
- 3Y*
- 23.74%
- 5Y*
- 24.53%
- 10Y*
- 21.17%
FUL
- 1D
- 0.25%
- 1M
- -1.99%
- YTD
- 1.73%
- 6M
- 4.84%
- 1Y
- 8.55%
- 3Y*
- -1.57%
- 5Y*
- -1.62%
- 10Y*
- 3.54%
GWW vs. FUL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GWW W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 29.79% | -3.41% | 28.21% | 50.53% | 8.75% | 28.80% | 22.85% | 22.25% | 21.69% | 4.35% |
FUL H.B. Fuller Company | 1.73% | -10.46% | -16.19% | 14.97% | -10.59% | 57.84% | 2.15% | 22.42% | -19.84% | 12.79% |
Correlation
The correlation between GWW and FUL is 0.38, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.49 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 27, 1990 | 0.36 |
The correlation between GWW and FUL shifts across timeframes, from 0.36 (all time) to 0.52 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
GWW:
$61.84B
FUL:
$3.33B
GWW:
$37.26
FUL:
$2.88
GWW:
35.01
FUL:
20.81
GWW:
3.39
FUL:
0.96
GWW:
15.73
FUL:
1.61
GWW:
$18.38B
FUL:
$3.46B
GWW:
$7.20B
FUL:
$1.11B
GWW:
$2.82B
FUL:
$495.48M
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Return for Risk
GWW vs. FUL — Risk / Return Rank
GWW
FUL
GWW vs. FUL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) and H.B. Fuller Company (FUL). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| GWW | FUL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.57 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.58 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.07 | +0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.36 | 0.32 | +1.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.60 | 0.98 | +1.61 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GWW | FUL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.82 | 0.25 | +0.57 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.00 | -0.06 | +1.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.74 | 0.11 | +0.63 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.56 | 0.27 | +0.29 |
Drawdowns
GWW vs. FUL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GWW drawdown since its inception was -56.73%, smaller than the maximum FUL drawdown of -68.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GWW and FUL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GWW | FUL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.73% | -68.25% | +11.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.00% | -26.97% | +11.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.50% | -43.45% | +18.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.50% | -43.45% | +18.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.60% | -56.29% | +14.69% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -28.49% | +28.49% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.01% | -18.76% | +7.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.29% | 8.70% | -0.41% |
Volatility
GWW vs. FUL - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is 4.56%, while H.B. Fuller Company (FUL) has a volatility of 11.03%. This indicates that GWW experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FUL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| GWW | FUL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.56% | 11.03% | -6.47% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.19% | 26.42% | -8.23% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.80% | 34.82% | -10.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.67% | 29.38% | -4.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 28.54% | 31.11% | -2.57% |
Dividends
GWW vs. FUL - Dividend Comparison
GWW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.71%, less than FUL's 1.58% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FUL H.B. Fuller Company | 1.58% | 1.56% | 1.29% | 0.99% | 1.03% | 0.82% | 1.25% | 1.23% | 1.44% | 1.10% | 1.14% | 1.40% |
GWW W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 0.71% | 0.88% | 0.76% | 0.88% | 1.22% | 1.23% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.90% | 2.14% | 2.08% | 2.27% |
Financials
GWW vs. FUL - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between W.W. Grainger, Inc. and H.B. Fuller Company. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
GWW vs. FUL - Profitability Comparison
GWW - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, W.W. Grainger, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.90B and revenue of 4.74B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 40.0%.
FUL - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, H.B. Fuller Company reported a gross profit of 240.99M and revenue of 770.84M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 31.3%.
GWW - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, W.W. Grainger, Inc. reported an operating income of 793.00M and revenue of 4.74B, resulting in an operating margin of 16.7%.
FUL - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, H.B. Fuller Company reported an operating income of 60.86M and revenue of 770.84M, resulting in an operating margin of 7.9%.
GWW - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, W.W. Grainger, Inc. reported a net income of 555.00M and revenue of 4.74B, resulting in a net margin of 11.7%.
FUL - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, H.B. Fuller Company reported a net income of 21.05M and revenue of 770.84M, resulting in a net margin of 2.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions
GWW and FUL have a correlation of 0.38, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FUL has higher volatility (11.03%) compared to GWW (4.56%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GWW dropped -56.73% vs FUL's -68.25%.
GWW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.82 vs 0.25), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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