ITW vs. GWW
ITW (Illinois Tool Works Inc.) and GWW (W.W. Grainger, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Industrials sector — ITW in Specialty Industrial Machinery, GWW in Industrial Distribution. Over the past 10 years, ITW returned 12.53%/yr vs 21.60%/yr for GWW. At a 0.48 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
ITW vs. GWW - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ITW achieves a 6.90% return, which is significantly lower than GWW's 31.38% return. Over the past 10 years, ITW has underperformed GWW with an annualized return of 12.53%, while GWW has yielded a comparatively higher 21.60% annualized return.
ITW
- 1D
- -1.38%
- 1M
- 3.74%
- YTD
- 6.90%
- 6M
- 5.23%
- 1Y
- 9.85%
- 3Y*
- 5.04%
- 5Y*
- 5.73%
- 10Y*
- 12.53%
GWW
- 1D
- -1.56%
- 1M
- 5.83%
- YTD
- 31.38%
- 6M
- 29.47%
- 1Y
- 28.28%
- 3Y*
- 22.45%
- 5Y*
- 25.77%
- 10Y*
- 21.60%
ITW vs. GWW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc. | 6.90% | -0.43% | -0.97% | 21.56% | -8.46% | 23.60% | 16.42% | 45.60% | -22.10% | 38.92% |
GWW W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 31.38% | -3.41% | 28.21% | 50.53% | 8.75% | 28.80% | 22.85% | 22.25% | 21.69% | 4.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between ITW and GWW is 0.56, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.56 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.63 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 5, 1987 | 0.48 |
The correlation between ITW and GWW shifts across timeframes, from 0.48 (all time) to 0.63 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
ITW:
$14.33
GWW:
$37.26
ITW:
18.26
GWW:
35.44
ITW:
3.03
GWW:
2.05
ITW:
3.53
GWW:
3.44
ITW:
$16.22B
GWW:
$18.38B
ITW:
$7.16B
GWW:
$7.20B
ITW:
$4.61B
GWW:
$2.82B
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Return for Risk
ITW vs. GWW — Risk / Return Rank
ITW
GWW
ITW vs. GWW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) and W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ITW | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.65 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.76 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.10 | 1.23 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.57 | 2.13 | -1.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.21 | 4.36 | -3.14 |
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Drawdowns
ITW vs. GWW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ITW drawdown since its inception was -54.90%, roughly equal to the maximum GWW drawdown of -56.73%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ITW and GWW.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ITW | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.90% | -56.73% | +1.83% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.44% | -13.35% | -4.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.63% | -24.50% | +3.87% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.05% | -24.50% | -3.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.85% | -41.60% | +3.75% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.12% | -3.29% | -8.83% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.84% | -11.00% | +1.16% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.14% | 6.51% | +1.63% |
Volatility
ITW vs. GWW - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) is 5.34%, while W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) has a volatility of 5.99%. This indicates that ITW experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GWW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ITW | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.34% | 5.99% | -0.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.80% | 18.09% | -2.29% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.60% | 25.04% | -4.44% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.13% | 24.73% | -3.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.80% | 28.55% | -4.75% |
Dividends
ITW vs. GWW - Dividend Comparison
ITW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.42%, more than GWW's 0.70% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GWW W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 0.70% | 0.88% | 0.76% | 0.88% | 1.22% | 1.23% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.90% | 2.14% | 2.08% | 2.27% |
ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc. | 2.42% | 2.53% | 2.29% | 2.07% | 2.30% | 1.91% | 2.17% | 2.30% | 2.81% | 1.71% | 1.96% | 2.23% |
Financials
ITW vs. GWW - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Illinois Tool Works Inc. and W.W. Grainger, Inc.. 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
ITW vs. GWW - Profitability Comparison
ITW - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Illinois Tool Works Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.76B and revenue of 4.02B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 43.8%.
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%.
ITW - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Illinois Tool Works Inc. reported an operating income of 1.02B and revenue of 4.02B, resulting in an operating margin of 25.4%.
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%.
ITW - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Illinois Tool Works Inc. reported a net income of 768.00M and revenue of 4.02B, resulting in a net margin of 19.1%.
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%.
Frequently Asked Questions
ITW and GWW have a correlation of 0.56, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GWW has higher volatility (5.99%) compared to ITW (5.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ITW dropped -54.90% vs GWW's -56.73%.
GWW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.13 vs 0.48), 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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