NUE vs. GWW
NUE (Nucor Corporation) and GWW (W.W. Grainger, Inc.) are both stocks. NUE operates in Steel (Basic Materials), while GWW operates in Industrial Distribution (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, NUE returned 20.99%/yr vs 21.41%/yr for GWW. At a 0.39 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NUE vs. GWW - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUE achieves a 63.85% return, which is significantly higher than GWW's 30.92% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with NUE having a 20.99% annualized return and GWW not far ahead at 21.41%.
NUE
- 1D
- 2.09%
- 1M
- 14.39%
- YTD
- 63.85%
- 6M
- 62.42%
- 1Y
- 121.78%
- 3Y*
- 21.70%
- 5Y*
- 21.94%
- 10Y*
- 20.99%
GWW
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- 2.47%
- YTD
- 30.92%
- 6M
- 29.19%
- 1Y
- 24.72%
- 3Y*
- 22.36%
- 5Y*
- 24.71%
- 10Y*
- 21.41%
NUE vs. GWW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUE Nucor Corporation | 63.85% | 42.03% | -31.95% | 33.75% | 17.39% | 118.45% | -1.77% | 11.84% | -16.36% | 9.60% |
GWW W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 30.92% | -3.41% | 28.21% | 50.53% | 8.75% | 28.80% | 22.85% | 22.25% | 21.69% | 4.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUE and GWW is 0.29, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 17, 1984 | 0.39 |
The correlation between NUE and GWW shifts across timeframes, from 0.29 (1 year) to 0.42 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NUE:
$61.07B
GWW:
$62.37B
NUE:
$10.12
GWW:
$37.26
NUE:
26.31
GWW:
35.32
NUE:
1.80
GWW:
3.42
NUE:
2.85
GWW:
15.87
NUE:
$34.16B
GWW:
$18.38B
NUE:
$4.77B
GWW:
$7.20B
NUE:
$3.49B
GWW:
$2.82B
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Return for Risk
NUE vs. GWW — Risk / Return Rank
NUE
GWW
NUE vs. GWW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nucor Corporation (NUE) 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.
| NUE | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +3.51 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.69 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.61 | 1.19 | +0.42 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 7.00 | 1.64 | +5.36 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 21.08 | 3.20 | +17.88 |
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Drawdowns
NUE vs. GWW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUE drawdown since its inception was -68.34%, which is greater than GWW's maximum drawdown of -56.73%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUE and GWW.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUE | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -68.34% | -56.73% | -11.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -18.43% | -13.92% | -4.51% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -47.79% | -24.50% | -23.29% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -47.79% | -24.50% | -23.29% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -57.21% | -41.60% | -15.61% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -1.05% | +1.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -21.13% | -11.01% | -10.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.11% | 7.61% | -1.50% |
Volatility
NUE vs. GWW - Volatility Comparison
Nucor Corporation (NUE) has a higher volatility of 8.88% compared to W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) at 4.85%. This indicates that NUE's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier 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
| NUE | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.88% | 4.85% | +4.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.49% | 17.85% | +2.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 29.15% | 24.78% | +4.37% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 37.73% | 24.68% | +13.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 35.98% | 28.52% | +7.46% |
Dividends
NUE vs. GWW - Dividend Comparison
NUE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.83%, 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% |
NUE Nucor Corporation | 0.83% | 1.35% | 1.86% | 1.19% | 1.52% | 1.50% | 3.03% | 2.85% | 2.97% | 2.38% | 2.52% | 3.70% |
Financials
NUE vs. GWW - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Nucor Corporation 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
NUE vs. GWW - Profitability Comparison
NUE - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.50B and revenue of 9.50B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 15.8%.
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%.
NUE - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported an operating income of 0.00 and revenue of 9.50B, resulting in an operating margin of 0.0%.
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%.
NUE - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported a net income of 743.00M and revenue of 9.50B, resulting in a net margin of 7.8%.
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
NUE and GWW have a correlation of 0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NUE has higher volatility (8.88%) compared to GWW (4.85%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUE dropped -68.34% vs GWW's -56.73%.
NUE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.43 vs 0.92), 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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