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Side-by-side financial comparison of W. W. Grainger (GWW) and Ross Stores (ROST). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Ross Stores is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($5.6B vs $4.4B, roughly 1.3× W. W. Grainger). W. W. Grainger runs the higher net margin — 10.2% vs 9.1%, a 1.1% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Ross Stores posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (10.4% vs 4.5%). Ross Stores produced more free cash flow last quarter ($617.8M vs $269.0M). Over the past eight quarters, W. W. Grainger's revenue compounded faster (2.2% CAGR vs -3.6%).
W. W. Grainger, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 industrial supply company founded in 1927 in Chicago by the company's namesake William W. (Bill) Grainger. He founded the company to provide consumers with access to a consistent supply of motors. The company now serves more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with offerings such as motors, lighting, material handling, fasteners, plumbing, tools, and safety supplies, along with inventory management services and technical support.
Ross Stores, Inc., operating under the brand name Ross Dress for Less, is an American chain of discount department stores headquartered in Dublin, California. It is the largest off-price retailer in the U.S.; as of July 2024, Ross operates 1,795 stores in 43 U.S. states, Washington, D.C. Puerto Rico and Guam, covering much of the country, but with no presence in New England and Alaska. The company also operates DD's Discounts, a discount department store chain with over 353 locations across t...
GWW vs ROST — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q3 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $4.4B | $5.6B |
| Net Profit | $451.0M | $511.9M |
| Gross Margin | 39.5% | 28.0% |
| Operating Margin | 14.3% | 11.6% |
| Net Margin | 10.2% | 9.1% |
| Revenue YoY | 4.5% | 10.4% |
| Net Profit YoY | -5.1% | 4.7% |
| EPS (diluted) | $9.45 | $1.58 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q4 25 | $4.4B | $5.6B | ||
| Q3 25 | $4.7B | $5.5B | ||
| Q2 25 | $4.6B | $5.0B | ||
| Q1 25 | $4.3B | $5.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $4.2B | $5.1B | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.4B | $5.3B | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.3B | $4.9B | ||
| Q1 24 | $4.2B | $6.0B |
| Q4 25 | $451.0M | $511.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $294.0M | $508.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $482.0M | $479.2M | ||
| Q1 25 | $479.0M | $586.8M | ||
| Q4 24 | $475.0M | $488.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $486.0M | $527.1M | ||
| Q2 24 | $470.0M | $488.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $478.0M | $609.7M |
| Q4 25 | 39.5% | 28.0% | ||
| Q3 25 | 38.6% | 27.6% | ||
| Q2 25 | 38.5% | 28.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | 39.7% | 26.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | 39.6% | 28.3% | ||
| Q3 24 | 39.2% | 28.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 39.3% | 28.1% | ||
| Q1 24 | 39.4% | 27.3% |
| Q4 25 | 14.3% | 11.6% | ||
| Q3 25 | 11.0% | 11.5% | ||
| Q2 25 | 14.9% | 12.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | 15.6% | 12.4% | ||
| Q4 24 | 15.0% | 11.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | 15.6% | 12.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | 15.1% | 12.2% | ||
| Q1 24 | 15.8% | 13.2% |
| Q4 25 | 10.2% | 9.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | 6.3% | 9.2% | ||
| Q2 25 | 10.6% | 9.6% | ||
| Q1 25 | 11.1% | 9.9% | ||
| Q4 24 | 11.2% | 9.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 11.1% | 10.0% | ||
| Q2 24 | 10.9% | 10.0% | ||
| Q1 24 | 11.3% | 10.1% |
| Q4 25 | $9.45 | $1.58 | ||
| Q3 25 | $6.12 | $1.56 | ||
| Q2 25 | $9.97 | $1.47 | ||
| Q1 25 | $9.86 | $1.79 | ||
| Q4 24 | $9.71 | $1.48 | ||
| Q3 24 | $9.87 | $1.59 | ||
| Q2 24 | $9.51 | $1.46 | ||
| Q1 24 | $9.62 | $1.82 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $585.0M | $4.1B |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $2.5B | $1.5B |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $3.7B | $5.9B |
| Total Assets | $9.0B | $15.4B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 0.67× | 0.26× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $585.0M | $4.1B | ||
| Q3 25 | $535.0M | $3.8B | ||
| Q2 25 | $597.0M | $3.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | $666.0M | $4.7B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.0B | $4.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.4B | $4.7B | ||
| Q2 24 | $769.0M | $4.7B | ||
| Q1 24 | $804.0M | $4.9B |
| Q4 25 | $2.5B | $1.5B | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.4B | $1.5B | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.3B | $1.5B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.3B | $2.2B | ||
| Q4 24 | $2.8B | $2.2B | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.3B | $2.5B | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.8B | $2.5B | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.8B | $2.5B |
| Q4 25 | $3.7B | $5.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.6B | $5.7B | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.7B | $5.6B | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.5B | $5.5B | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.4B | $5.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | $3.5B | $5.1B | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.3B | $4.9B | ||
| Q1 24 | $3.2B | $4.9B |
| Q4 25 | $9.0B | $15.4B | ||
| Q3 25 | $8.8B | $14.5B | ||
| Q2 25 | $8.9B | $14.3B | ||
| Q1 25 | $8.7B | $14.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $8.8B | $14.9B | ||
| Q3 24 | $9.1B | $14.7B | ||
| Q2 24 | $8.4B | $14.5B | ||
| Q1 24 | $8.4B | $14.3B |
| Q4 25 | 0.67× | 0.26× | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.67× | 0.26× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.64× | 0.27× | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.66× | 0.40× | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.83× | 0.42× | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.65× | 0.48× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.54× | 0.50× | ||
| Q1 24 | 0.56× | 0.51× |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $395.0M | $827.1M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $269.0M | $617.8M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 6.1% | 11.0% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 2.8% | 3.7% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 0.88× | 1.62× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $1.3B | $2.0B |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $395.0M | $827.1M | ||
| Q3 25 | $597.0M | $668.4M | ||
| Q2 25 | $377.0M | $409.7M | ||
| Q1 25 | $646.0M | $882.6M | ||
| Q4 24 | $428.0M | $513.4M | ||
| Q3 24 | $611.0M | $592.1M | ||
| Q2 24 | $411.0M | $368.9M | ||
| Q1 24 | $661.0M | $948.8M |
| Q4 25 | $269.0M | $617.8M | ||
| Q3 25 | $339.0M | $466.6M | ||
| Q2 25 | $202.0M | $202.3M | ||
| Q1 25 | $521.0M | $676.6M | ||
| Q4 24 | $170.0M | $333.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $523.0M | $394.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $335.0M | $232.7M | ||
| Q1 24 | $542.0M | $726.4M |
| Q4 25 | 6.1% | 11.0% | ||
| Q3 25 | 7.3% | 8.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 4.4% | 4.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 12.1% | 11.4% | ||
| Q4 24 | 4.0% | 6.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 11.9% | 7.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | 7.8% | 4.8% | ||
| Q1 24 | 12.8% | 12.1% |
| Q4 25 | 2.8% | 3.7% | ||
| Q3 25 | 5.5% | 3.6% | ||
| Q2 25 | 3.8% | 4.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.9% | 3.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | 6.1% | 3.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.0% | 3.7% | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.8% | 2.8% | ||
| Q1 24 | 2.8% | 3.7% |
| Q4 25 | 0.88× | 1.62× | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.03× | 1.32× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.78× | 0.85× | ||
| Q1 25 | 1.35× | 1.50× | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.90× | 1.05× | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.26× | 1.12× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.87× | 0.76× | ||
| Q1 24 | 1.38× | 1.56× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
