W.W. Grainger Inc. (GWW): Today's Featured Wholesale Laggard

W.W. Grainger (GWW) pushed the Wholesale industry lower today making it today's featured Wholesale laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.4%. By the end of trading, W.W. Grainger fell $4.85 (-2.3%) to $205.72 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 1.2 million shares of W.W. Grainger exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 757,700 shares. The stock ranged in price between $204.78-$210.57 after having opened the day at $210.19 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $210.57. Other company's within the Wholesale industry that declined today were: Nash-Finch Company (NAFC), down 7.8%, Bluelinx Holdings (BXC), down 5.6%, Hudson Technology (HDSN), down 4.2%, and SinoHub (SIHI), down 3.9%.

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W.W. Grainger, Inc. engages in the distribution of maintenance, repair, and operating supplies, as well as other related products and services for businesses and institutions primarily in the United States and Canada. W.W. Grainger has a market cap of $13.25 billion and is part of the services sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 20, equal to the average wholesale industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 12.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are five analysts that rate W.W. Grainger a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and seven rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates W.W. Grainger as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity, impressive record of earnings per share growth and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full W.W. Grainger Ratings Report.

On the positive front, China Auto Logistics (CALI), up 22.6%, Armco Metals Holdings (CNAM), up 7.8%, Rada Electronics Industries (RADA), up 6.8%, and Shengkai Innovations (VALV), up 6.8%, were all gainers within the wholesale industry with Cardinal Health (CAH) being today's featured wholesale industry leader.

• Use our wholesale section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the wholesale industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Goods (IYK) while those bearish on the wholesale industry could consider ProShares Ultra Sht Consumer Goods (SZK).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

 

For more information on W.W. Grainger Inc. click any of the following:

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Stock Price

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Analyst Ratings

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Earnings

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Ratio Comparison

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Growth Rates

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Balance Sheet

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Cash Flow

• W.W. Grainger Inc. Income Statement