GWW vs AVTR vs QXO Stock Comparison

W.W. Grainger, Avantor and Qxo Prices as of Nov 5, 2026 Peers: Industry group
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GWW W.W. Grainger, Inc.
$1,453.53 +13.9% 1M +51.0% 1Y
Market cap
$68.05B
P/E
31.6x
Revenue (TTM)
$19.37B
Div. yield
0.65%
Industrial Distribution Industrials
8 wins
AVTR Avantor, Inc.
$15.13 -2.0% 1M +30.7% 1Y
Market cap
$10.25B
P/E
30.4x
Revenue (TTM)
$6.64B
Div. yield
–
Industrial Distribution Industrials
2 wins
QXO QXO, Inc.
$11.64 -3.9% 1M -29.4% 1Y
Market cap
$8.44B
P/E
–
Revenue (TTM)
$9.90B
Div. yield
–
Industrial Distribution Industrials
1 win

Head to Head

11 decided of 12

W.W. Grainger leads on 8 of the 12 questions below (W.W. Grainger 8, Avantor 2, Qxo 1). Which ones matter depends on what you are buying for; a cheap multiple and slow growth often come together.

QuestionGWWAVTRQXOLeader
Larger companyMarket capitalisation $68.05B $10.25B $8.44B GWW
Cheaper on earningsLower P/E, profitable companies only 31.6x 30.4x -17.5x AVTR
Cheaper on forward earningsLower price / next fiscal year consensus EPS 29.7x 19.2x 52.9x AVTR
Faster revenue growthRevenue growth, trailing twelve months +9.1% +0.9% +408.3% QXO
More profitableNet margin, trailing twelve months 11.2% 5.1% -5.2% GWW
Better return on capitalReturn on invested capital 32.3% 5.2% -2.3% GWW
Less leveragedLower net debt / EBITDA 0.6x 3.5x 9.3x GWW
Higher dividend yieldTrailing dividend yield 0.65% — 0.00% –
Better 1-year returnPrice return, last 12 months +51.0% +30.7% -29.4% GWW
Better 5-year returnAnnualised price return, 5 years +25.2%/yr -16.9%/yr -24.9%/yr GWW
Less volatileAnnualised volatility, 1 year 24.4% 43.3% 64.9% GWW
Higher overall scoreMean of the five percentile scores vs peers 62/100 34/100 31/100 GWW

Percentile Scorecard

GWWAVTRQXO

Each axis is the mean percentile of its metrics against the company's industry group. 100 is the best in the group, 50 the middle.

Scores by Axis

AxisGWWAVTRQXO
Valuation 7 #43 of 46 33 #31 of 46 31 #32 of 46
Growth 82 #8 of 39 34 #26 of 39 66 #14 of 39
Profitability 98 #2 of 41 53 #20 of 41 10 #37 of 41
Financial Health 69 #16 of 49 38 #31 of 49 40 #30 of 49
Shareholder Returns 55 #16 of 34 12 #30 of 34 9 #31 of 34
Overall 62 34 31
  • GWW ranked among 49 companies in Distribution and Rental
  • AVTR ranked among 49 companies in Distribution and Rental
  • QXO ranked among 49 companies in Distribution and Rental

Price Performance

Price return, split-adjusted, before dividends. Click a name to hide or show it.

Returns

PeriodGWWAVTRQXOSPY
1 month +13.9%-2.0%-3.9% -5.9%
3 months +13.3%+14.7%-23.4% -4.6%
6 months +17.8%+82.1%-38.0% +0.2%
Year to date +44.0%+32.0%-39.7% +7.5%
1 year +51.0%+30.7%-29.4% +8.2%
3 years +89.5%-17.2%-57.7% +68.3%
3 years, per year +23.8%-6.1%-25.0% +19.0%
5 years +207.3%-60.4%-76.1% +56.5%
5 years, per year +25.2%-16.9%-24.9% +9.4%
10 years +608.2%—-41.8% +251.5%
10 years, per year +21.6%—-5.3% +13.4%

Risk

MeasureGWWAVTRQXOSPY
Volatility, 1Y 24.4%43.3%64.9% 13.6%
Downside volatility, 1Y 21.7%39.4%58.0% 14.2%
Beta vs S&P 500, 1Y 0.540.802.58 1.00
Return / volatility, 1Y 2.090.71-0.45 0.60
Max drawdown, 5Y -24.8%-82.4%-95.7% -25.4%
From 52-week high -2.4%-12.5%-57.0% -5.9%
52-week high $1,489.46$17.29$27.07 $779.14
52-week low $918.18$7.41$10.14 $631.97

Valuation History

Weekly multiples on trailing twelve-month fundamentals. Negative or extreme readings (a loss year, a collapsed denominator) are left out so the chart stays readable.

MultipleGWWAVTRQXO
P/E now vs peer median 31.6xmedian 22.6x 30.4xmedian 22.6x -17.5xmedian 22.6x
P/S now vs peer median 3.5xmedian 1.0x 1.5xmedian 1.0x 0.9xmedian 1.0x
EV/EBITDA now vs peer median 21.1xmedian 12.6x 14.7xmedian 12.6x 33.4xmedian 12.6x
P/FCF now vs peer median 39.6xmedian 20.2x 23.3xmedian 20.2x 59.8xmedian 20.2x
P/B now vs peer median 14.4xmedian 2.4x 1.8xmedian 2.4x 0.8xmedian 2.4x
PEG now vs peer median 3.87median 2.13 -11.43median 2.13 0.40median 2.13

Financial History

Reported figures by fiscal period, placed on the calendar year (or quarter) each period ended in, so companies with different fiscal years line up.

Trailing twelve monthsGWWAVTRQXO
Revenue $19.37B $6.64B $9.90B
Gross profit $7.64B $2.10B $2.38B
Operating income $3.06B $487.20M -$337.60M
Net income $2.28B $337.20M -$511.70M
Free cash flow $1.72B $439.20M $141.20M
EPS (diluted) $45.92 $0.50 $-0.67
Cash & equivalents $768.00M $464.30M $2.77B
Total debt $2.69B $3.68B $6.03B
Shares (diluted) 47.10M 680.90M 767.30M
Enterprise value $65.81B $8.84B -$2.05B

All Metrics

58 metrics · best in bold

Bold marks the best reading: the lowest positive value for multiples, leverage and payout, the highest for everything else. The bar under each value is its percentile against that company's own peers. Hover a value for its rank and the peer median.

Valuation

12 metrics
MetricGWWAVTRQXO
P/E 31.6x 30.4x -17.5x
P/FCF 39.6x 23.3x 59.8x
P/Operating cash flow 30.4x 17.5x 33.3x
P/S 3.5x 1.5x 0.9x
P/B 14.4x 1.8x 0.8x
P/Tangible book 15.4x 3.5x 1.4x
EV/EBITDA 21.1x 14.7x 33.4x
EV/EBIT 22.8x 27.7x -34.7x
EV/Revenue 3.6x 2.0x 1.2x
EV/FCF 40.7x 30.7x 82.9x
EV/Operating cash flow 31.2x 23.0x 46.2x
PEG (3Y EPS CAGR) 3.87 -11.43 0.40

Growth

14 metrics
MetricGWWAVTRQXO
Revenue growth (1Y) 9.1% 0.9% 408.3%
Revenue CAGR (3Y) 6.0% -1.9% 484.0%
Gross profit growth (1Y) 10.1% -3.8% 468.9%
Gross profit CAGR (3Y) 5.9% -4.5% 394.5%
Operating income growth (1Y) 22.8% 83.5% -25.4%
Operating income CAGR (3Y) 6.3% -14.0% -756.4%
Net income growth (1Y) 24.6% 510.2% -2,258%
Net income CAGR (3Y) 6.4% -2.5% -931.1%
EPS growth (1Y) 27.2% 510.7% -1,635%
EPS CAGR (3Y) 8.2% -2.7% -43.2%
Operating cash flow growth (1Y) 9.3% -9.3% 582.7%
Operating cash flow CAGR (3Y) 7.8% -10.8% 386.6%
Free cash flow growth (1Y) 39.4% -16.1% 294.8%
Free cash flow CAGR (3Y) 6.5% -14.2% 302.4%

Profitability

14 metrics
MetricGWWAVTRQXO
Gross margin 39.4% 31.6% 24.0%
EBITDA margin 17.1% 13.8% 3.5%
Operating margin 15.8% 7.3% -3.4%
Pretax margin 15.5% 4.8% -4.8%
Net margin 11.2% 5.1% -5.2%
FCF margin 8.9% 6.6% 1.4%
Operating cash flow margin 11.6% 8.8% 2.6%
Return on equity 49.2% 5.9% -5.0%
Return on assets 23.1% 2.9% -2.6%
Return on invested capital 32.3% 5.2% -2.3%
Return on capital employed 40.8% 4.8% -2.0%
Asset turnover 2.0x 0.6x 0.5x
Cash conversion (OCF / net income) 1.0x 1.7x -0.5x
Stock comp / revenue 0.4% 0.7% 1.3%

Financial Health

11 metrics
MetricGWWAVTRQXO
Debt / assets 26.5% 31.7% 26.6%
Debt / equity 0.6x 0.6x 0.6x
Net debt / EBITDA 0.6x 3.5x 9.3x
Debt / FCF 1.6x 8.4x 42.7x
Liabilities / assets 53.2% 49.8% 54.2%
Equity / assets 46.8% 50.2% 45.8%
Interest coverage – 3.0x –
Current ratio 2.6x 1.9x 4.1x
Quick ratio 1.5x 1.2x 2.0x
Cash ratio 0.3x 0.3x 1.1x
Altman Z-score 13.20 2.13 1.17

Shareholder Returns

7 metrics
MetricGWWAVTRQXO
Dividend yield 0.7% – –
Net buyback yield 1.4% -0.1% -9.4%
Shareholder yield 2.1% -0.1% -9.4%
Payout ratio (earnings) 22.3% – –
Payout ratio (FCF) 29.5% – –
Dividend growth (1Y) 10.7% – –
Dividend CAGR (3Y) 9.6% – –

Analyst Estimates

Solid lines are reported fiscal-year results; dashed lines are the consensus for the years ahead. Hover a year for the analysts' high and low, and how each result compared with its estimate.

ConsensusGWWAVTRQXO
Forward P/E 29.7xFY2026 19.2xFY2026 52.9xFY2026
EPS, next fiscal year $48.95FY2026 $0.79FY2026 $0.22FY2026
EPS growth, next FY +24.0%FY2026 -12.2%FY2026 -35.3%FY2026
EPS growth, the year after +8.9% +7.6% +127.3%
Revenue, next fiscal year $20.22BFY2026 $6.50BFY2026 $13.55BFY2026
Revenue growth, next FY +12.7%FY2026 -0.8%FY2026 +98.1%FY2026
Revenue growth, the year after +0.8% -1.2% +29.8%

Institutional Ownership

13F filings, quarter ended Jun 30, 2026
HoldersGWWAVTRQXO
Held by institutions 75.5% 100.0% 100.0%
Institutions holding 1,368 453 637
Change in shares held, QoQ +3.5% +3.5% +27.6%
Institutions buying 659 282 454
Institutions selling 428 109 109
Buyers to sellers 1.54 2.59 4.17

Return Correlation

Daily returns, last 12 months

1.00 means two stocks move in lockstep, 0 that they move independently. Pairs below about 0.5 diversify each other.

GWWAVTRQXO
GWW 1.00 0.18 0.34
AVTR 0.18 1.00 0.13
QXO 0.34 0.13 1.00

Add a Peer

Largest companies in the same industry

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, GWW, AVTR and QXO?

W.W. Grainger (GWW) is the largest by market capitalisation: W.W. Grainger (GWW) $68.05B, Avantor (AVTR) $10.25B, Qxo (QXO) $8.44B.

Which stock is cheaper, GWW, AVTR and QXO?

Avantor (AVTR) trades on the lowest price-to-earnings ratio (W.W. Grainger (GWW) 31.6x, Avantor (AVTR) 30.4x, Qxo (QXO) -17.5x). On next year's consensus earnings, Avantor (AVTR) is cheapest (W.W. Grainger (GWW) 29.7x, Avantor (AVTR) 19.2x, Qxo (QXO) 52.9x). A lower multiple can reflect slower expected growth, so read it next to the growth figures.

Which company is growing faster?

Qxo (QXO) grew revenue fastest over the trailing twelve months: W.W. Grainger (GWW) +9.1%, Avantor (AVTR) +0.9%, Qxo (QXO) +408.3%.

Which company is more profitable?

W.W. Grainger (GWW) has the highest net margin (W.W. Grainger (GWW) 11.2%, Avantor (AVTR) 5.1%, Qxo (QXO) -5.2%). On return on invested capital, W.W. Grainger (GWW) leads (W.W. Grainger (GWW) 32.3%, Avantor (AVTR) 5.2%, Qxo (QXO) -2.3%).

Which stock has performed better?

Over the past year W.W. Grainger (GWW) returned the most: W.W. Grainger (GWW) +51.0%, Avantor (AVTR) +30.7%, Qxo (QXO) -29.4%. Over five years, W.W. Grainger (GWW) compounded fastest (W.W. Grainger (GWW) +25.2%/yr, Avantor (AVTR) -16.9%/yr, Qxo (QXO) -24.9%/yr). Returns are price only, before dividends.

Which pays a higher dividend?

Only one of these companies pays a dividend: W.W. Grainger (GWW) 0.65%, Qxo (QXO) 0.00%. Avantor (AVTR) and Qxo (QXO) pays no regular dividend.

Which stock is riskier?

By one-year price volatility, W.W. Grainger (GWW) has been the steadiest (W.W. Grainger (GWW) 24.4%, Avantor (AVTR) 43.3%, Qxo (QXO) 64.9%). Volatility measures how widely the price swings, not the risk of the business.

Which is the better stock, GWW, AVTR and QXO?

There is no single answer; it depends on what you are buying for. On the 12 head-to-head measures on this page, W.W. Grainger (GWW) leads on 8. Business Quant does not give investment advice; use the comparison as a starting point for your own research.

Data from SEC filings, exchange prices and consensus estimates, via Business Quant. Percentile scores compare each company with its own peer group, so two companies' scores are each relative to different peers unless you rank against the whole market. Price returns exclude dividends. Nothing on this page is investment advice.