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Stock Comparison

ATKR vs GWW

Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.

Live fundamentals10-year financials5-year price chart
ATKR
Atkore Inc.

Electrical Equipment & Parts

IndustrialsNYSE • US
Market Cap$2.57B
5Y Perf.+184.0%
GWW
W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Industrial - Distribution

IndustrialsNYSE • US
Market Cap$55.63B
5Y Perf.+277.8%

ATKR vs GWW — Key Financials

Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.

Company Snapshot
ATKR logoATKR
GWW logoGWW
IndustryElectrical Equipment & PartsIndustrial - Distribution
Market Cap$2.57B$55.63B
Revenue (TTM)$2.87B$17.94B
Net Income (TTM)$-120M$1.71B
Gross Margin19.9%39.1%
Operating Margin4.8%13.9%
Forward P/E14.4x26.8x
Total Debt$932M$3.16B
Cash & Equiv.$507M$585M

ATKR vs GWWLong-Term Stock Performance

Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.

ATKR
GWW
StockMay 20May 26Return
Atkore Inc. (ATKR)100284.0+184.0%
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW)100377.8+277.8%

Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.

Quick Verdict: ATKR vs GWW

Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.

Bottom line: GWW leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Atkore Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ATKR
Atkore Inc.
The Defensive Pick

ATKR is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.

  • Lower volatility, beta 1.69, Low D/E 66.6%, current ratio 3.05x
  • Beta 1.69, yield 1.7%, current ratio 3.05x
  • Lower P/E (14.4x vs 26.8x)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
GWW
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
The Income Pick

GWW carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.

  • Dividend streak 37 yrs, beta 0.89, yield 0.8%
  • Rev growth 4.5%, EPS growth -8.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.6%
  • 430.8% 10Y total return vs ATKR's 394.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
CategoryWinnerWhy
GrowthGWW logoGWW4.5% revenue growth vs ATKR's -11.0%
ValueATKR logoATKRLower P/E (14.4x vs 26.8x)
Quality / MarginsGWW logoGWW9.5% margin vs ATKR's -4.2%
Stability / SafetyGWW logoGWWBeta 0.89 vs ATKR's 1.69
DividendsATKR logoATKR1.7% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs GWW's 0.8%
Momentum (1Y)ATKR logoATKR+18.9% vs GWW's +13.2%
Efficiency (ROA)GWW logoGWW19.0% ROA vs ATKR's -4.2%, ROIC 32.1% vs 9.0%

ATKR vs GWW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment

How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units

ATKRAtkore Inc.
FY 2025
Electrical Segment
70.1%$2.0B
Safety and Infrastructure Segment
29.9%$853M
GWWW.W. Grainger, Inc.
FY 2024
High-Touch Solutions (N.A.)
81.4%$13.7B
Endless Assortment
18.6%$3.1B

ATKR vs GWW — Financial Metrics

Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.

BEST OVERALLGWWLAGGINGATKR

Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)

GWW leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.

GWW is the larger business by revenue, generating $17.9B annually — 6.2x ATKR's $2.9B. GWW is the more profitable business, keeping 9.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ATKR's -4.2%.

MetricATKR logoATKRAtkore Inc.GWW logoGWWW.W. Grainger, In…
RevenueTrailing 12 months$2.9B$17.9B
EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax$291M$2.7B
Net IncomeAfter-tax profit-$120M$1.7B
Free Cash FlowCash after capex$133M$1.3B
Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue+19.9%+39.1%
Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue+4.8%+13.9%
Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue-4.2%+9.5%
FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue+4.6%+7.4%
Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year+4.2%+4.5%
EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year+70.1%-2.8%
GWW leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.

Valuation Metrics

ATKR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.

On an enterprise value basis, ATKR's 7.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GWW's 19.8x.

MetricATKR logoATKRAtkore Inc.GWW logoGWWW.W. Grainger, In…
Market CapShares × price$2.6B$55.6B
Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash$3.0B$58.2B
Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS-169.40x33.05x
Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est.14.45x26.82x
PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate1.48x
EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple7.54x19.76x
Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue0.90x3.10x
Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share1.86x13.56x
Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF8.70x41.79x
ATKR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.

Profitability & Efficiency

GWW leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.

GWW delivers a 41.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $41 in annual profit, vs $-9 for ATKR. ATKR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GWW's 0.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GWW scores 8/9 vs ATKR's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.

MetricATKR logoATKRAtkore Inc.GWW logoGWWW.W. Grainger, In…
ROE (TTM)Return on equity-8.7%+41.2%
ROA (TTM)Return on assets-4.2%+19.0%
ROICReturn on invested capital+9.0%+32.1%
ROCEReturn on capital employed+9.8%+39.7%
Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–948
Debt / EquityFinancial leverage0.67x0.76x
Net DebtTotal debt minus cash$425M$2.6B
Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets$507M$585M
Total DebtShort + long-term debt$932M$3.2B
Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense1.68x31.00x
GWW leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.

Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)

GWW leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.

A $10,000 investment in GWW five years ago would be worth $26,316 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,130 for ATKR. Over the past 12 months, ATKR leads with a +18.9% total return vs GWW's +13.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GWW at 20.7% vs ATKR's -14.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.

MetricATKR logoATKRAtkore Inc.GWW logoGWWW.W. Grainger, In…
YTD ReturnYear-to-date+18.8%+16.8%
1-Year ReturnPast 12 months+18.9%+13.2%
3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends-38.0%+75.9%
5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends-8.7%+163.2%
10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends+394.7%+430.8%
CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return-14.7%+20.7%
GWW leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.

Risk & Volatility

GWW leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.

GWW is the less volatile stock with a 0.89 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ATKR's 1.69 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.

MetricATKR logoATKRAtkore Inc.GWW logoGWWW.W. Grainger, In…
Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 5001.69x0.89x
52-Week HighHighest price in past year$80.06$1218.63
52-Week LowLowest price in past year$53.49$906.52
% of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak+95.2%+96.0%
RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–10064.648.6
Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded381K230K
GWW leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.

Analyst Outlook

Evenly matched — ATKR and GWW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.

Wall Street rates ATKR as "Hold" and GWW as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -1.1% upside for GWW (target: $1157) vs -2.9% for ATKR (target: $74). For income investors, ATKR offers the higher dividend yield at 1.70% vs GWW's 0.83%.

MetricATKR logoATKRAtkore Inc.GWW logoGWWW.W. Grainger, In…
Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sellHoldHold
Price TargetConsensus 12-month target$74.00$1157.43
# AnalystsCovering analysts1138
Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price+1.7%+0.8%
Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises237
Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS$1.30$9.73
Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap+3.9%+1.9%
Evenly matched — ATKR and GWW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway

GWW leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ATKR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.

Best OverallW.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...

ATKR vs GWW: Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily

01

Is ATKR or GWW a better buy right now?

For growth investors, W.

W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is the stronger pick with 4. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 0% for Atkore Inc. (ATKR). W. W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) offers the better valuation at 33. 0x trailing P/E (26. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Atkore Inc. (ATKR) a "Hold" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

02

Which has the better valuation — ATKR or GWW?

On forward P/E, Atkore Inc.

is actually cheaper at 14. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

03

Which is the better long-term investment — ATKR or GWW?

Over the past 5 years, W.

W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) delivered a total return of +163. 2%, compared to -8. 7% for Atkore Inc. (ATKR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GWW returned +430. 8% versus ATKR's +394. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

04

Which is safer — ATKR or GWW?

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), W.

W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 89β versus Atkore Inc. 's 1. 69β — meaning ATKR is approximately 90% more volatile than GWW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Atkore Inc. (ATKR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 76% for W. W. Grainger, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

05

Which is growing faster — ATKR or GWW?

By revenue growth (latest reported year), W.

W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is pulling ahead at 4. 5% versus -11. 0% for Atkore Inc. (ATKR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: W. W. Grainger, Inc. grew EPS -8. 6% year-over-year, compared to -103. 5% for Atkore Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GWW leads at 5. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

06

Which has better profit margins — ATKR or GWW?

W.

W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 5% net margin versus -0. 5% for Atkore Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GWW leads at 15. 0% versus 8. 3% for ATKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GWW leads at 39. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

07

Is ATKR or GWW more undervalued right now?

On forward earnings alone, Atkore Inc.

(ATKR) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 26. 8x for W. W. Grainger, Inc. — 12. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GWW: -1. 1% to $1157. 43.

08

Which pays a better dividend — ATKR or GWW?

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Atkore Inc. (ATKR) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 0. 8% for W. W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW).

09

Is ATKR or GWW better for a retirement portfolio?

For long-horizon retirement investors, W.

W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 89), 0. 8% yield, +430. 8% 10Y return). Atkore Inc. (ATKR) carries a higher beta of 1. 69 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GWW: +430. 8%, ATKR: +394. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

10

What are the main differences between ATKR and GWW?

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.

Find Stocks Like These

Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.

Stocks Like

ATKR

Income & Dividend Stock

  • Sector: Industrials
  • Market Cap > $100B
  • Dividend Yield > 0.6%
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GWW

Stable Dividend Mega-Cap

  • Sector: Industrials
  • Market Cap > $100B
  • Net Margin > 5%
  • Dividend Yield > 0.5%
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