Industrial - Machinery
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PKOH vs GWW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Industrial - Distribution
PKOH vs GWW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Machinery | Industrial - Distribution |
| Market Cap | $444M | $58.41B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.61B | $18.38B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $24M | $1.78B |
| Gross Margin | 12.6% | 39.2% |
| Operating Margin | 5.0% | 14.2% |
| Forward P/E | 10.0x | 28.3x |
| Total Debt | $670M | $3.16B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $45M | $585M |
PKOH vs GWW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park-Ohio Holdings … (PKOH) | 100 | 211.4 | +111.4% |
| W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) | 100 | 398.6 | +298.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PKOH vs GWW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PKOH is the clearest fit if your priority is value and dividends.
- Lower P/E (10.0x vs 28.3x)
- 1.8% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs GWW's 0.8%
- +60.8% vs GWW's +19.1%
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%
- 463.0% 10Y total return vs PKOH's 45.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 4.5% revenue growth vs PKOH's -3.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.0x vs 28.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 9.7% margin vs PKOH's 1.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.89 vs PKOH's 1.38, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.8% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs GWW's 0.8% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +60.8% vs GWW's +19.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 19.7% ROA vs PKOH's 1.7%, ROIC 32.1% vs 6.2% |
PKOH vs GWW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PKOH vs GWW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GWW leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GWW is the larger business by revenue, generating $18.4B annually — 11.4x PKOH's $1.6B. GWW is the more profitable business, keeping 9.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PKOH's 1.5%. On growth, GWW holds the edge at +10.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $18.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $105M | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $24M | $1.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1M | $1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.6% | +39.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.0% | +14.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.5% | +9.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.1% | +7.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.8% | +10.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.3% | +18.2% |
Valuation Metrics
PKOH leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.1x trailing earnings, PKOH trades at a 48% valuation discount to GWW's 34.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PKOH's 9.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GWW's 20.7x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $444M | $58.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.1B | $61.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.14x | 34.86x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.96x | 28.29x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.56x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.33x | 20.71x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.28x | 3.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.12x | 14.30x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 222.03x | 43.88x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GWW leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GWW delivers a 43.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $43 in annual profit, vs $6 for PKOH. GWW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.76x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PKOH's 1.74x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GWW scores 8/9 vs PKOH's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.2% | +43.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +19.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.2% | +32.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.9% | +39.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.74x | 0.76x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $626M | $2.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $45M | $585M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $670M | $3.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.44x | 22.63x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PKOH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GWW five years ago would be worth $27,320 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,792 for PKOH. Over the past 12 months, PKOH leads with a +60.8% total return vs GWW's +19.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PKOH at 27.6% vs GWW's 22.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +49.5% | +23.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +60.8% | +19.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +107.6% | +85.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -12.1% | +173.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.4% | +463.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +27.6% | +22.8% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PKOH and GWW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GWW is the less volatile stock with a 0.89 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PKOH's 1.38 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.38x | 0.89x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.68 | $1286.56 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.52 | $906.52 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.4% | +95.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 66.0 | 58.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 44K | 239K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PKOH and GWW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PKOH as "Buy" and GWW as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 20.0% upside for PKOH (target: $37) vs -6.2% for GWW (target: $1157). For income investors, PKOH offers the higher dividend yield at 1.81% vs GWW's 0.79%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $37.00 | $1157.43 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 38 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | +0.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.56 | $9.73 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.8% |
GWW leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PKOH leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 2 tied.
PKOH vs GWW: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PKOH 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 -3. 4% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH). Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH) offers the better valuation at 18. 1x trailing P/E (10. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH) a "Buy" — based on 8 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PKOH or GWW?
On trailing P/E, Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.
(PKOH) is the cheapest at 18. 1x versus W. W. Grainger, Inc. at 34. 9x. On forward P/E, Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. is actually cheaper at 10. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PKOH or GWW?
Over the past 5 years, W.
W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) delivered a total return of +173. 2%, compared to -12. 1% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GWW returned +463. 0% versus PKOH's +45. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PKOH or GWW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), W.
W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 89β versus Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. 's 1. 38β — meaning PKOH is approximately 55% more volatile than GWW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, W. W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 76% versus 174% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PKOH or GWW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), W.
W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is pulling ahead at 4. 5% versus -3. 4% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: W. W. Grainger, Inc. grew EPS -8. 6% year-over-year, compared to -46. 7% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PKOH or GWW?
W.
W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 5% net margin versus 1. 5% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. — 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 5. 1% for PKOH. 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.
07Is PKOH or GWW more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.
(PKOH) trades at 10. 0x forward P/E versus 28. 3x for W. W. Grainger, Inc. — 18. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PKOH: 20. 0% to $37. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PKOH or GWW?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH) offers the highest yield at 1. 8%, versus 0. 8% for W. W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW).
09Is PKOH 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, +463. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GWW: +463. 0%, PKOH: +45. 4%), 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.
10What are the main differences between PKOH 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.
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