Ingersoll Rand vs W.W. Grainger: Which Is the Stronger Buy Today?
W.W. Grainger surged 5.5% during the past Day. You may be tempted to buy more, or may want to reduce your exposure. But there is an entirely different perspective you might be missing. Is there a better alternative? Turns out, its peer Ingersoll Rand gives you more. Ingersoll Rand (IR) stock offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs W.W. Grainger (GWW) stock, suggesting you may be better off investing in IR
- IR’s quarterly revenue growth was 7.6%, vs. GWW’s 4.5%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 6.9%, ahead of GWW’s 4.5%.
- IR leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 19.3% and 3-year average of 19.4%.
These differences become even clearer when you look at the financials side by side. The table highlights how GWW’s fundamentals stack up against those of IR on growth, margins, momentum, and valuation multiples.
Valuation & Performance Overview
| GWW | IR | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 23.5 | 20.2 | IR |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 4.5% | 7.6% | IR |
| Last 12 Months | 4.5% | 6.9% | IR |
| Last 3 Year Average | 5.6% | 7.8% | IR |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 13.9% | 19.3% | IR |
| Last 3 Year Average | 14.9% | 19.4% | IR |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | 87.1% | 31.4% | GWW |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
See detailed fundamentals on Buy or Sell IR Stock and Buy or Sell GWW Stock. Below we compare market return and related metrics across years.
Historical Market Performance
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| GWW Return | 29% | 9% | 51% | 28% | -3% | 16% | 204% | <=== | |
| IR Return | 36% | -15% | 48% | 17% | -12% | -1% | 74% | ||
| S&P 500 Return | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 8% | 96% | ||
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| GWW Win Rate | 67% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 42% | 80% | 62% | ||
| IR Win Rate | 75% | 33% | 58% | 50% | 50% | 40% | 51% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 60% | 64% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| GWW Max Drawdown | -11% | -14% | -3% | -2% | -13% | -1% | -7% | <=== | |
| IR Max Drawdown | -10% | -36% | 0% | -3% | -26% | -5% | -13% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | -7% | -9% | ||
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] 2026 data is for the year up to 5/7/2026 (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
No matter how good the numbers, stock investment is never a smooth ride. There is a risk you must factor in. Read IR Dip Buyer Analyses and GWW Dip Buyer Analyses to see how these stocks have fallen and recovered in the past.
Still not sure about GWW or IR? Consider portfolio approach.
Portfolios Over Individual Stock Picks
Stocks soar and sink – the key is staying invested. A balanced portfolio helps you ride market volatility, boosts gains, and reduces single stock risk.
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 – the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? HQ Portfolio has posted more than 105% in cumulative return since inception, with less risk versus the benchmark index, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.