CNM vs GWW: Core & Main and WW Grainger compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- WW Grainger is the larger company, worth $60.5B, about 7.8 times Core & Main.
- WW Grainger grew revenue faster over the last year (+10.2% vs +2.5%).
- WW Grainger keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (14.6% vs 9.6%).
- On earnings, Core & Main is the cheaper stock (17.2x vs 34.4x).
- WW Grainger's price assumes faster free cash flow growth: about 16% a year, against -1% for Core & Main (reverse DCF).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | CNM | GWW |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $7.8B | $60.5B |
| Share price | $40.35 | $1,289.79 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $7.6B | $17.9B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | $604M | $1.3B |
| Revenue growth, last year | +2.5% | +10.2% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +11.2% | +8.3% |
| Operating margin | 9.6% | 14.6% |
| Net margin | 6.0% | 9.9% |
| Return on equity | 22.6% | 45.3% |
| P/E (trailing) | 17.2x | 34.4x |
| Price / free cash flow | 12.8x | 45.4x |
| EV / EBITDA | 11.1x | 21.7x |
| FCF growth the price implies | -0.83% | 15.8% |
| Dividend yield | — | 0.69% |
| Debt / equity | 2.27x | 1.24x |
| Fundamental grade | C | C |
| Superinvestors holding it | 2 | 5 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 3 | 4 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
Core & Main
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $5.0B | -$51M | 8.5% |
| 2023 | $6.7B | $376M | 11.7% |
| 2024 | $6.7B | $1.0B | 11.0% |
| 2025 | $7.4B | $586M | 9.7% |
| 2026 | $7.6B | $604M | 9.4% |
WW Grainger
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $13.0B | $682M | 11.9% |
| 2022 | $15.2B | $1.1B | 14.5% |
| 2023 | $16.5B | $1.6B | 15.6% |
| 2024 | $17.2B | $1.6B | 15.4% |
| 2025 | $17.9B | $1.3B | 13.9% |
Where the revenue comes from
Core & Main · by products, 2026
Pipes, valves & fittings products$5.1B67%
Storm drainage products$1.2B16%
Meter products$716M9%
Fire protection products$600M8%
WW Grainger · by segments, 2025
High-Touch Solutions N.A.$14.0B79%
Endless Assortment$3.6B21%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open CNM in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, Core & Main or WW Grainger?
WW Grainger (GWW), at $60.5B against $7.8B.
Is CNM or GWW cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Core & Main (17.2x) is cheaper than WW Grainger (34.4x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, CNM or GWW?
WW Grainger: revenue grew +10.2% over the last year, against +2.5%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.