W.W. Grainger stock falls 1.04 percent ahead of Q3 results

Published on 10/07/2026 at 16:10 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

W.W. Grainger stock posted Q2 diluted EPS of USD 12.01, up 20.5 percent year over year, on August 4, 2026. Fiscal 2026 EPS guidance is USD 45.50-47.25 ahead of the November 4 report.

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W.W. Grainger stock (ISIN US3848021040) was trading at USD 1,262.25 on the NYSE on October 7, 2026, down 1.04 percent from the previous close. The next major checkpoint is the company's Q3 2026 results, scheduled for November 4, 2026, according to Simply Wall St.

Q2 growth raised the bar

Grainger's Q2 2026 diluted EPS reached USD 12.01, up 20.5 percent from the prior-year quarter. Revenue increased 10.3 percent year over year to USD 5.02 billion and exceeded the USD 4.95 billion consensus estimate, according to Zacks on September 3, 2026.

The earnings call on August 4, 2026, also showed operating margin at 16.1 percent and operating profit of USD 807 million. Operating cash flow was USD 444 million in the quarter, giving the results a stronger cash component than an earnings-only reading suggests, according to Yahoo Finance.

Guidance includes margin pressure

Grainger raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to USD 45.50-47.25 from USD 44.25-46.25. The updated range implies a USD 1.25 midpoint increase, while the company set its operating margin outlook at 15.8-16.2 percent, as reported by Zacks on September 3, 2026.

Management said the Q2 margin benefited from USD 43 million in tariff refunds, while the third-quarter margin was expected to move into the mid-15 percent range as that support fades. For investors, the November report will therefore test whether sales growth can offset a less favorable margin comparison.

Consensus sits near the market price

MarketBeat listed a consensus Hold rating from 10 analysts on September 29, 2026, comprising seven Hold ratings, two Buy ratings and one Sell rating. The average 12-month price target was USD 1,285, only 1.8 percent above the October 7 intraday price, according to MarketBeat.

Barclays provides a more cautious counterpoint. The firm lowered its target from USD 1,185 to USD 1,172 and retained an Underweight rating in a September 25, 2026 research note, as reported by MarketBeat. The gap between the consensus target and Barclays target captures the central debate: durable demand growth versus normalization after tariff-related margin support.

Grainger stock trades below its high

At USD 1,262.25 on October 7, 2026, the stock was 11.1 percent below its 52-week high of USD 1,419.91 and 39.2 percent above its 52-week low of USD 906.52. Market capitalization was USD 59.6 billion, and volume stood at 14,599 shares at 10:09 a.m. ET.