What is W.W. Grainger Inc.'s average annual return?

Since 1974, W.W. Grainger Inc. (GWW) has returned about 12.3% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 14.2%.

What were W.W. Grainger Inc.'s best and worst years?

Over 1974–2026, the best year was 1991 (+63.5%) and the worst was 1974 (-52.0%).

How often is W.W. Grainger Inc. up in a year?

37 of the 48 full years since 1974 were positive — about 77% of the time.

GWW

W.W. Grainger Inc.Stock · IndustrialsS&P 500 0.1%

$1,382.27+$14.81 (+1.08%)as of market close, Jul 24, 2026

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GWW returns by year

W.W. Grainger Inc. has returned +12.3% annually (CAGR) since 1974. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for W.W. Grainger Inc. (GWW) below, through July 24, 2026 — the most recent year is year-to-date.

Annualized (CAGR)

+12.3%

1974–2026

Average year

+14.2%

48 full years

Best year

+63.5%

1991

Worst year

-52.0%

1974

Positive years

37/48

77% up

W.W. Grainger Inc. returns by year (1974–2026)#

Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return).

W.W. Grainger Inc. annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Dividend	Total return
2026YTD	$1,009	$1,382	+0.5%	+37.5%
2025	$1,054	$1,009	+0.9%	-3.4%
2024	$828.69	$1,054	+1.0%	+28.2%
2023	$556.25	$828.69	+1.6%	+50.5%
2022	$518.24	$556.25	+1.4%	+8.7%
2021	$408.34	$518.24	+1.9%	+28.8%
2020	$338.52	$408.34	+2.2%	+22.8%
2019	$282.36	$338.52	+2.3%	+22.2%
2018	$236.25	$282.36	+2.2%	+21.7%
2017	$232.25	$236.25	+2.6%	+4.3%
2016	$202.59	$232.25	+2.6%	+17.3%
2015	$254.89	$202.59	+1.6%	-18.9%
2014	$255.42	$254.89	+1.7%	+1.5%
2013	$202.37	$255.42	+1.8%	+28.0%
2012	$187.19	$202.37	+1.6%	+9.7%
2011	$138.11	$187.19	+2.3%	+37.8%
2010	$96.83	$138.11	+2.7%	+45.3%
2009	$78.84	$96.83	+2.6%	+25.4%
2008	$87.52	$78.84	+1.7%	-8.2%
2007	$69.94	$87.52	+2.0%	+27.1%
2006	$71.10	$69.94	+1.2%	-0.4%
2005	$66.62	$71.10	+1.6%	+8.3%
2004	$47.39	$66.62	+2.1%	+42.7%
2003	$51.55	$47.39	+1.5%	-6.6%
2002	$48.00	$51.55	+1.5%	+8.9%
2001	$36.50	$48.00	+2.3%	+33.8%
2000	$47.81	$36.50	+1.3%	-22.3%
1999	$41.63	$47.81	+1.3%	+16.1%
1998	$48.59	$41.63	+1.1%	-13.3%
1997	$40.13	$48.59	+1.5%	+22.6%
1996	$33.13	$40.13	+1.7%	+22.8%
1995	$28.88	$33.13	+1.3%	+16.0%
1994	$28.75	$28.88	+0.0%	+0.4%
1993	$30.00	$28.75	+0.0%	-4.2%
1992	$27.13	$30.00	+0.0%	+10.6%
1991	$16.59	$27.13	+0.0%	+63.5%
1990	$16.13	$16.59	+0.0%	+2.9%
1989	$13.47	$16.13	+0.0%	+19.7%
1988	$14.69	$13.47	+0.0%	-8.3%
1987	$10.88	$14.69	+0.0%	+35.1%
1986	$9.59	$10.88	+0.0%	+13.4%
1985	$7.17	$9.59	+0.0%	+33.8%
1984	$4.50	$7.17	+0.0%	+59.4%
1980	$4.38	$4.50	+0.0%	+2.9%
1979	$4.13	$4.38	+0.0%	+6.1%
1978	$3.55	$4.13	+0.0%	+16.3%
1977	$3.78	$3.55	+0.0%	-6.2%
1976	$3.00	$3.78	+0.0%	+26.0%
1975	$2.08	$3.00	+0.0%	+44.4%
1974	$4.33	$2.08	+0.0%	-52.0%

Total return by period

-60%-40%-20%+0%+20%+40%+60%

'74'78'86'90'94'98'02'06'10'14'18'22'26

Methodology#

Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from GWW's split- and dividend-adjusted closes. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

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FAQ

What is W.W. Grainger Inc.'s average annual return?: Since 1974, W.W. Grainger Inc. (GWW) has returned about 12.3% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 14.2%.
What were W.W. Grainger Inc.'s best and worst years?: Over 1974–2026, the best year was 1991 (+63.5%) and the worst was 1974 (-52.0%).
How often is W.W. Grainger Inc. up in a year?: 37 of the 48 full years since 1974 were positive — about 77% of the time.