What is GWW's Intrinsic value?

W W Grainger Inc (GWW) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 17, 2025, W W Grainger Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $408.35 to $1164.26 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $1164.26 +8.6%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $992.60 -7.4%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $805.28 -24.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $638.86 -40.4%
Earnings Power Value $408.35 -61.9%

Is W W Grainger Inc (GWW) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $1071.80, the stock appears to be moderately overvalued.

Understanding Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value represents the "true" worth of a company based on its fundamentals rather than market sentiment. We've employed multiple methodologies to triangulate W W Grainger Inc's intrinsic value, including:

  1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): Values the company based on projected future cash flows
  2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM): Values the company based on expected future dividend payments
  3. Earnings Power Value (EPV): Values the company based on its current earnings power, assuming no growth

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

The cost of capital is a critical factor in valuation models, representing the required return for investors.

WACC Component Low High
Long-term bond rate 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 0.87 0.9
Cost of equity 7.9% 9.9%
Cost of debt 4.3% 4.5%
Tax rate 23.5% 24.3%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.05 0.05
After-tax WACC 7.6% 9.6%

Valuation Methods

1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Valuation

Our DCF model projects cash flows over 5-year and 10-year horizons, with the following key assumptions:

  • Forecast Period: 5-year DCF and 10-year DCF
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 0.0% (range: 3.0% - 5.0%)
  • Discount Rate: 8.6% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $17,168 (FY12-2024) to $30,208 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 12% to 16%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 2% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $993 $49,300M 78.2%
10-Year Growth $1,164 $57,546M 62.1%
5-Year EBITDA $789 $39,496M 72.8%
10-Year EBITDA $977 $48,567M 55.1%

2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM)

The DDM values a company based on its expected future dividend payments. We used two approaches:

Multi-Stage DDM:

  • Current payout ratio: 22.6%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 8.9%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $805.28 (-24.9% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 9.9% (Low) to 7.9% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $352 to $926
  • Selected fair value: $638.86 (-40.4% from current price)

3. Earnings Power Value (EPV)

EPV assesses a company's value based on its current normalized earnings power, assuming no growth.

EPV Component Value
Normalized Earnings $1,802M
Discount Rate (WACC) 9.6% - 7.6%
Enterprise Value $18,837M - $23,627M
Net Debt $1,615M
Equity Value $17,222M - $22,012M
Outstanding Shares 48M
Fair Value $358 - $458
Selected Fair Value $408.35

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $51489M
Enterprise Value $53104M
Trailing P/E 26.96
Forward P/E 23.83
Trailing EV/EBITDA 8.90
Current Dividend Yield 84.30%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 5.64%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.05

Investment Decision Framework

To determine the most reliable intrinsic value estimate, we weigh each valuation method based on:

  1. Forecast Certainty: DCF methods rely on long-term projections, while earnings power value focuses on current normalized earnings
  2. Business Model Alignment: Dividend models are more appropriate for mature companies with established dividend policies
  3. Historical Accuracy: How well each method has predicted fair value historically

Valuation Weight Matrix

Valuation Method Weight Weighted Value
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) 30% $349.28
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $248.15
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $161.06
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $95.83
Earnings Power Value 10% $40.84
Weighted Average 100% $895.15

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, W W Grainger Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $895.15, which is approximately 16.5% below the current market price of $1071.80.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (12% to 16% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.05)
  • Historical dividend growth of 5.64%

Given these factors, we believe W W Grainger Inc is currently moderately overvalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.