Filing Flows › W.W. Grainger (GWW) › Guidance history
W.W. Grainger (GWW) guidance history: what it guided and what it reported
W.W. Grainger gave guidance in 12 earnings releases on file since Feb 2, 2024. Of 4 guided periods since reported, it met or beat its own guidance 3 times (75%). Revenue: 2 of 2, on average -0.2% against the guided midpoint. Its releases raised guidance 3 times and lowered it once.
Revenue
Met or beat 2 of 2 periods (0 above, 2 within, 0 below).
| Period | Guided (and how it moved) | Reported | Result | vs midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $18.7B–$19.1B (Feb 3, 2026) → reaffirmed $18.7B–$19.1B (May 8, 2026) → raised $19.2B–$19.6B (Aug 4, 2026) → raised $19.4B–$19.7B (Nov 4, 2026) | — | to be reported | — |
| FY2025 | $17.6B–$18.1B (Jan 31, 2025) → reaffirmed $17.6B–$18.1B (May 1, 2025) → reaffirmed $17.6B–$18.1B (Aug 1, 2025) → raised $17.9B–$18.2B (Oct 31, 2025) | $17.9B | within the range | -0.6% |
| FY2024 | $17.2B–$17.7B (Feb 2, 2024) → reaffirmed $17.2B–$17.7B (Apr 25, 2024) → reaffirmed $17.2B–$17.7B (Aug 1, 2024) → lowered $17.0B–$17.3B (Oct 31, 2024) | $17.2B | within the range | +0.1% |
Gross margin
This line is not in the statements Filing Flows reads, so there is no reported figure to hold it to.
| Period | Guided (and how it moved) | Reported | Result | vs midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 39.2%–39.5% (Feb 3, 2026) → reaffirmed 39.2%–39.5% (May 8, 2026) → reaffirmed 39.2%–39.5% (Aug 4, 2026) → raised 39.3%–39.6% (Nov 4, 2026) | — | to be reported | — |
| FY2025 | 39.1%–39.4% (Jan 31, 2025) → reaffirmed 39.1%–39.4% (May 1, 2025) → reaffirmed 39.1%–39.4% (Aug 1, 2025) → lowered 38.6%–38.9% (Oct 31, 2025) | — | — | — |
| FY2024 | 39.1%–39.4% (Feb 2, 2024) → reaffirmed 39.1%–39.4% (Apr 25, 2024) → reaffirmed 39.1%–39.4% (Aug 1, 2024) → reaffirmed 39.2%–39.4% (Oct 31, 2024) | — | — | — |
Operating margin
This line is not in the statements Filing Flows reads, so there is no reported figure to hold it to.
| Period | Guided (and how it moved) | Reported | Result | vs midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 15.4%–15.9% (Feb 3, 2026) → reaffirmed 15.4%–15.9% (May 8, 2026) → raised 15.6%–16.0% (Aug 4, 2026) → raised 15.8%–16.2% (Nov 4, 2026) | — | to be reported | — |
| FY2025 | 15.1%–15.5% (Jan 31, 2025) → reaffirmed 15.1%–15.5% (May 1, 2025) → reaffirmed 15.1%–15.5% (Aug 1, 2025) | — | — | — |
| FY2024 | 15.3%–15.8% (Feb 2, 2024) → reaffirmed 15.3%–15.8% (Apr 25, 2024) → reaffirmed 15.3%–15.8% (Aug 1, 2024) → lowered 15.3%–15.7% (Oct 31, 2024) | — | — | — |
Adjusted operating margin
The guide is on an adjusted basis that the GAAP statements do not show, so there is no reported figure to hold it to.
| Period | Guided (and how it moved) | Reported | Result | vs midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | 14.7%–15.1% (Oct 31, 2025) | — | — | — |
Tax rate
Met or beat 1 of 2 periods (1 above, 0 within, 1 below).
| Period | Guided (and how it moved) | Reported | Result | vs midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 25.0% (Feb 3, 2026) → reaffirmed 25.0% (May 8, 2026) → reaffirmed 25.0% (Aug 4, 2026) → reaffirmed 25.0% (Nov 4, 2026) | — | to be reported | — |
| FY2025 | 23.8% (Jan 31, 2025) → reaffirmed 23.8% (May 1, 2025) → reaffirmed 23.8% (Aug 1, 2025) → reaffirmed 23.8% (Oct 31, 2025) | 25.6% | above the range | +1.8 pts |
| FY2024 | 24.0% (Feb 2, 2024) → reaffirmed 24.0% (Apr 25, 2024) → reaffirmed 24.0% (Aug 1, 2024) → reaffirmed 24.0% (Oct 31, 2024) | 23.0% | below the range | -1.0 pts |
EPS
This line is not in the statements Filing Flows reads, so there is no reported figure to hold it to.
| Period | Guided (and how it moved) | Reported | Result | vs midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $42.25–$44.75 (Feb 3, 2026) | — | to be reported | — |
| FY2025 | $39.00–$41.50 (Jan 31, 2025) → reaffirmed $39.00–$41.50 (May 1, 2025) | — | — | — |
| FY2024 | $38.00–$40.50 (Feb 2, 2024) → reaffirmed $38.00–$40.50 (Apr 25, 2024) | — | — | — |
The latest quarter
W.W. Grainger, Q3 2026: revenue $5.2B (+11% year over year), operating margin 16.0%, net earnings $587M, operating cash flow $661M. The chart follows the revenue to costs, profit and cash.
Questions
Does W.W. Grainger beat its guidance?
W.W. Grainger gave guidance in 12 earnings releases on file since Feb 2, 2024. Of 4 guided periods since reported, it met or beat its own guidance 3 times (75%). Revenue: 2 of 2, on average -0.2% against the guided midpoint.
How often does W.W. Grainger raise guidance?
Its earnings releases raised guidance 3 times and lowered it once since Feb 2, 2024.
Each guided period is held to the last guidance given before its figures were reported; a single figure counts as in line within 1% (0.25 pts for a rate). Reported figures are GAAP, from the company's filings; adjusted guidance shows its moves only.