EP Wealth Advisors LLC Buys 1,010 Shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)

EP Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) by 14.4% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,041 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,010 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $7,255,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in W.W. Grainger by 170.0% in the first quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 27 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 17 shares during the last quarter. Scarborough Advisors LLC bought a new stake in W.W. Grainger in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 225.0% during the first quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 39 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in W.W. Grainger during the first quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger by 275.0% in the fourth quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 45 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.70% of the company’s stock.

W.W. Grainger Price Performance

GWW stock opened at $1,038.81 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $979.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $958.61. The stock has a market cap of $50.97 billion, a PE ratio of 28.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.16. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a one year low of $674.41 and a one year high of $1,049.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 2.30 and a quick ratio of 1.40.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $9.76 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $9.58 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $4.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.35 billion. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 53.25% and a net margin of 10.86%. The firm’s revenue was up 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $9.28 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 38.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

W.W. Grainger Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 12th were given a dividend of $2.05 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 12th. This represents a $8.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.79%. W.W. Grainger’s payout ratio is currently 22.64%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Donald G. Macpherson sold 27,502 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,000.82, for a total transaction of $27,524,551.64. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 111,559 shares in the company, valued at approximately $111,650,478.38. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 9.50% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently commented on GWW shares. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $978.00 to $972.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Erste Group Bank reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of W.W. Grainger in a research report on Friday, June 14th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on W.W. Grainger in a report on Friday, September 6th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $990.00 price objective on the stock. Wolfe Research upgraded W.W. Grainger to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, September 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,000.00 to $1,015.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, W.W. Grainger presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $1,014.11.

W.W. Grainger Profile

W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools.