Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd Increases Stake in W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd has increased its position in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) by 10.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). After purchasing an additional 472 shares during this period, the firm now owns a total of 5,148 shares in the industrial products company. The value of these holdings was approximately $5,426,000 as of the recent SEC filing.

A variety of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also adjusted their stakes in GWW. For instance, Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC increased its investment in W.W. Grainger by 43.5% during the same quarter, bringing its total to 33 shares valued at $35,000 after acquiring 10 more shares. Similarly, Adero Partners LLC raised its holdings by 4.0%, now owning 368 shares worth $388,000 after buying 14 additional shares. Tyche Wealth Partners LLC made a new investment valued at about $221,000, while Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings by 24.3%, owning 6,406 shares now worth $6,826,000 after purchasing 1,251 shares. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC also increased its stake by 4.3%, now holding 635 shares valued at $669,000 after acquiring 26 additional shares.

Collectively, hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.70% of the outstanding stock.

Current Trading Information for W.W. Grainger

As for the trading status of W.W. Grainger, shares opened at $1,035.98 on a recent Friday. The stock's 50-day moving average stands at $1,101.83, while the 200-day moving average is $1,068.29. The company's stock has seen a 12-month low of $874.98 and a high of $1,227.66, with a market capitalization of $50.45 billion. Its price-to-earnings ratio is 26.76, with a price-to-earnings growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 1.17. Additionally, W.W. Grainger has a current ratio of 2.49, a quick ratio of 1.49, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62.

W.W. Grainger Earnings Report

Recently, on January 31st, W.W. Grainger reported its earnings, revealing earnings per share of $9.71 for the quarter. This figure fell short of analysts' expectations of $9.75 by $0.04. The company reported a 52.43% return on equity and a net margin of 11.12%. In the same quarter the previous year, earnings per share were $8.33. Analysts predict that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will achieve 40.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Announcement from W.W. Grainger

The company has also announced a quarterly dividend, scheduled to be paid on March 1st. Shareholders who are recorded by February 10th will receive a dividend of $2.05. This translates to an annual dividend of $8.20, yielding 0.79%. The ex-dividend date is February 10th, and W.W. Grainger's payout ratio is currently 21.18%.

Recent Analyst Ratings

Several research analysts have offered insights on W.W. Grainger. Royal Bank of Canada recently lowered its price target from $1,113.00 to $1,112.00, maintaining a "sector perform" rating. Meanwhile, UBS Group began coverage on the stock with a "neutral" rating and set a price target of $1,280.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. also reduced its price target from $1,125.00 to $1,100.00, endorsing a "neutral" rating. Oppenheimer downgraded the stock from "outperform" to "market perform." Loop Capital raised its price target from $900.00 to $1,100.00, designating a "hold" rating. Currently, the stock has one sell rating, ten hold ratings, two buy ratings, and one strong buy rating from analysts, accumulating a consensus rating of "Hold" with a target price of $1,148.56.

Analysis of Insider Trading

In other news, W.W. Grainger's VP Laurie R. Thomson sold 125 shares of the company's stock on November 13th at an average price of $1,206.03, totaling approximately $150,753.75. Post-transaction, the vice president retains 675 shares valued at around $814,070.25, reflecting a 15.63% decrease in their holdings. The transaction was filed with the SEC.

About W.W. Grainger, Inc.

W.W. Grainger, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, specializes in distributing maintenance, repair, and operating products and services predominantly in North America, Japan, the UK, and globally. The company operates through two primary segments: High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment, offering products such as safety equipment, pumps, cleaning supplies, and various tools.

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