W.W. Grainger, Inc. reported third-quarter 2026 financial results and raised its full-year 2026 earnings outlook in a press release filed on November 4, 2026, disclosing sales of $5.181 billion and adjusted diluted EPS of $12.54.

Key Highlights

  • Net sales of $5.181 billion in Q3 2026, up 11.3% compared to Q3 2025, or 14.9% on a daily, organic constant currency basis.
  • Adjusted diluted EPS of $12.54, up 22.8% from adjusted diluted EPS of $10.21 in Q3 2025; reported diluted EPS was $12.42, up 102.9%.
  • Adjusted operating margin of 16.1%, up 90 basis points year over year; reported operating margin of 16.0%, up 500 basis points.
  • Operating cash flow of $661 million in the quarter, with free cash flow of $546 million after $115 million in capital expenditures.
  • $396 million returned to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.
  • Full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised to a range of $47.00 to $48.00, from the prior range of $45.50 to $47.25.
  • Full-year net sales guidance raised to $19.8 billion to $20.0 billion, from the prior range of $19.4 billion to $19.7 billion.

Grainger Q3 2026 Results: Segment Performance and Raised Full-Year Outlook

According to the filing, W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) reported Q3 2026 net sales of $5.181 billion, with gross profit of $2.011 billion and a gross profit margin of 38.8%, up 20 basis points from Q3 2025. The company attributed the gross margin improvement to expansion in the Endless Assortment segment and a benefit related to its exit from the U.K. market. In the High-Touch Solutions - N.A. segment, gross profit margin was 40.8%, down 30 basis points year over year due to, as the filing stated, "unfavorable freight expense and mix."

The High-Touch Solutions - N.A. segment reported sales growth of 13.8% on both a reported and daily, constant currency basis compared to Q3 2025, driven by double-digit volume growth and continued price inflation. The Endless Assortment segment reported sales up 11.9% on a reported basis, or 19.3% on a daily, organic constant currency basis, with the filing attributing growth to strong performance at both MonotaRO and Zoro. Reported operating earnings for the total company were $828 million, up 62.0%, while adjusted operating earnings were $836 million, up 18.2%. The effective tax rate for Q3 2026 was 24.3%, compared to 34.7% in Q3 2025 on a reported basis.

The company updated its full-year 2026 guidance, raising the net sales range to $19.8 billion to $20.0 billion and increasing the adjusted diluted EPS range to $47.00 to $48.00. Operating cash flow guidance was raised to $2.35 billion to $2.45 billion. The adjusted effective tax rate outlook was revised to approximately 24.7%. Guidance for the High-Touch Solutions - N.A. segment operating margin was narrowed to 17.3% to 17.5%, and for the Endless Assortment segment to 10.9% to 11.1%. The filing notes that all guidance is provided on an adjusted basis and includes forward-looking statements subject to the company's cautionary language.

What Was Disclosed

Grainger disclosed Q3 2026 financial results showing sales of $5.181 billion, adjusted diluted EPS of $12.54, and $661 million in operating cash flow, while raising its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance range to $47.00 to $48.00 and net sales guidance to $19.8 billion to $20.0 billion.