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W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a broad line distributor specializing in maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products and services, with operations primarily in North America, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The company serves over 4.5 million customers worldwide, including small businesses, large corporations, and government entities across various industries such as commercial, healthcare, and manufacturing . Grainger operates through two main business models: High-Touch Solutions North America and Endless Assortment, offering a wide range of MRO products and services . The company's product offerings are categorized into safety and security, material handling and storage, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools .
- High-Touch Solutions North America - Offers approximately 2 million MRO products and services, including technical support and inventory management, tailored to meet the needs of North American customers.
- Endless Assortment - Provides access to over 35 million products through platforms like Zoro and MonotaRO, catering to a diverse range of customer needs globally.
- Safety and Security - Supplies products designed to ensure workplace safety and security across various industries.
- Material Handling and Storage - Offers equipment and solutions for efficient material handling and storage operations.
- Pumps and Plumbing Equipment - Provides a variety of pumps and plumbing solutions for industrial and commercial applications.
- Cleaning and Maintenance - Delivers products and services for effective cleaning and maintenance operations.
- Metalworking and Hand Tools - Offers a comprehensive range of metalworking and hand tools for industrial and manufacturing use.
| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
D.G. Macpherson ExecutiveBoard | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | Director at International Paper Company | D.G. Macpherson joined Grainger in 2008 and has held various leadership roles, including CEO since 2016 and Chairman since 2017. He has extensive experience in strategic planning and supply chain management. | View Report → |
Deidra C. Merriwether Executive | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | None mentioned in the documents | Deidra C. Merriwether has been with Grainger since at least 2013, holding various roles in finance and sales. She became CFO in 2021. | |
Laurie R. Thomson Executive | Vice President, Controller, and Principal Accounting Officer | None mentioned in the documents | Laurie R. Thomson joined Grainger in 2008 and has held several finance-related roles, becoming Vice President, Controller, and Principal Accounting Officer in 2021. | |
Nancy L. Berardinelli-Krantz Executive | Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | Board of Trustees at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children\u2019s Foundation; Board Member at The Command Purpose Foundation | Nancy L. Berardinelli-Krantz joined Grainger in 2023 as Chief Legal Officer. She has a background in legal and compliance roles at Eaton Corporation and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. | |
Beatriz R. Perez Board | Independent Director | Executive Vice President at The Coca-Cola Company; Board Member at Primerica, Inc. | Beatriz R. Perez has been a director at Grainger since 2017. She has extensive experience in corporate governance and sustainability, with leadership roles at Coca-Cola. | |
E. Scott Santi Board | Independent Director | Non-Executive Chairman of Illinois Tool Works Inc.; Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago | E. Scott Santi has been a director at Grainger since 2010. He has held senior management roles at Illinois Tool Works Inc., including CEO. | |
Lucas E. Watson Board | Independent Director | Venture Partner at Archer Venture Capital | Lucas E. Watson has been a director at Grainger since 2017. He has extensive experience in marketing and digital business, having held senior roles at Google and Intuit. | |
Neil S. Novich Board | Independent Director | Chair of the Compensation Committee at Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.; Chair of the Audit Committee at Hillenbrand, Inc. | Neil S. Novich has been a director at Grainger since 1999. He has extensive experience in supply chain and logistics, having served as CEO of Ryerson, Inc.. | |
Rodney C. Adkins Board | Independent Director | President of 3RAM Group LLC; Chairman of Avnet, Inc.; Board Member at PayPal Holdings, Inc. and United Parcel Service, Inc. | Rodney C. Adkins has been a director at Grainger since 2014. He has a background in technology and corporate strategy, having held senior roles at IBM. | |
Steven A. White Board | Independent Director | Board Member at Hormel Foods Corporation; Board Member at Comcast Foundation | Steven A. White joined Grainger's Board in 2020. He has over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations, having held senior roles at Comcast. | |
Stuart L. Levenick Board | Independent Director | Chair of the Audit Committee at Finning International Inc.; Lead Independent Director at Entergy Corporation | Stuart L. Levenick has been a director at Grainger since 2005 and has served as Lead Director since 2014. He has a background in corporate governance and international operations. | |
Susan Slavik Williams Board | Independent Director | Founder and President of Four Palms Ventures; Board Member at iSelect Fund; President of The Donald Slavik Family Foundation | Susan Slavik Williams has been a director at Grainger since 2020. She has a background in investments and real estate, with leadership roles in venture capital and nonprofit organizations. |
- Given the muted demand environment and your continued investments in demand-generation activities, how do you plan to sustain growth in the High-Touch Solutions segment without compromising margins, especially as macro conditions remain sluggish?
- With your increased cash balance and low leverage, why are you not pursuing more aggressive M&A opportunities to drive growth instead of primarily returning cash to shareholders through share repurchases?
- Considering the expected gross margin expansion in the fourth quarter, can you elaborate on the specific drivers of this increase, and how sustainable are these improvements into 2025 given the current cost negotiations and market pricing uncertainties?
- In the Endless Assortment segment, while recent growth acceleration is encouraging, what competitive challenges do you face in maintaining this momentum, particularly with B2C customers where you've previously experienced headwinds?
- You've taken additional pricing actions to maintain a price-cost neutral position, but with market prices moderating, how will you balance necessary price increases with the potential risk to volume growth and customer relationships?
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for GWW.
- Shareholder meeting held on April 30, 2025 approved director elections and proposals, including ratifying independent auditor Ernst & Young for the year ending December 31, 2025.
- Board changes effective May 2, 2025 include Stuart Levenick’s retirement, the appointment of E. Scott Santi as Lead Director, and reassignments for Rodney C. Adkins and Beatriz R. Perez.
- Reported net sales of $4.3B in Q1 2025 with an operating margin of 15.6%, diluted EPS of $9.86, and generated $646M in operating cash flow, reflecting resilient performance .
- Increased the quarterly dividend by 10% to $2.26 per share—marking the 54th consecutive dividend increase—with the next payment on June 1, 2025 (record date May 12, 2025) .
- Returned $380M to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases .
- Management reaffirmed full-year 2025 guidance while addressing modest tariff impacts through initial pricing actions aimed at achieving price/cost neutrality .
- Reported a 1.7% YoY increase in net sales (4.4% at constant currency) and operating earnings up 0.4%, with mixed segment performance in High-Touch Solutions and Endless Assortment .