S&P 500 comparison · Industrials

W. W. Grainger vs Nordson Corporation

Prices at close . Model readings .

W. W. Grainger

$1,340.76−0.15%
Month: negativeLong run: neutral

Nordson Corporation

$326.02+0.53%
Month: positiveLong run: neutral
Price change

Price change, with the S&P 500 as a benchmark

Percent change in each close since the start of the chosen range, for both companies and the S&P 500 (SPY). Daily closes over the last year, weekly before that and monthly before five years.

In short

How the two compare

On the latest closes (28 Oct 2026), W. W. Grainger is the larger company by market value ($63.28B against $18.27B). Over the past year W. W. Grainger returned +38.2% and Nordson Corporation +38.1%, while the S&P 500 returned +12.7%. The latest filed P/E is 35.8 for W. W. Grainger and 32.6 for Nordson Corporation, and the operating margin 16.1% against 27.3%. Over the next 21 sessions the model expects −0.02% for W. W. Grainger, with a 58% chance of a rise, and +0.88% for Nordson Corporation, with a 78% chance. W. W. Grainger's long-run fair value is $1,276.23, a gap of −4.8% to its price; the long-run model view is neutral. Nordson Corporation's long-run fair value is $327.82, a gap of +0.6% to its price; the long-run model view is neutral.

Model view

What the model expects

Expected returns and the chance of a rise from our forecasting models, and the long-run fair value against the price. Readings, not advice.

Model readings:
Expected returnnext 21 sessions
GWW−0.02%
NDSN+0.88%
Chance of a risenext 21 sessions
GWW58%
NDSN78%
Expected returnnext 63 sessions
GWW+1.82%
NDSN+2.38%
Range of outcomes63 sessions, 80% band
GWW−14.1% to +17.7%
NDSN−14.2% to +19%
Chance of a risenext 63 sessionsMembers only · see plans
Long-run fair valueintrinsic value model
GWW$1,276.2328 Oct 2026
NDSN$327.8228 Oct 2026
Gap to pricefair value against the close
GWW−4.8%
NDSN+0.6%
Past readings that matchedsign of the 21-session outcome
GWW44.2%of 269
NDSN66.5%of 269
Price performance

How the prices moved

Price change over each period, with the S&P 500 (SPY) for comparison.

Closes to
1 monthS&P 500: +1.1%
GWW+7.4%
NDSN−1.1%
6 monthsS&P 500: +8.5%
GWW+17.6%
NDSN+16.6%
Year to dateS&P 500: +13.3%
GWW+33.7%
NDSN+36.4%
1 yearS&P 500: +12.7%
GWW+38.2%
NDSN+38.1%
5 yearsS&P 500: +70.7%
GWW+222.3%
NDSN+40%
1 year against the S&P 500percentage points
GWW+25.5 pts
NDSN+25.4 pts
Position in the 52-week range0% low, 100% high
GWW85%close $1,340.76 in $901.22 to $1,417.14
NDSN89%close $326.02 in $221.21 to $338.55
Against the 200-day average
GWW+9%
NDSN+11%
Valuation

What the market pays

Size and the multiples from the latest filed quarter. A P/E on losses reads n/m.

Filings: quarter to (GWW), (NDSN)
Market value
GWW$63.28B28 Oct 2026
NDSN$18.27B28 Oct 2026
Enterprise valueat the last filing
GWW$66.03B30 Jun 2026
NDSN$18.29B31 Jul 2026
P/Elatest filed
GWW35.8
NDSN32.6
Price to book
GWW14.23
NDSN5.10
EV / EBITDA
GWW22.34
NDSN22.22
Free cash flow yield
GWW2.35%
NDSN4.34%
Dividend yield
GWW0.77%
NDSN1.1%
Questions

W. W. Grainger or Nordson Corporation: common questions

Which is larger by market value, W. W. Grainger or Nordson Corporation?

W. W. Grainger, at $63.28B against $18.27B for Nordson Corporation, on the latest closes (28 Oct 2026).

Which has the higher P/E ratio, W. W. Grainger or Nordson Corporation?

W. W. Grainger has the higher latest filed P/E, 35.8; Nordson Corporation's is 32.6. Filings: quarter to 30 Jun 2026 and 31 Jul 2026.

How did W. W. Grainger and Nordson Corporation move over the past year against the S&P 500?

Over the past year W. W. Grainger returned +38.2% and Nordson Corporation +38.1%, while the S&P 500 returned +12.7%. Prices at close 28 Oct 2026.

What does the model expect for W. W. Grainger and Nordson Corporation over the next month?

−0.02% for W. W. Grainger with a 58% chance of a rise, and +0.88% for Nordson Corporation with a 78% chance, over the next 21 sessions. Model readings 28 Oct 2026. These are model readings, not advice.

How do the operating margins of W. W. Grainger and Nordson Corporation compare?

The operating margin is 16.1% for W. W. Grainger and 27.3% for Nordson Corporation, and the gross margin 39.5% against 55.5%. Filings: quarter to 30 Jun 2026 and 31 Jul 2026.

Do W. W. Grainger and Nordson Corporation shares move together?

Over the past year the correlation of their daily returns was 0.37 (loosely together); 1 means they always move together, 0 unrelated, −1 opposite. Prices at close 28 Oct 2026.

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The two company pagesW. W. Grainger (GWW) forecast and analysisNordson Corporation (NDSN) forecast and analysis
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BrowseAll Industrials companiesAll comparisonsHow the model readings are made

Model readings are research estimates, not investment advice. Prices: daily closes. Fundamentals: the latest SEC filings. Short interest: FINRA, settlement 30 Sep 2026. A dash means the figure is not in our data; it is never shown as zero. The model view follows a published rule: next month by the sign of the expected return, the long run positive at a fair value 10% or more above the price and negative at 10% or more below it.