W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) Shares Sold by Marietta Investment Partners LLC

Key Points

• Marietta Investment Partners LLC has decreased its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 10.4% during the first quarter, now owning 12,291 shares valued at approximately $12.14 million.
• W.W. Grainger reported earnings of $9.86 EPS, surpassing estimates, with a revenue of $4.31 billion for the quarter, reflecting a 1.7% year-over-year increase.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $2.26 from $2.05, marking an annualized dividend yield of 0.86% with a payout ratio of 23.21%.

Marietta Investment Partners LLC lessened its position in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW - Free Report) by 10.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 12,291 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 1,429 shares during the quarter. W.W. Grainger comprises approximately 2.9% of Marietta Investment Partners LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest position. Marietta Investment Partners LLC's holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $12,141,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Investment Management Corp VA ADV purchased a new stake in W.W. Grainger in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger by 34.3% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 47 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger in the fourth quarter valued at $54,000. Columbia River Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger in the 1st quarter valued at $65,000. Finally, Reyes Financial Architecture Inc. lifted its stake in W.W. Grainger by 22.4% during the 1st quarter. Reyes Financial Architecture Inc. now owns 93 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $92,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.70% of the company's stock.

W.W. Grainger Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:GWW opened at $1,053.93 on Friday. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 52 week low of $893.99 and a 52 week high of $1,227.66. The company has a current ratio of 2.74, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.06, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 1.18. The firm's 50 day moving average is $1,057.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,036.16.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $9.86 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.51 by $0.35. The firm had revenue of $4.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.31 billion. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 51.28% and a net margin of 11.08%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $9.62 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 earnings per share for the current year.

W.W. Grainger Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 12th were given a $2.26 dividend. This is an increase from W.W. Grainger's previous quarterly dividend of $2.05. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 12th. This represents a $9.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.86%. W.W. Grainger's dividend payout ratio is presently 23.21%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other W.W. Grainger news, VP Laurie R. Thomson sold 761 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,042.86, for a total value of $793,616.46. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 578 shares of the company's stock, valued at $602,773.08. The trade was a 56.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Krantz Nancy L. Berardinelli sold 280 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,075.20, for a total value of $301,056.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 3,369 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,622,348.80. This trade represents a 7.67% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 6.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wolfe Research lowered shares of W.W. Grainger from a "peer perform" rating to an "underperform" rating and set a $966.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,097.00 to $1,144.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,215.00 to $1,160.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,100.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $1,116.25.

About W.W. Grainger

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.

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