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W.W. Grainger, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 12 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 4.5%: Sales were $4.4 billion, up 4.5%, or 4.6% on a daily, organic constant currency basis. Operating earnings were $634 million, up 0.2%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating margin down 70bps: Operating margin was 14.3%, down 70 basis points. Management cited higher expense, including unforeseen healthcare costs, and slower High-Touch Solutions - N.A. sales growth. Source
  • Full-year EPS down on reported basis: Reported diluted EPS was $35.40, down 8.6%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $39.48, up 1.3%. Source
  • High-Touch Solutions sales up 2.2%: High-Touch Solutions - N.A. sales rose 2.2%, or 2.1% on a daily, constant currency basis, with growth in the U.S. and Canada across most customer end markets. Source
  • Endless Assortment sales up 14.3%: Endless Assortment sales rose 14.3%, or 15.7% on a daily, organic constant currency basis, driven by MonotaRO and Zoro. Segment gross margin rose 70 basis points. Source
  • Full-year gross margin down 30bps: Full-year gross margin was 39.1%, down 30 basis points, driven by tariff-related inflation that caused price/cost timing and LIFO inventory headwinds in High-Touch Solutions - N.A. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow $1.3 billion: Full-year operating cash flow was $2.0 billion, capital expenditures were $684 million, and free cash flow was $1.3 billion. Source

“In 2025, we executed well, delivering exceptional service and a best-in-class experience for our customers across both our High-Touch Solutions and Endless Assortment segments,”

D.G. Macpherson, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Source2026$18.7 - $19.1 billionNew
Sales growth Source20264.2% - 6.7%New
Daily, organic constant currency sales growth Source20266.5% - 9.0%New
Gross profit margin Source202639.2% - 39.5%New
Operating margin Source202615.4% - 15.9%New
Diluted EPS Source2026$42.25 - $44.75New
Operating cash flow Source2026$2.125 - $2.325 billionNew
Capital expenditures (cash basis) Source2026$0.55 - $0.65 billionNew
Share buyback Source2026$0.95 - $1.05 billionNew
Effective tax rate Source2026~25.0%New
Segment operating margin, High-Touch Solutions - N.A. Source202616.9% - 17.4%New
Segment operating margin, Endless Assortment Source202610.0% - 10.5%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First guidance for 2026 is issued in this release, on an adjusted basis, with ranges for sales, margins, EPS and cash items. Source
  • Ended: The U.K. market exit is complete: Cromwell was sold and Zoro U.K. closed in Q4 2025, after the Q3 2025 announcement. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 4.5%: Sales were $4.4 billion, up 4.5%, or 4.6% on a daily, organic constant currency basis. Operating earnings were $634 million, up 0.2%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating margin down 70bps: Operating margin was 14.3%, down 70 basis points. Management cited higher expense, including unforeseen healthcare costs, and slower High-Touch Solutions - N.A. sales growth. Source
  • Full-year sales reached $17.9 billion: Full-year sales rose 4.5% to $17.9 billion, or 4.9% on a daily, organic constant currency basis, with growth in both segments. Source
  • Full-year reported operating margin down 150bps: Reported full-year operating margin was 13.9%, down 150 basis points, including the U.K. exit loss recorded in the third quarter. Source
  • Full-year EPS down on reported basis: Reported diluted EPS was $35.40, down 8.6%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $39.48, up 1.3%. Source

Segments: High-Touch and Endless Assortment

  • High-Touch Solutions sales up 2.2%: High-Touch Solutions - N.A. sales rose 2.2%, or 2.1% on a daily, constant currency basis, with growth in the U.S. and Canada across most customer end markets. Source
  • High-Touch gross margin flat in quarter: Gross margin in High-Touch Solutions - N.A. was flat year over year, as various factors offset one another. Source
  • Endless Assortment sales up 14.3%: Endless Assortment sales rose 14.3%, or 15.7% on a daily, organic constant currency basis, driven by MonotaRO and Zoro. Segment gross margin rose 70 basis points. Source

“Despite a challenging macro environment, we drove profitable share gain”

D.G. Macpherson, Chairman and CEO

Customers and segment mix

  • More than 4.6 million customers: The company described itself as serving more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with MRO products and value-added solutions. Source
  • Fourth-quarter gross margin eased on mix: Total gross profit margin was 39.5%, down 10 basis points, due primarily to segment mix headwinds. Source
  • Selling days one fewer in 2025: Full-year 2025 had 255 U.S. selling days against 256 in 2024; the fourth quarter had 64 in both years. Daily sales divide sales by selling days. Source

Costs, gross margin and SG&A

  • Full-year gross margin down 30bps: Full-year gross margin was 39.1%, down 30 basis points, driven by tariff-related inflation that caused price/cost timing and LIFO inventory headwinds in High-Touch Solutions - N.A. Source
  • Fourth-quarter SG&A rose to $1.1 billion: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1,112 million in the fourth quarter, against $1,043 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A at 24.1% of sales: Full-year SG&A was $4,514 million reported, or 25.2% of sales; excluding a $196 million adjustment, it was $4,318 million, or 24.1%. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin down 50bps: Adjusted full-year operating margin was 15.0%, down 50 basis points, due to lower gross margin, higher operating expenses, and slower High-Touch growth. Source

“I’m very proud of the Grainger team and believe we are poised to drive strong performance moving forward.”

D.G. Macpherson, Chairman and CEO

Tax rate and earnings

  • Fourth-quarter tax rate rose to 22.8%: The fourth-quarter effective tax rate was 22.8%, against 20.1%, because the prior-year quarter included a reserve release after a statute of limitations expired. Source
  • Full-year reported tax rate 25.6%: The reported full-year tax rate was 25.6%, against 23.0%, mainly from the U.K. exit loss, which had no corresponding tax benefit. Adjusted rate was 23.7%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS down 2.8%: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $9.44, down 2.8%, as the higher tax rate was only partly offset by fewer shares outstanding. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Fourth-quarter free cash flow $269 million: Operating cash flow was $395 million and capital expenditures were $126 million, leaving free cash flow of $269 million. Returns in the quarter were $355 million. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow $1.3 billion: Full-year operating cash flow was $2.0 billion, capital expenditures were $684 million, and free cash flow was $1.3 billion. Source
  • Shareholder returns of $1.5 billion: The company returned $1.5 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • Cash balance lower year over year: Cash and cash equivalents were $585 million at December 31, 2025, against $1,036 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and non-GAAP adjustments

  • Strategy progressed in a hard market: Management said the company progressed its strategy and executed well amid a challenging macro environment. Source
  • U.K. exit adjustment of $196 million: Operating earnings were $2,495 million reported and $2,691 million adjusted, a $196 million difference tied to the U.K. exit loss. Source
  • Adjusted results exclude one-off items: Adjusted results exclude restructuring charges, asset impairments and divestiture gains and losses, which the company says give a better baseline for ongoing performance. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers served Sourcemore than 4.6 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited unforeseen healthcare costs as expense pressure on the fourth-quarter operating margin. Source
  • External: Tariff-related inflation created unfavorable price/cost timing and LIFO headwinds in High-Touch Solutions - N.A. Source
  • Demand: Slower sales growth in High-Touch Solutions - N.A. was cited as a factor in lower operating margin. Source
  • External: Management described the macro environment as challenging while reporting share gain. Source
  • Financial: A higher tax rate more than offset the benefit of fewer shares in full-year reported EPS. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.