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W.W. Grainger, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 1 lowered, 6 narrowed, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 11.3%, 14.9% organic: Sales were $5.2 billion, up 11.3% reported and up 14.9% on a daily, organic constant currency basis compared with the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin rose 90 bps: Adjusted operating margin was 16.1%, up 90 basis points, on sales leverage in both segments and a benefit from the U.K. exit. Reported margin was 16.0%, up 500 basis points. Source
  • High-Touch N.A. sales up 13.8%: High-Touch Solutions - N.A. sales rose 13.8% on both reported and daily constant currency bases, driven by double-digit volume growth and continued price inflation. Source
  • High-Touch margin hit by freight, mix: High-Touch Solutions - N.A. gross margin was 40.8%, down 30 basis points, due to unfavorable freight expense and mix. Source
  • Guidance raised on sales, EPS, margin: Management raised full-year sales, sales growth, operating margin and adjusted diluted EPS ranges, with adjusted diluted EPS now $47.00 to $48.00. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $661 million: Operating cash flow was $661 million, driven by net earnings according to the company. Source
  • Adroit technology assets acquired: The company acquired technology assets from Adroit Worldwide Media in the third quarter. Transaction costs of $8 million were excluded from adjusted results. Source

“The third quarter performance reflects our consistent execution and an improving demand environment,”

D.G. Macpherson, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFY2026$19.8 - $20.0 billionRaised from $19.4 - $19.7 billion
Sales growth SourceFY202610.1% - 11.6%Raised from 8.4% - 10.0%
Daily, organic constant currency sales growth SourceFY202613.0% - 14.5%Raised from 11.5% - 13.0%
Gross profit margin SourceFY202639.4% - 39.6%Narrowed, low end up from 39.3% - 39.6%
Gross profit margin change vs prior year SourceFY202630 bps to 45 bpsNarrowed from 20 bps to 50 bps
Operating margin SourceFY202616.0% - 16.2%Narrowed, low end up from 15.8% - 16.2%
Operating margin change vs prior year SourceFY2026100 bps to 120 bpsNarrowed, low end up from 80 bps to 120 bps
Diluted EPS (adjusted basis) SourceFY2026$47.00 - $48.00Raised from $45.50 - $47.25
Operating cash flow SourceFY2026$2.35 - $2.45 billionRaised from $2.25 - $2.4 billion
Capital expenditures (cash basis) SourceFY2026$0.575 - $0.625 billionNarrowed, top end cut from $0.575 - $0.65 billion
Share buyback SourceFY2026$0.975 - $1.025 billionNarrowed, top end cut from $0.975 - $1.05 billion
Effective tax rate SourceFY2026~24.7%Lowered from ~25.0%
Segment operating margin, High-Touch Solutions - N.A. SourceFY202617.3% - 17.5%Kept
Segment operating margin, Endless Assortment SourceFY202610.9% - 11.1%Raised from 10.4% - 10.8%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year net sales range raised to $19.8 - $20.0 billion from $19.4 - $19.7 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS range raised to $47.00 - $48.00 from $45.50 - $47.25. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year operating cash flow range raised to $2.35 - $2.45 billion from $2.25 - $2.4 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year operating margin range low end raised to 16.0% from 15.8%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Top end of the capital expenditure range lowered to $0.625 billion from $0.65 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Top end of the share buyback range lowered to $1.025 billion from $1.05 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected effective tax rate lowered to about 24.7% from about 25.0%. Source
  • New: Company acquired technology assets from Adroit Worldwide Media, Inc. in the third quarter of 2026. Source
  • New: Laurie Thomson, Vice President and Interim CFO, is named as a host of the call. The second-quarter release named Deidra Merriwether as Senior Vice President and CFO. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 11.3%, 14.9% organic: Sales were $5.2 billion, up 11.3% reported and up 14.9% on a daily, organic constant currency basis compared with the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on operations and tax: Reported diluted EPS was $12.42, up 102.9%; adjusted diluted EPS was $12.54, up 22.8%. The company cited operating performance, fewer shares and a lower tax rate. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin rose 90 bps: Adjusted operating margin was 16.1%, up 90 basis points, on sales leverage in both segments and a benefit from the U.K. exit. Reported margin was 16.0%, up 500 basis points. Source
  • Management cites improving demand: Management said the quarter reflected consistent execution and an improving demand environment, with both segments delivering growth. Source

Segments and regions

  • High-Touch N.A. sales up 13.8%: High-Touch Solutions - N.A. sales rose 13.8% on both reported and daily constant currency bases, driven by double-digit volume growth and continued price inflation. Source
  • Endless Assortment grew 19.3% organically: Endless Assortment sales rose 11.9% reported and 19.3% on a daily, organic constant currency basis, driven by MonotaRO and Zoro. Source
  • Currency and U.K. exit adjustments: Adjusting for the U.K. exit and currency moved total company growth from 11.3% reported to 14.9%. Currency added 1.2 points and the divested and closed businesses 2.4 points. Source

“As customers continue to turn to us for the products and solutions they need, both our High-Touch Solutions and Endless Assortment segments delivered impressive growth.”

D.G. Macpherson, Chairman and CEO

Margins, costs and pricing

  • Gross margin 38.8%, up 20 bps: Gross profit margin was 38.8%, up 20 basis points, driven by Endless Assortment expansion and a benefit from the U.K. exit. Source
  • High-Touch margin hit by freight, mix: High-Touch Solutions - N.A. gross margin was 40.8%, down 30 basis points, due to unfavorable freight expense and mix. Source
  • Endless Assortment gross margin up 90 bps: Endless Assortment gross margin rose 90 basis points on improvement at both MonotaRO and Zoro. Source
  • Prior quarter had tariff refunds: Second-quarter gross margin included IEEPA tariff refunds that reduced cost of goods sold by $43 million. The third-quarter release does not cite a comparable refund.
  • Tax rate fell on added credits: The effective tax rate was 24.3%, against 34.7% reported a year earlier. The adjusted rate variance reflects additional tax credit benefits recorded in the quarter. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Guidance raised on sales, EPS, margin: Management raised full-year sales, sales growth, operating margin and adjusted diluted EPS ranges, with adjusted diluted EPS now $47.00 to $48.00. Source
  • Capex, buyback and tax ranges trimmed: Top ends of the capital expenditure and share buyback ranges were lowered, and the expected effective tax rate was lowered to about 24.7%. Source
  • Endless Assortment margin range raised: Endless Assortment segment operating margin range raised to 10.9% to 11.1%; High-Touch Solutions - N.A. range narrowed to 17.3% to 17.5%, midpoint unchanged. Source

“Following another quarter of strong performance, we are increasing our 2026 guidance and remain on track for an exceptional year.”

D.G. Macpherson, Chairman and CEO

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow of $661 million: Operating cash flow was $661 million, driven by net earnings according to the company. Source
  • Capex and free cash flow: Capital expenditures were $115 million, giving free cash flow of $546 million for the quarter. Source
  • $396 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $396 million through dividends and share repurchases in the quarter. Cash dividends paid were $145 million and treasury stock purchases $278 million. Source
  • Cash balance rose: Cash and cash equivalents rose to $768 million at September 30, 2026, from $585 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Acquisition and strategy

  • Adroit technology assets acquired: The company acquired technology assets from Adroit Worldwide Media in the third quarter. Transaction costs of $8 million were excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • $215 million paid for acquisition: Cash paid for the business acquisition was $215 million in the quarter, shown in investing cash flows. Source
  • U.K. market exit completed in 2025: Prior-year adjustments reflect the loss from exiting the U.K. market, including the Cromwell sale and Zoro U.K. closure, completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Leadership and customer base

  • Interim CFO hosts earnings call: Laurie Thomson, Vice President and Interim CFO, hosts the call with the CEO. The second-quarter release named Deidra Merriwether as Senior Vice President and CFO. Source
  • Serves over 4.6 million customers: The company serves more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with MRO products and value-added solutions; 2025 revenue was $17.9 billion. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
U.S. selling days, Q3 2026 and Q3 2025 Source64
Customers served worldwide Sourcemore than 4.6 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Unfavorable freight expense and product mix reduced High-Touch Solutions - N.A. gross margin this quarter. Source
  • External: Continued price inflation was passed to customers as cost increases; management cited it as a driver of High-Touch sales growth. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it is raising 2026 guidance and remains on track for an exceptional year. 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.