W.W. Grainger, Inc. stock research
FY2024 Q4
W.W. Grainger (GWW) Gross Margin — Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2024
Revenue decreased from the prior quarter but increased compared to the same quarter last year. Gross profit was stable sequentially and higher year over year, while cost of revenue declined from the prior quarter and rose from a year ago, resulting in a gross margin that improved relative to both periods.
Gross margin takeaway
Quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 · FY2024 Q4
Revenue decreased from the prior quarter but increased compared to the same quarter last year. Gross profit was stable sequentially and higher year over year, while cost of revenue declined from the prior quarter and rose from a year ago, resulting in a gross margin that improved relative to both periods.
- The gross margin strengthened sequentially and year over year, driven by a proportionally larger decline in cost of revenue relative to revenue when compared with the prior quarter, and a proportionally smaller increase in cost of revenue relative to revenue when compared with the same quarter last year.
- Compared with the immediately preceding quarter, revenue was lower while gross profit held steady, and cost of revenue was lower, leading to an improved gross margin. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, revenue and gross profit were both higher, cost of revenue was higher, and gross margin improved.
Gross margin snapshot
The selected quarter's reported revenue, gross profit, direct costs, and margin comparisons.
Gross margin
39.6%
Gross profit
$1.7B
Revenue
$4.2B
Cost of revenue
$2.6B
Quarter-over-quarter change
+0.4 pts
Year-over-year change
+0.5 pts
Quarterly gross margin trend
A four-quarter view of the revenue and direct-cost bridge behind gross margin.
| Period | Revenue | Gross profit | Cost of revenue | Gross margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2024 | $4.2B | $1.7B | $2.6B | 39.4% |
| Jun 30, 2024 | $4.3B | $1.7B | $2.6B | 39.3% |
| Sep 30, 2024 | $4.4B | $1.7B | $2.7B | 39.2% |
| Dec 31, 2024 | $4.2B | $1.7B | $2.6B | 39.6% |
Quarterly comparisons
Compare the selected margin with the preceding quarter and the same fiscal quarter one year earlier.
Previous-quarter change
Sep 30, 2024
+0.4 pts
Year-over-year change
Dec 31, 2023
+0.5 pts
What the margin says
Filing-constrained interpretation of margin direction, comparisons, and what to monitor next.
The gross margin strengthened sequentially and year over year, driven by a proportionally larger decline in cost of revenue relative to revenue when compared with the prior quarter, and a proportionally smaller increase in cost of revenue relative to revenue when compared with the same quarter last year.
Compared with the immediately preceding quarter, revenue was lower while gross profit held steady, and cost of revenue was lower, leading to an improved gross margin. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, revenue and gross profit were both higher, cost of revenue was higher, and gross margin improved.
Monitor the trajectory of cost of revenue relative to revenue, as its proportional movement was the key factor in the gross margin change.