---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000277135-21-000016"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GWW"
cik: "0000277135"
company_name: "W.W. GRAINGER, INC."
filed_at: "2021-07-30T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-30T00:32:16.508325+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Grainger Q2 sales up 13.1% to $3.2B; EPS $4.27; gross margin pressured by $63M pandemic inventory adjustments

## Summary
- Reported EPS $4.27 vs $2.10 prior year; adjusted EPS up 14% to $4.27.
- Gross margin 35.0%, down 75 bps; excluding $63M pandemic inventory adjustments, margin was 37.0%.
- High-Touch N.A. daily sales +13.7%; Endless Assortment daily sales +23.0%.
- Operating cash flow $269M; returned $203M via dividends and share repurchases.
- FY 2021 guidance maintained: sales $12.7-13.0B, EPS $19.00-20.50; results expected near low end.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000277135-21-000016
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GWW
- cik: 0000277135
- company_name: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
- filed_at: 2021-07-30T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277135/000027713521000016/0000277135-21-000016-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277135/000027713521000016/gww-20210730.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000277135-21-000016
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000277135-21-000016.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000277135-21-000016.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.