Every material Form 8-K W. W. Grainger filed with the SEC in 2026, read and summarized by AI: what happened, the key figures, whether it reads positive or negative for shareholders, and how big a deal it is (impact 1-5). Newest first; each brief links to its own page and to the filing on SEC.gov.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. reported third quarter 2026 net sales of $5.2 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $12.54, reflecting steady performance across both of its operating segments. Driven by these results, the company raised its full-year 2026 financial guidance, including an updated adjusted diluted EPS range of $47.00 to $48.00.
Third quarter sales reached $5.2 billion, up 11.3% on a reported basis and 14.9% on a daily, organic constant currency basis compared to the third quarter of 2025.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share grew 22.8% to $12.54 for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.
The company updated its full-year 2026 net sales guidance to a range of $19.8 billion to $20.0 billion.
Operating cash flow for the quarter was $661 million, with $396 million returned to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Grainger reported second-quarter 2026 sales of $5.0 billion, up 10.3%, and diluted EPS of $12.01, up 20.5% from a year earlier. The company raised its full-year 2026 guidance, including a diluted adjusted EPS range of $45.50 to $47.25, up from $44.25 to $46.25 previously. Results include IEEPA tariff refunds that reduced cost of goods sold by $43 million.
Q2 2026 net sales were $5.0 billion, up 10.3%; daily, organic constant currency sales rose 13.7%
Diluted EPS was $12.01 versus $9.97 in Q2 2025; operating margin was 16.1%, up 120 basis points
Full-year 2026 diluted adjusted EPS guidance raised to $45.50-$47.25 from $44.25-$46.25 (as of May 7, 2026)
Returned $341 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases; free cash flow was $333 million
Grainger's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Deidra C. Merriwether, resigned to pursue another opportunity, effective September 4, 2026. The company said the resignation is not due to any disagreement over operations, financial statements, internal controls, policies or its independent auditors. Vice President and Controller Laurie R. Thomson will serve as interim CFO from September 5, 2026, while the company begins a search for a permanent CFO.
Deidra C. Merriwether resigns as SVP and CFO effective September 4, 2026, to pursue another opportunity; the filing cites no disagreement with the company
Laurie R. Thomson, age 53, named interim CFO effective September 5, 2026, and will continue as Vice President, Controller
Thomson's base salary rises from $455,271 to $500,000; she gets a one-time restricted stock unit award on October 1, 2026 with an approximate grant value of $750,000
The award vests in three equal installments on October 1, 2027, 2028 and 2029; the company will begin searching for the next CFO immediately
Grainger reported first-quarter 2026 sales of $4.7 billion, up 10.1%, and diluted EPS of $11.65, up 18.2% from a year earlier. The company raised its full-year 2026 guidance, including diluted adjusted EPS of $44.25 to $46.25, up from $42.25 to $44.75, and announced a 10% quarterly dividend increase.
Q1 2026 sales were $4.7 billion, up 10.1%, or 12.2% on a daily, organic constant currency basis
Diluted EPS was $11.65, up 18.2%, and operating margin was 16.7%, up 110 basis points
Updated 2026 diluted adjusted EPS guidance is $44.25 to $46.25, versus the prior $42.25 to $44.75
Quarterly dividend increased 10%; first-quarter operating cash flow was $739 million
Grainger reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on February 3, 2026. Sales grew, but operating margin and diluted EPS declined, and reported full-year EPS fell 8.6% after a $196 million loss tied to its exit from the U.K. market. The company also issued 2026 guidance calling for net sales of $18.7 billion to $19.1 billion and adjusted diluted EPS of $42.25 to $44.75.
Q4 2025 net sales were $4.4 billion, up 4.5%, while operating margin was 14.3%, down 70 basis points.
Q4 2025 diluted EPS was $9.44, down 2.8%. Full-year 2025 diluted EPS was $35.40 reported (down 8.6%) and $39.48 adjusted (up 1.3%).
Full-year 2025 free cash flow was $1.3 billion, and the company returned $1.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
2026 guidance includes net sales of $18.7 billion to $19.1 billion, adjusted diluted EPS of $42.25 to $44.75, and a share buyback of $0.95 billion to $1.05 billion.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text (each brief's own page names the model) and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the model's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.
Only material 8-Ks get a brief: results, deals, executive changes, restructuring, impairments, delisting notices, restatements, cybersecurity incidents and other disclosed events. Routine filings (vote results, exhibits only) are skipped. Every W. W. Grainger filing is on SEC EDGAR ↗. 8-K briefs of other companies →