| --- | --- | |-------|-------| | | | | | | Safe Harbor Statement and Non-GAAP Financial Measures All statements in this communication, other than those relating to historical facts, are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by their use of terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "expect," "could," "forecast," "may," "intend," "plan," "predict," "project" "will" or "would" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-lo ...

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ______ to _______ Commission file number 1-5684 W.W. Grainger, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (State or other jurisdiction of incorpor ...

W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) Q4 2020 Earnings Conference Call February 3, 2021 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Irene Holman - VP, IR Donald Macpherson - Chairman & CEO Deidra Merriwether - CFO & SVP Conference Call Participants Ryan Merkel - William Blair & Company David Manthey - Robert W. Baird & Co. Christopher Glynn - Oppenheimer Deane Dray - RBC Capital Markets Christopher Dankert - Longbow Research Nigel Coe - Wolfe Research Adam Uhlman - Cleveland Research Company Christopher Snyder - UBS Investm ...

W W Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) Q3 2020 Earnings Conference Call October 22, 2020 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Irene Holman - VP, IR Donald Macpherson - Chairman & CEO Thomas Okray - SVP & CFO Conference Call Participants Christopher Glynn - Oppenheimer & Co. Christopher Dankert - Longbow Research Adam Uhlman - Cleveland Research Company Christopher Snyder - UBS Investment Bank Deane Dray - RBC Capital Markets Nigel Coe - Wolfe Research Joshua Pokrzywinski - Morgan Stanley John Inch - Gordon Haskett David ...

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020 OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ______ to _______ Commission file number 1-5684 W.W. Grainger, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (State or other jurisdiction of ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Daily sales decreased by 1.8% on a constant currency basis, primarily due to lower sales of non-pandemic products and unfavorable product mix from heightened sales of pandemic-related products [28][34] - Gross margin declined by 290 basis points year-over-year, driven mainly by pandemic-related impacts and a shift towards lower-margin products [30][51] - Operating cash flow was $232 million, with free cash flow at $189 million, indicating solid performance in cash generation despite the challenging environment [20][32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. segment daily sales decreased by 2.4%, while the broader MRO market declined by 14% to 15%, indicating significant market share gains for the company [34][40] - The endless assortment business grew approximately 16% year-over-year, demonstrating resilience amid challenging market conditions [28][42] - Sales to healthcare, government, and essential businesses remained strong, while non-essential sales rebounded from April lows but remained below pre-COVID levels [11][27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pandemic-related product sales increased by over 70% in the second quarter, peaking in May, with continued elevated demand into July [35][71] - In Canada, daily sales decreased by 21.7%, impacted by economic slowdown and lower oil prices, but cost management actions resulted in SG&A savings [47][48] - The international high-touch businesses experienced significant year-over-year declines due to pandemic-related shutdowns [43] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on balancing short-term operational needs with long-term growth, including investments in technology and product assortment [16][21] - Strategic initiatives include remerchandising $1.6 billion of the assortment and launching a new product information management system [21][22] - The company aims to simplify its footprint by divesting non-core businesses, such as Fabory and Grainger China, to concentrate on core markets [23][46] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate the pandemic and emphasized the importance of customer safety and operational continuity [8][13] - Future gross margins are expected to remain depressed due to ongoing pandemic-related impacts, but some improvement is anticipated as conditions normalize [51][114] - The company is optimistic about growth opportunities in Canada, particularly in government and healthcare sectors, despite current market challenges [80][86] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a strong financial position with approximately $1.9 billion in available liquidity and is evaluating potential dividend increases [15][33] - Management highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion initiatives in response to social issues, committing to improving hiring processes and promoting equitable opportunities [53][55] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on high-touch initiatives - Management is focused on improving product assortment and customer information, with ongoing investments in digital technology and marketing effectiveness [59][60] Question: Zoro U.S. growth initiatives - Investments made over the past 15 months are expected to yield less chunky returns moving forward, with continued margin expansion anticipated [64] Question: Outlook for pandemic sales - Elevated levels of pandemic product sales are expected to continue for the foreseeable future, driven by increased customer awareness and planning [71][72] Question: Non-pandemic sales performance - Non-pandemic sales margins performed better than pandemic sales, with significant share gains expected despite overall market declines [73] Question: Canada’s performance and future outlook - Management expects continued cost preservation and improved performance in Canada, with a focus on profitable growth in various sectors [80][86] Question: Pricing strategy and customer reception - Pricing power remains stable, with expectations for improved pricing inflation moving forward [106][108] Question: Zoro's growth and product expansion - SKU expansion is a significant growth driver for Zoro, with no observed cannibalization between Zoro and traditional business lines [104][105]

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020 OR W.W. Grainger, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Illinois 36-1150280 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-5201 (Address of principal executive ...

2nd Quarter 2020 Earnings Presentation Nasdaq: AUB July 23, 2020 tlantic nion Bankshares Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this presentation may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that include, without limitation, projections, predictions, expectations or beliefs about future events or results that are not statements of historical fact. Such forward-looking statements are ...

W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) Q1 2020 Earnings Conference Call April 23, 2020 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Irene Holman - Vice President of Investor Relations Donald Macpherson - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Okray - Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Ryan Merkel - William Blair & Company LLC David Manthey - Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. Nigel Coe - Wolfe Research Christopher Glynn - Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Adam Uhlman - Cleveland Research Company D ...

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020 OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ______ to _______ Commission file number 1-5684 W.W. Grainger, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Illinois 36-1150280 (State or other ...