MSC Industrial Direct (MSM)
Industrials · Industrial MRO Distribution
MSC Industrial Direct is a leading distributor of metalworking fluid coolants, cutting tools, safety equipment, and other maintenance/repair/operations (MRO) supplies to manufacturing and industrial customers worldwide.
What MSC Industrial Direct does
MSC Industrial Direct is a distributor of metalworking fluid coolants, cutting tools, safety equipment, and other MRO supplies serving manufacturing and industrial customers globally. The company operates through direct sales channels (e-commerce, catalog, sales representatives) and maintains significant inventory to provide availability and rapid delivery. With over $2.9 billion in net sales and a geographically diversified customer base across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, the company serves a broad range of industrial end-markets including automotive, aerospace, machinery manufacturing, and general manufacturing operations.
Themes: ["Industrial MRO distribution","Manufacturing supply chain","E-commerce and direct sales channels","Global industrial distribution"]
Fundamentals
- Price$120.66 as of 2026-07-09 close
- Market cap$6.7B as of 2026-07-10
- 1-year return+33.0% as of 2026-07-09 close
- P/E29.14 as of 2026-07-10
- Net margin+5.9% as of 2026-07-10
- Gross margin+40.8% as of 2026-07-10
- ROE+16.6% as of 2026-07-10
- Debt / equity0.36 as of 2026-07-10
- Revenue growth (YoY)+4.4% as of 2026-07-10
- Revenue CAGR (3y)+0.7% SEC XBRL
- Beta0.84 as of 2026-07-10
Dividend: yield +2.9%; 3-year non-decreasing per-share dividend streak (SEC XBRL).
Key risks (from latest filing)
["Dependence on manufacturing and industrial activity levels; economic downturns or reduced capital spending by customers could significantly impact sales and profitability","Intense competition in industrial distribution with larger competitors like Grainger offering broader product assortments and potentially better pricing terms","Inventory management risks given the large inventory base ($684 million at May 30, 2026) and potential for obsolescence or markdowns in a slowdown"]
Competitors & peers
- Grainger (GWW)
- Fastenal Company (FAST)
- Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT)
- HD Supply Holdings (HDS)
- Wesco International (WCC)
Fundamentals: Finnhub, as of 2026-07-10. Filings: SEC EDGAR. Prices are delayed daily-close data.
Last updated 2026-07-09.
Informational only — NOT financial advice. All figures are delayed daily-close data from SEC EDGAR & Finnhub, shown with their as-of date.