DXPE

We rate DXP ENTERPRISES INC (DXPE) as a Hold with a composite score of 59.8/100 at a current price of $158.23. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in momentum (79th percentile) and quality (58th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (28th percentile) and stability (39th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (37/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: balance sheet deleveraging progress. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

DXP ENTERPRISES INC holds a top-quartile position (#10 of 50) within the Wholesale Trade sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 59.8/100 places it at rank #718 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $1.9B in market capitalization, DXP ENTERPRISES INC is a small-cap player in the Wholesale Trade space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

The near-term outlook is constructive, with revenue growing at 15% and momentum in the 79th percentile confirming positive market sentiment and institutional accumulation. The combination of strong top-line growth and favorable price dynamics suggests the company is executing well on its growth strategy. Investment factor at the 28th percentile indicates reinvestment patterns that investors should monitor for sustainability.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 31% (+8.9pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 9% (+5.4pp vs sector) and net margins of 4.4%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 14%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $158.23, DXP ENTERPRISES INC is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 55/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 26.9x (a 41% premium to the sector median of 19.1x), EV/EBITDA of 13.8x (at a premium), P/B of 4.8x, P/S of 1.2x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis finds only partially justified by current fundamentals.

We assign a High uncertainty rating to DXP ENTERPRISES INC. Key risk factors include elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.45), significant leverage (196% debt-to-equity), below-average price stability (39th percentile). The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.45); significant leverage (196% debt-to-equity); below-average price stability (39th percentile); the combination of leverage (196% D/E) and thin margins (4.4% net) amplifies downside risk. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 39th percentile and quality factor at the 58th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

We identify limited risk mitigants at this time, which contributes to our high uncertainty assessment. Investors should monitor for improvement in balance sheet metrics, margin stability, and business predictability that could warrant a downgrade in our risk assessment over time.

We rate DXP ENTERPRISES INC's capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include elevated leverage (196% D/E). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — DXP ENTERPRISES INC significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, DXP ENTERPRISES INC receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 59.8/100 (rank #718 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (37/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 52/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on DXP ENTERPRISES INC. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.