MSM

We rate MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC (MSM) as a Hold with a composite score of 57.2/100 at a current price of $93.67. 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 stability (81th percentile) and quality (68th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. All factors score above the 40th percentile, indicating no material weakness in the quantitative profile. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (40/100), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: quarterly earnings execution and sector-level competitive dynamics. 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.

MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC holds an above-average position (#19 of 50) within the Wholesale Trade sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 57.2/100 places it at rank #1008 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $5.0B in market capitalization, MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC is a mid-cap player in the Wholesale Trade space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue contraction of -1% combined with momentum at the 54th percentile paints a cautious picture of the near-term business outlook. The market appears to be pricing in continued challenges, and a catalyst for reversal is not clearly visible from current data.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 41% (+18.4pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 8% (+4.5pp vs sector) and net margins of 5.1%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 13%. 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 $93.67, MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 46/100 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 27.2x (a 42% premium to the sector median of 19.1x), EV/EBITDA of 13.6x (at a premium), P/B of 3.8x, P/S of 1.4x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis partially supports given strong quality metrics.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.74, and a stability factor in the 81th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

We identify no major risk factors at this time. The company's stability factor sits at the 81th percentile with quality at the 68th percentile, both of which support our low-risk assessment. The absence of material leverage, profitability, or volatility concerns reduces the likelihood of a permanent capital loss scenario.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 41% provide a buffer against cost pressures; above-average stability (81th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; a 3.84% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC's capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 13.9%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 80%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. The 3.84% dividend yield provides some income return, but the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.

In summary, MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 57.2/100 (rank #1008 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (40/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 58/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO 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.