WCC

We rate WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC (WCC) as a Hold with a composite score of 56.2/100 at a current price of $296.27. 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 (80th percentile) and value (60th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in quality (39th percentile) and investment (42th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (40/100), Very 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.

WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC holds an above-average position (#22 of 50) within the Wholesale Trade sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 56.2/100 places it at rank #1131 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $10.3B market capitalization, WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC operates at meaningful scale within the Wholesale Trade sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

The outlook is moderately positive, with revenue expanding at 13% and favorable momentum (80th percentile) reflecting constructive market sentiment. The business shows steady execution, though the growth rate is below the levels typically associated with high-conviction growth stories. Momentum confirmation provides support for the current price level.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 21% (-1.1pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 5% (+2.2pp vs sector) and net margins of 3.0%, 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 $296.27, WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 60/100 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 21.1x (roughly in line with the sector median of 19.1x), EV/EBITDA of 10.1x (at a premium), P/B of 2.9x, P/S of 0.6x. 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 Very High uncertainty rating to WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC. The stock exhibits multiple compounding risk factors: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.54), significant leverage (228% debt-to-equity), the combination of leverage (228% D/E) and thin margins (3.0% net) amplifies downside risk. The extreme uncertainty around future cash flows makes precise valuation difficult, and the range of outcomes is exceptionally wide. Only investors with high risk tolerance and extended time horizons should consider this name.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.54); significant leverage (228% debt-to-equity); the combination of leverage (228% D/E) and thin margins (3.0% 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 47th percentile and quality factor at the 39th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

We identify limited risk mitigants at this time, which contributes to our very 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 WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC's capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include elevated leverage (228% D/E). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — WESCO INTERNATIONAL 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, WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 56.2/100 (rank #1131 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (40/100, trend: stable), Very High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 54/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on WESCO INTERNATIONAL 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.