Tearsheet

Core & Main (CNM)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $50.09 | Market Cap: $9.5 Bil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Trading Companies & Distributors

Core & Main (CNM)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $50.09
Market Cap: $9.5 Bil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Trading Companies & Distributors

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 43%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -5.6%
 
1 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure, and Sustainable Resource Management. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, Wastewater Management, Show more.
  
0 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 43%
1 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure, and Sustainable Resource Management. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, Wastewater Management, Show more.
2 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -5.6%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

CNM Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are key points explaining the approximate -22.7% movement in Core & Main (CNM) stock from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025:

1. Core & Main missed revenue expectations and provided significantly lower full-year EBITDA guidance in its Q2 2025 earnings report. Core & Main reported its fiscal 2025 second-quarter results on September 9, 2025. While diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased by 14.8% to $0.70 and adjusted diluted EPS increased by 13.0% to $0.87, topping analyst consensus estimates for EPS, the company missed analysts' revenue expectations by 1%. Furthermore, Core & Main's full-year EBITDA guidance significantly missed analyst expectations, which likely disappointed investors.

2. Weakness in residential end markets led to margin compression. The company acknowledged softness in residential lot development. This weakness in one of its key end markets contributed to margin compression, suggesting a challenging operational environment and impacting profitability.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
CNM Return---36%109%26%-4%61%
Peers Return26%36%-10%40%9%6%148%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
CNM Win Rate-60%25%83%58%60% 
Peers Win Rate43%50%28%50%48%56% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
CNM Max Drawdown---38%0%-6%-13% 
Peers Max Drawdown-28%-2%-25%-6%-8%-19% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: WSO, UHAL, URI, FERG, FAST.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventCNMS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-40.0%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven66.7%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven196 days464 days

Compare to WSO, UHAL, URI, FERG, FAST


In The Past

Core & Main's stock fell -40.0% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 12/29/2021. A -40.0% loss requires a 66.7% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Core & Main (CNM)

Better Bets than Core & Main (CNM)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to CNM. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Core & Main

Peers to compare with:

Financials

CNMWSOUHALURIFERGFASTMedian
NameCore & M.Watsco U-Haul United R.Ferguson.Fastenal  
Mkt Price50.00355.8653.89813.66252.8441.22153.37
Mkt Cap9.513.510.652.249.847.330.4
Rev LTM7,7407,4145,97215,98630,7627,9987,869
Op Inc LTM7317347004,0092,6831,6161,175
FCF LTM564517-1,8204501,603965541
FCF 3Y Avg718540-1,7174461,7951,069629
CFO LTM6065491,6204,9821,9081,2101,415
CFO 3Y Avg7545731,5334,8122,1681,2791,406

Growth & Margins

CNMWSOUHALURIFERGFASTMedian
NameCore & M.Watsco U-Haul United R.Ferguson.Fastenal  
Rev Chg LTM11.0%-0.7%5.9%6.7%3.8%6.9%6.3%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg8.2%1.0%0.5%13.2%2.5%5.5%4.0%
Rev Chg Q6.6%-4.3%3.7%5.9%6.9%11.7%6.3%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM1.7%-1.2%1.0%1.5%1.8%2.9%1.6%
Op Mgn LTM9.4%9.9%11.7%25.1%8.7%20.2%10.8%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg10.4%10.2%16.6%26.5%9.0%20.4%13.5%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.0%-0.1%-0.6%-0.4%0.2%0.1%-0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM7.8%7.4%27.1%31.2%6.2%15.1%11.5%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg10.7%7.7%26.5%32.2%7.2%16.9%13.8%
FCF/Rev LTM7.3%7.0%-30.5%2.8%5.2%12.1%6.1%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg10.2%7.3%-29.6%2.9%6.0%14.2%6.6%

Valuation

CNMWSOUHALURIFERGFASTMedian
NameCore & M.Watsco U-Haul United R.Ferguson.Fastenal  
Mkt Cap9.513.510.652.249.847.330.4
P/S1.52.11.93.81.47.02.0
P/EBIT15.720.917.915.016.434.717.2
P/E26.629.348.124.223.145.928.0
P/CFO18.927.96.912.322.546.520.7
Total Yield3.8%6.4%2.4%4.9%4.3%3.9%4.1%
Dividend Yield0.0%3.0%0.3%0.7%0.0%1.7%0.5%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg9.6%3.4%-14.2%0.9%-2.7%2.7%
D/E0.20.00.70.20.10.00.2
Net D/E0.2-0.00.50.20.10.00.2

Returns

CNMWSOUHALURIFERGFASTMedian
NameCore & M.Watsco U-Haul United R.Ferguson.Fastenal  
1M Rtn-4.0%-1.5%1.6%-4.9%2.1%0.4%-0.5%
3M Rtn-22.6%-8.8%-5.7%-13.7%10.4%-16.3%-11.3%
6M Rtn-15.0%-18.9%-14.8%17.3%17.9%1.8%-6.5%
12M Rtn-10.4%-32.7%-25.5%-5.5%16.4%1.7%-7.9%
3Y Rtn142.6%44.6%-19.4%135.6%-72.8%72.8%
1M Excs Rtn-3.9%-1.5%1.6%-4.9%2.2%0.5%-0.5%
3M Excs Rtn-29.4%-16.4%-12.9%-20.8%1.2%-22.9%-18.6%
6M Excs Rtn-29.7%-33.6%-29.6%2.6%3.1%-12.9%-21.2%
12M Excs Rtn-10.6%-47.3%-37.3%-18.8%5.6%-12.8%-15.8%
3Y Excs Rtn69.7%-30.1%-82.5%68.9%-0.8%0.8%

Financials

Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity12,121,485
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025-11.0%
Average Daily Volume1,932,851
Days-to-Cover Short Interest6.27
Basic Shares Quantity189,904,002
Short % of Basic Shares6.4%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
7312025909202510-Q 8/3/2025
4302025610202510-Q 5/4/2025
1312025325202510-K 2/2/2025
103120241203202410-Q 10/27/2024
7312024904202410-Q 7/28/2024
4302024604202410-Q 4/28/2024
1312024319202410-K 1/28/2024
103120231205202310-Q 10/29/2023
7312023906202310-Q 7/30/2023
4302023606202310-Q 4/30/2023
1312023328202310-K 1/29/2023
103120221213202210-Q 10/30/2022
7312022913202210-Q 7/31/2022
4302022614202210-Q 5/1/2022
1312022330202210-K 1/30/2022
103120211207202110-Q 10/31/2021