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U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 19, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies63
  • 7D-4.2%
  • 3M-1.7%
  • 1Y15.2%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the Trade Companies and Distributors industry has dropped 1.9%, driven by declines in United Rentals and W.W. Grainger of 7.1% and 5.8%, respectively. In contrast, Distribution Solutions Group has gained 24%. In the past year, the industry has gained 19%. Earnings are forecast to grow by 13% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Thu, 19 Mar 2026US$367.8bUS$200.6bUS$16.4b20.7x22.4x1.8x
Sat, 14 Feb 2026US$376.2bUS$187.5bUS$15.4b24.2x24.5x2x
Mon, 12 Jan 2026US$350.9bUS$181.6bUS$15.3b21.9x22.9x1.9x
Wed, 10 Dec 2025US$322.2bUS$183.2bUS$15.2b19.5x21.2x1.8x
Fri, 07 Nov 2025US$328.0bUS$180.1bUS$15.2b19.8x21.6x1.8x
Sun, 05 Oct 2025US$346.9bUS$179.7bUS$14.8b22.7x23.4x1.9x
Tue, 02 Sep 2025US$357.7bUS$184.5bUS$14.7b23.6x24.4x1.9x
Thu, 31 Jul 2025US$348.1bUS$181.8bUS$13.7b21.4x25.4x1.9x
Sat, 28 Jun 2025US$323.3bUS$181.2bUS$13.8b20.4x23.5x1.8x
Mon, 26 May 2025US$307.5bUS$182.0bUS$13.9b20x22.2x1.7x
Wed, 23 Apr 2025US$286.5bUS$191.3bUS$14.1b19x20.3x1.5x
Fri, 21 Mar 2025US$293.1bUS$190.9bUS$14.3b19.5x20.6x1.5x
Sun, 16 Feb 2025US$315.8bUS$190.4bUS$14.9b20.7x21.2x1.7x
Tue, 14 Jan 2025US$296.4bUS$189.4bUS$15.2b17.5x19.5x1.6x
Thu, 12 Dec 2024US$331.7bUS$189.5bUS$15.2b18x21.8x1.8x
Sat, 09 Nov 2024US$342.6bUS$191.3bUS$15.3b17.1x22.4x1.8x
Mon, 07 Oct 2024US$305.2bUS$190.9bUS$15.7b14.5x19.4x1.6x
Wed, 04 Sep 2024US$302.0bUS$190.6bUS$15.8b15.6x19.1x1.6x
Fri, 02 Aug 2024US$313.8bUS$190.4bUS$15.9b17.4x19.7x1.6x
Sun, 30 Jun 2024US$281.5bUS$189.9bUS$15.9b16.9x17.7x1.5x
Tue, 28 May 2024US$302.9bUS$189.6bUS$15.8b17.2x19.2x1.6x
Thu, 25 Apr 2024US$299.0bUS$188.8bUS$15.7b17.8x19x1.6x
Sat, 23 Mar 2024US$320.5bUS$188.7bUS$15.8b17.6x20.3x1.7x
Mon, 19 Feb 2024US$294.5bUS$188.8bUS$15.5b17.1x19x1.6x
Wed, 17 Jan 2024US$285.7bUS$206.5bUS$16.7b14.6x17.1x1.4x
Fri, 15 Dec 2023US$277.6bUS$205.3bUS$16.8b14.5x16.5x1.4x
Sun, 12 Nov 2023US$250.9bUS$205.5bUS$16.9b12.2x14.8x1.2x
Tue, 10 Oct 2023US$250.7bUS$203.6bUS$16.6b11.7x15.1x1.2x
Thu, 07 Sep 2023US$250.6bUS$203.8bUS$16.6b12.5x15.1x1.2x
Sat, 05 Aug 2023US$252.8bUS$203.7bUS$16.6b14.6x15.2x1.2x
Mon, 03 Jul 2023US$257.8bUS$202.4bUS$16.5b14x15.6x1.3x
Wed, 31 May 2023US$226.3bUS$202.1bUS$16.8b12x13.5x1.1x
Fri, 28 Apr 2023US$226.7bUS$201.7bUS$14.1b13x16.1x1.1x
Sun, 26 Mar 2023US$215.8bUS$199.8bUS$14.0b12.3x15.5x1.1x
Price to Earnings Ratio

15.5x


Total Market Cap: US$215.8bTotal Earnings: US$14.0bTotal Revenue: US$199.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 19.4x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Trading Companies and Distributors industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 22.3x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 19.4x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 1.6x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 1.8x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Trading Companies and Distributors industry have grown 5.5% per year over the last three years, while revenues have remained mostly flat.
  • This means that companies overall are more efficiently conducting business since profits are increasing while sales have been flat.

Industry Comparison

How does U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors compare with similar industries?

US Market-2.19%
Industrials-2.66%
Trade Distributors-4.21%
Trade Companies and Distributors-4.21%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
DSGR Distribution Solutions GroupUS$25.6024.2%
+US$230.5m		-14.3%PE141.7x
WSO WatscoUS$377.961.0%
+US$146.8m		-25.6%PE30.9x
KRT Karat PackagingUS$27.7521.6%
+US$95.3m		-4.9%PE17.6x
CTOS Custom Truck One SourceUS$6.304.8%
+US$65.7m		29.6%PS0.7x
EVI EVI IndustriesUS$21.1711.5%
+US$28.0m		2.0%PE43.4x

Latest News

HDSN
US$5.97
Hudson Technologies
7D
0.7%
1Y
-0.5%
URI
US$725.30
United Rentals
7D
-7.1%
1Y
15.7%

URI: Infrastructure And Data Center Demand Will Support Upside As AI Tools Scale

The analyst price target for United Rentals has been adjusted slightly higher to $991.39. Analysts point to updated assumptions around discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E as they digest a series of recent target changes across major firms.
FERG
US$221.86
Ferguson Enterprises
7D
-4.2%
1Y
34.8%

FERG: Large Project Exposure And Capital Returns Will Drive Medium Term Upside

Analysts have lifted their average price targets on Ferguson into a roughly $252 to $300 range, citing Q4 results, medium term growth and margin targets, and the company's positioning in non residential and large project markets as key supports for the updated outlook. Analyst Commentary Recent research points to a broadly constructive stance on Ferguson, with price targets clustered in the low to high $200s and a few reaching $300, as analysts refresh models following the latest Q4 report and management's medium term framework.
CTOS
US$6.30
Custom Truck One Source
7D
4.8%
1Y
29.6%
DSGR
US$25.60
Distribution Solutions Group
7D
24.2%
1Y
-14.3%
QXO
US$20.13
QXO
7D
-4.7%
1Y
54.3%
KRT
US$27.75
Karat Packaging
7D
21.6%
1Y
-4.9%
GWW
US$1,045.82
W.W. Grainger
7D
-5.8%
1Y
6.3%
FAST
US$45.08
Fastenal
7D
-3.2%
1Y
17.9%

FAST: Future Returns Will Depend On Margin Resilience And Execution Consistency

We are nudging our Fastenal fair value estimate up to $44.92 from $43.46, reflecting analysts' slightly higher price targets and updated assumptions around discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Fastenal reflects a mix of optimism and caution, with several price target revisions feeding into our refreshed fair value estimate.
EQPT
US$24.54
EquipmentShare.com
7D
-14.7%
1Y
n/a
WSO
US$377.96
Watsco
7D
1.0%
1Y
-25.6%

WSO: Peer Repricing And Higher Dividend Will Support Fuller Future P/E Multiple

Analysts have raised their price targets on Watsco to a range of about $400 to $425, citing higher peer valuations and updated assumptions on discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E in their models. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates on Watsco highlight a mix of views, with some price targets raised into the $400 to $425 range and others trimmed.
AER
US$135.79
AerCap Holdings
7D
-3.7%
1Y
30.1%

AER: Benign Credit Conditions And Capital Deployment Will Shape Future Returns

Narrative Update The updated analyst price target for AerCap Holdings moves to about $162 from roughly $161, with analysts citing refreshed models after recent results and outlook commentary as the key drivers behind the change. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates on AerCap Holdings focus on refreshed models following Q4 results and updated outlooks, which have fed directly into higher valuation targets across multiple firms.
WCC
US$251.64
WESCO International
7D
-5.1%
1Y
51.5%
NPKI
US$13.88
NPK International
7D
1.8%
1Y
138.1%

NPKI: Strong Q4 Execution And Higher P/E Will Support Upside

Analysts have lifted their price target on NPK International by $2 to $18.75, citing the recent move in Street targets to $19 and stronger than expected Q4 revenue and adjusted EBITDA as key support for the updated view. Analyst Commentary Bullish Takeaways Bullish analysts highlight the increase in price targets toward $19 as a sign that recent Q4 results are being reflected more fully in current valuation work.
EVI
US$21.17
EVI Industries
7D
11.5%
1Y
2.0%
MGRC
US$105.23
McGrath RentCorp
7D
0.5%
1Y
-9.1%