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U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Analysis

UpdatedFeb 25, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies61
  • 7D-0.8%
  • 3M12.7%
  • 1Y27.1%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the Trade Companies and Distributors industry has dropped 2.7%, driven by declines in Ferguson Enterprises and QXO of 3.8% and 8.7%, respectively. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 26%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 13% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 25 Feb 2026US$369.1bUS$187.8bUS$15.3b24.2x24.2x2x
Fri, 23 Jan 2026US$360.6bUS$181.8bUS$15.4b23.9x23.5x2x
Sun, 21 Dec 2025US$334.5bUS$183.1bUS$15.2b20.2x22.1x1.8x
Tue, 18 Nov 2025US$321.1bUS$182.9bUS$15.0b19.1x21.3x1.8x
Thu, 16 Oct 2025US$340.3bUS$179.9bUS$14.9b22.1x22.9x1.9x
Sat, 13 Sep 2025US$348.3bUS$179.1bUS$14.6b21.7x23.9x1.9x
Mon, 11 Aug 2025US$337.0bUS$182.6bUS$14.7b21.1x22.9x1.8x
Wed, 09 Jul 2025US$333.5bUS$181.3bUS$13.8b20.6x24.2x1.8x
Fri, 06 Jun 2025US$314.9bUS$181.1bUS$13.8b20x22.8x1.7x
Sun, 04 May 2025US$299.8bUS$181.9bUS$13.7b20.3x21.8x1.6x
Tue, 01 Apr 2025US$289.8bUS$191.1bUS$14.3b18.8x20.3x1.5x
Thu, 27 Feb 2025US$297.9bUS$190.6bUS$14.5b18.5x20.5x1.6x
Sat, 25 Jan 2025US$323.6bUS$189.6bUS$15.2b19.6x21.2x1.7x
Mon, 23 Dec 2024US$308.5bUS$189.5bUS$15.2b16.6x20.2x1.6x
Wed, 20 Nov 2024US$334.2bUS$189.4bUS$15.3b17x21.8x1.8x
Fri, 18 Oct 2024US$324.8bUS$190.8bUS$15.7b15.3x20.7x1.7x
Sun, 15 Sep 2024US$295.2bUS$190.7bUS$15.8b13.7x18.7x1.5x
Tue, 13 Aug 2024US$290.8bUS$190.6bUS$15.8b15.3x18.4x1.5x
Thu, 11 Jul 2024US$277.6bUS$189.9bUS$15.9b15.6x17.4x1.5x
Sat, 08 Jun 2024US$284.6bUS$189.9bUS$16.0b16.2x17.8x1.5x
Mon, 06 May 2024US$300.1bUS$189.5bUS$15.9b17x18.9x1.6x
Wed, 03 Apr 2024US$317.2bUS$188.7bUS$15.8b18.9x20.1x1.7x
Fri, 01 Mar 2024US$302.6bUS$189.1bUS$16.1b17.7x18.8x1.6x
Sun, 28 Jan 2024US$297.2bUS$207.0bUS$16.7b15x17.8x1.4x
Tue, 26 Dec 2023US$289.1bUS$205.3bUS$16.8b14.9x17.2x1.4x
Thu, 23 Nov 2023US$260.7bUS$205.5bUS$16.9b13x15.4x1.3x
Sat, 21 Oct 2023US$238.1bUS$203.8bUS$16.6b12.8x14.3x1.2x
Mon, 18 Sep 2023US$246.4bUS$203.9bUS$16.6b13.2x14.8x1.2x
Wed, 16 Aug 2023US$254.8bUS$203.6bUS$16.6b14x15.3x1.3x
Fri, 14 Jul 2023US$259.0bUS$202.6bUS$16.5b14.3x15.7x1.3x
Sun, 11 Jun 2023US$237.5bUS$202.0bUS$16.6b12.7x14.3x1.2x
Tue, 09 May 2023US$223.4bUS$202.1bUS$16.9b12.1x13.2x1.1x
Thu, 06 Apr 2023US$213.6bUS$200.0bUS$14.0b12.2x15.3x1.1x
Sat, 04 Mar 2023US$242.6bUS$196.2bUS$14.0b13.5x17.3x1.2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

17.3x


Total Market Cap: US$242.6bTotal Earnings: US$14.0bTotal Revenue: US$196.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 19.3x202420252026
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 24.6x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 19.3x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 1.6x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.0x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Trading Companies and Distributors industry have grown 3.9% 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 Market0.50%
Industrials1.00%
Trade Distributors-0.80%
Trade Companies and Distributors-0.80%
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
URI United RentalsUS$896.883.9%
+US$2.1b		40.4%PE22.7x
FTAI FTAI AviationUS$303.936.4%
+US$1.9b		128.6%PE68.9x
FERG Ferguson EnterprisesUS$261.850.8%
+US$426.3m		50.1%PE25.5x
RUSH.A Rush EnterprisesUS$73.585.1%
+US$273.3m		29.3%PE21.4x
DXPE DXP EnterprisesUS$159.377.0%
+US$162.8m		81.8%PE28.7x

Latest News

XMTR
US$44.44
Xometry
7D
-20.4%
1Y
56.3%
FERG
US$261.85
Ferguson Enterprises
7D
0.8%
1Y
50.1%
DNOW
US$11.87
DNOW
7D
-26.4%
1Y
-26.1%

DNOW: ERP Issues Will Resolve And Share Repurchases Will Support Upside

Analysts have trimmed their price target on DNOW to $16 from $17 and point to lingering ERP related risks as the key reason for the reset, even as they expect these operational issues to be temporary. Analyst Commentary Bullish Takeaways Bullish analysts view the ERP issues as temporary, suggesting that longer term execution and customer service metrics could stabilise once the system is fully embedded.
WSO
US$412.13
Watsco
7D
-2.5%
1Y
-17.3%

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

Narrative Update on Watsco Our analyst price target for Watsco has been revised to $475 from $450. This reflects updated assumptions on growth, margins, and future P/E in the context of recent Street price target moves, where analysts have adjusted their views while citing shifts in peer valuations.
GWW
US$1,126.68
W.W. Grainger
7D
-0.5%
1Y
12.3%

GWW: Future Returns Will Balance P E Assumptions With Execution And Legal Risks

W.W. Grainger's updated analyst price target edges higher to approximately $1,131, with analysts pointing to modest tweaks in revenue growth, profit margin, and assumed future P/E as key supports for the new figure. Analyst Commentary The latest round of Street research on W.W. Grainger centers on a series of higher price targets, including adjustments of $50, $69, $75, $152, and $55, alongside a recent upgrade.
CTOS
US$7.49
Custom Truck One Source
7D
4.5%
1Y
66.1%

CTOS: Expanded Distribution Pact Will Sustain Rich Multiple Despite Modest Assumption Tweaks

Analysts have made small adjustments to their price targets for Custom Truck One Source, maintaining a fair value estimate of $6.50. They have modestly refined assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E ratio to reflect updated views on the company’s risk and earnings profile.
DXPE
US$159.37
DXP Enterprises
7D
7.0%
1Y
81.8%

DXPE: Refinancing And Acquisition Plans Will Support Measured Long Term Outlook

Analysts have kept their price target for DXP Enterprises steady at $136.50. This reflects only very small tweaks to their discount rate, long term revenue growth, profit margin assumptions, and future P/E expectations.
FTAI
US$303.93
FTAI Aviation
7D
6.4%
1Y
128.6%

FTAI: High Multiple Assumptions Will Test Industrial Gas Turbine Execution

Narrative Update on FTAI Aviation The analyst price target for FTAI Aviation has been reset higher from $147 to $260. This change reflects updated views on revenue growth, profitability, and future P/E assumptions that are broadly consistent with the series of recent price target increases cited by analysts across several firms.
AER
US$148.46
AerCap Holdings
7D
-2.7%
1Y
46.3%

AER: Credit Conditions And Capital Deployment Will Shape Future Returns

AerCap Holdings' analyst price target has been raised by about $7 to just over $160 as analysts factor in updated fair value estimates, a higher projected profit margin of about 30%, and a slightly lower future P/E ratio, even while trimming revenue growth assumptions. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates provide a glimpse into how the Street is thinking about AerCap Holdings, particularly around where the shares might reasonably trade as outlooks are refreshed.
RUSH.A
US$73.58
Rush Enterprises
7D
5.1%
1Y
29.3%

RUSH.A: Buybacks And 2026 Outlook Will Shape Future Return Balance

Analysts have lifted their price expectations for Rush Enterprises, with recent target increases such as the move to $73 helping to support a higher blended fair value estimate of about $78.67 as they factor in updated views on growth, margins, and future P/E multiples. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Rush Enterprises reflects a mix of optimism and caution, with price targets such as the move to US$73 and a US$10 upward adjustment from another firm feeding into the current blended fair value view.
CNM
US$55.85
Core & Main
7D
-2.5%
1Y
12.5%

CNM: Expanded Buybacks And M&A Pipeline Will Support Future Upside

Analysts have nudged their price target on Core & Main to $75.00, citing updated assumptions that pair slightly lower revenue growth with a modestly higher profit margin outlook and a small adjustment to the projected P/E multiple. What's in the News Core & Main plans to continue pursuing M&A, with management highlighting a robust pipeline of acquisition and greenfield opportunities and pointing to recent expansion into the approximately US$5b Canadian market (earnings call).
EQPT
US$29.88
EquipmentShare.com
7D
-12.0%
1Y
n/a
URI
US$896.88
United Rentals
7D
3.9%
1Y
40.4%

URI: Secular Project Demand Will Support Future Margin And Buyback Compounding

Our updated analyst price target for United Rentals has been reduced by about $49 to $1,300. This reflects a wave of recent Street revisions as analysts factor in slightly softer revenue growth assumptions, a modestly higher discount rate, a lower future P/E, and a small improvement in expected profit margins.
WLFC
US$205.24
Willis Lease Finance
7D
4.5%
1Y
8.5%
QXO
US$25.14
QXO
7D
-6.3%
1Y
109.3%
AIT
US$282.27
Applied Industrial Technologies
7D
1.4%
1Y
14.0%

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) Has Announced That It Will Be Increasing Its Dividend To $0.51

Feb 10
Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) Has Announced That It Will Be Increasing Its Dividend To $0.51