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U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 16, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies63
  • 7D-5.0%
  • 3M-1.5%
  • 1Y17.0%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the Trade Companies and Distributors industry has dropped 5.0%, driven by United Rentals declining 10%. In contrast, Karat Packaging has gained 19%. In the past year, the industry has gained 17%. 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
Mon, 16 Mar 2026US$363.5bUS$200.6bUS$16.4b20.9x22.2x1.8x
Wed, 11 Feb 2026US$379.2bUS$187.3bUS$15.3b23.6x24.8x2x
Fri, 09 Jan 2026US$336.2bUS$183.3bUS$15.2b21.8x22.2x1.8x
Sun, 07 Dec 2025US$330.2bUS$182.7bUS$15.1b19.7x21.9x1.8x
Tue, 04 Nov 2025US$332.1bUS$182.9bUS$15.3b21.7x21.7x1.8x
Thu, 02 Oct 2025US$343.0bUS$179.7bUS$14.8b23.1x23.2x1.9x
Sat, 30 Aug 2025US$360.5bUS$184.5bUS$14.7b23.6x24.6x2x
Mon, 28 Jul 2025US$351.3bUS$181.6bUS$13.8b21.2x25.5x1.9x
Wed, 25 Jun 2025US$323.9bUS$181.2bUS$13.8b19.9x23.5x1.8x
Fri, 23 May 2025US$307.5bUS$182.0bUS$13.9b19.4x22.1x1.7x
Sun, 20 Apr 2025US$293.5bUS$191.2bUS$14.2b18.7x20.6x1.5x
Tue, 18 Mar 2025US$287.9bUS$191.0bUS$14.3b19.2x20.1x1.5x
Thu, 13 Feb 2025US$314.4bUS$190.2bUS$15.3b19.2x20.5x1.7x
Sat, 11 Jan 2025US$300.6bUS$189.4bUS$15.2b16.9x19.7x1.6x
Mon, 09 Dec 2024US$344.5bUS$189.4bUS$15.3b18.5x22.5x1.8x
Wed, 06 Nov 2024US$315.8bUS$191.3bUS$15.4b15.7x20.6x1.7x
Fri, 04 Oct 2024US$307.1bUS$190.9bUS$15.7b14.3x19.6x1.6x
Sun, 01 Sep 2024US$302.0bUS$190.6bUS$15.8b15.9x19.1x1.6x
Tue, 30 Jul 2024US$312.4bUS$190.1bUS$15.9b18.1x19.6x1.6x
Thu, 27 Jun 2024US$283.1bUS$189.9bUS$15.9b15.3x17.8x1.5x
Sat, 25 May 2024US$299.8bUS$189.6bUS$15.8b17.2x19x1.6x
Mon, 22 Apr 2024US$292.3bUS$188.7bUS$15.8b17.4x18.5x1.5x
Wed, 20 Mar 2024US$310.9bUS$188.4bUS$15.8b16.8x19.7x1.7x
Fri, 16 Feb 2024US$293.3bUS$188.7bUS$15.4b17.1x19.1x1.6x
Sun, 14 Jan 2024US$285.7bUS$206.5bUS$16.7b14.8x17.1x1.4x
Tue, 12 Dec 2023US$273.1bUS$205.3bUS$16.8b13.8x16.2x1.3x
Thu, 09 Nov 2023US$248.6bUS$205.4bUS$16.9b11.3x14.7x1.2x
Sat, 07 Oct 2023US$248.4bUS$203.6bUS$16.6b11.9x14.9x1.2x
Mon, 04 Sep 2023US$257.8bUS$203.8bUS$16.6b11.6x15.5x1.3x
Wed, 02 Aug 2023US$259.9bUS$203.3bUS$16.7b14.4x15.6x1.3x
Fri, 30 Jun 2023US$255.5bUS$202.4bUS$16.5b14x15.5x1.3x
Sun, 28 May 2023US$227.7bUS$202.1bUS$16.8b12.2x13.5x1.1x
Tue, 25 Apr 2023US$228.6bUS$200.6bUS$14.0b12.8x16.3x1.1x
Thu, 23 Mar 2023US$218.2bUS$199.8bUS$14.0b12.6x15.6x1.1x
Price to Earnings Ratio

15.6x


Total Market Cap: US$218.2bTotal 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 22.2x 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-2.40%
Industrials-3.83%
Trade Distributors-4.98%
Trade Companies and Distributors-4.98%
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
KRT Karat PackagingUS$26.9218.7%
+US$81.6m		-6.4%PE17.1x
MSM MSC Industrial DirectUS$91.231.2%
+US$60.3m		17.7%PE24.9x
TRNS TranscatUS$73.952.9%
+US$19.3m		1.2%PE87.4x
ZKH ZKH GroupUS$3.372.4%
+US$12.8m		-6.6%PS0.4x
EVI EVI IndustriesUS$19.031.8%
+US$4.4m		4.3%PE39x

Latest News

MWYN
US$0.78
Marwynn Holdings
7D
2.4%
1Y
-83.7%
QXO
US$20.18
QXO
7D
-7.0%
1Y
55.2%
KRT
US$26.92
Karat Packaging
7D
18.7%
1Y
-6.4%
FGI
US$3.93
FGI Industries
7D
15.3%
1Y
-0.6%
MSM
US$91.23
MSC Industrial Direct
7D
1.2%
1Y
17.7%

MSM: Future Returns Will Reflect Neutral Q1 Reset And Completed Buyback

Analysts have trimmed their average price target on MSC Industrial Direct by $4 to $94, citing updated models after Q1 results and recent rating changes. Analyst Commentary Bullish Takeaways Bullish analysts view the reset to a US$94 price target as a way to align expectations more closely with current Q1 results, which can reduce the risk of future estimate misses.
URI
US$737.22
United Rentals
7D
-10.2%
1Y
18.8%
SUNB
US$72.76
Sunbelt Rentals Holdings
7D
-3.7%
1Y
27.1%
GWW
US$1,073.94
W.W. Grainger
7D
-3.7%
1Y
9.9%
CAPS
US$0.64
Capstone Holding
7D
1.2%
1Y
-78.6%
TRNS
US$73.95
Transcat
7D
2.9%
1Y
1.2%

TRNS: Leadership Transition And Margin Outlook Will Support Higher Future P/E

Analysts are keeping their price target for Transcat steady at $105.00. This suggests only minor adjustments to assumptions for the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E that do not materially change their overall view.
FAST
US$45.46
Fastenal
7D
-2.9%
1Y
19.5%

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.
WSO
US$368.39
Watsco
7D
-6.5%
1Y
-27.9%

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$133.04
AerCap Holdings
7D
-4.5%
1Y
29.7%

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.
ZKH
US$3.37
ZKH Group
7D
2.4%
1Y
-6.6%

ZKH: Lower Discount Rate And P/E Assumptions Will Support Upside Potential

Analysts have nudged their price target for ZKH Group slightly higher to reflect a modestly lower discount rate and a small adjustment to the assumed future P/E, while keeping fair value, revenue growth and profit margin assumptions broadly unchanged. Valuation Changes Fair Value: kept unchanged at $4.63 per share, with no adjustment to the core valuation output.
FERG
US$222.05
Ferguson Enterprises
7D
-3.7%
1Y
36.6%
EVI
US$19.03
EVI Industries
7D
1.8%
1Y
4.3%