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U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Analysis

UpdatedApr 21, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies61
  • 7D2.1%
  • 3M4.5%
  • 1Y33.5%
  • YTDn/a

In the last week, the Trade Companies and Distributors industry is up 2.1%, with United Rentals up 4.2%. Meanwhile, Core & Main actually underperformed within the industry, shrinking 6.6% in the last week. This means that the industry has gained 33% over the past year. Earnings are forecast to grow by 14% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 22 Apr 2026US$390.1bUS$197.7bUS$15.4b24.4x25.3x2x
Fri, 20 Mar 2026US$360.7bUS$200.5bUS$16.4b20.1x22x1.8x
Sun, 15 Feb 2026US$380.2bUS$187.5bUS$15.4b24.2x24.7x2x
Tue, 13 Jan 2026US$350.9bUS$181.6bUS$15.3b21.9x22.9x1.9x
Thu, 11 Dec 2025US$323.0bUS$183.2bUS$15.2b19.9x21.3x1.8x
Sat, 08 Nov 2025US$324.3bUS$182.9bUS$15.1b19.7x21.4x1.8x
Mon, 06 Oct 2025US$346.9bUS$179.7bUS$14.8b22.7x23.4x1.9x
Wed, 03 Sep 2025US$357.7bUS$184.4bUS$14.7b23.7x24.4x1.9x
Fri, 01 Aug 2025US$345.0bUS$181.7bUS$14.5b22.4x23.7x1.9x
Sun, 29 Jun 2025US$325.2bUS$181.2bUS$13.8b20.4x23.6x1.8x
Tue, 27 May 2025US$307.5bUS$182.0bUS$13.9b20x22.2x1.7x
Thu, 24 Apr 2025US$290.2bUS$191.3bUS$14.1b19.2x20.5x1.5x
Sat, 22 Mar 2025US$291.7bUS$190.8bUS$14.3b19.3x20.5x1.5x
Mon, 17 Feb 2025US$315.8bUS$190.4bUS$14.9b20.7x21.2x1.7x
Wed, 15 Jan 2025US$311.5bUS$189.4bUS$15.2b18.7x20.5x1.6x
Fri, 13 Dec 2024US$331.2bUS$189.5bUS$15.2b17.9x21.7x1.7x
Sun, 10 Nov 2024US$343.2bUS$191.3bUS$15.3b17.1x22.4x1.8x
Tue, 08 Oct 2024US$305.2bUS$190.8bUS$15.7b14.5x19.4x1.6x
Thu, 05 Sep 2024US$291.4bUS$190.6bUS$15.8b14.1x18.4x1.5x
Sat, 03 Aug 2024US$301.7bUS$190.5bUS$15.8b16.1x19x1.6x
Mon, 01 Jul 2024US$281.5bUS$189.9bUS$15.9b16.9x17.7x1.5x
Wed, 29 May 2024US$302.9bUS$189.6bUS$15.8b16.9x19.2x1.6x
Fri, 26 Apr 2024US$301.2bUS$189.1bUS$15.8b18.1x19x1.6x
Sun, 24 Mar 2024US$320.5bUS$188.8bUS$15.8b17.6x20.3x1.7x
Tue, 20 Feb 2024US$294.5bUS$188.8bUS$15.5b17.1x19x1.6x
Thu, 18 Jan 2024US$283.0bUS$206.5bUS$16.7b14.6x17x1.4x
Sat, 16 Dec 2023US$285.1bUS$205.3bUS$16.8b14.7x17x1.4x
Mon, 13 Nov 2023US$252.8bUS$205.5bUS$16.9b12.2x14.9x1.2x
Wed, 11 Oct 2023US$251.4bUS$203.7bUS$16.6b11.9x15.1x1.2x
Fri, 08 Sep 2023US$248.4bUS$203.8bUS$16.6b11.8x14.9x1.2x
Sun, 06 Aug 2023US$252.8bUS$203.7bUS$16.6b14.6x15.2x1.2x
Tue, 04 Jul 2023US$257.5bUS$202.4bUS$16.5b14.1x15.6x1.3x
Thu, 01 Jun 2023US$222.8bUS$202.1bUS$16.8b12.1x13.3x1.1x
Sat, 29 Apr 2023US$228.0bUS$202.4bUS$14.3b13x16x1.1x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16x


Total Market Cap: US$228.0bTotal Earnings: US$14.3bTotal Revenue: US$202.4bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 19.7x202420252026
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 25.3x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 19.6x.
  • 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 3.0% 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 Market3.58%
Industrials1.16%
Trade Distributors2.14%
Trade Companies and Distributors2.14%
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$806.224.6%
+US$2.2b		40.3%PE20.3x
FAST FastenalUS$45.702.4%
+US$1.2b		12.2%PE40.4x
WSO WatscoUS$440.407.2%
+US$1.1b		-12.5%PE36x
EQPT EquipmentShare.comUS$23.4315.1%
+US$816.8m		n/aPE6233.5x
FERG Ferguson EnterprisesUS$263.011.6%
+US$806.7m		61.1%PE27.1x

Latest News

QXO
US$22.50
QXO
7D
-3.6%
1Y
84.4%
WCC
US$324.59
WESCO International
7D
4.7%
1Y
116.7%
CNM
US$49.73
Core & Main
7D
-7.8%
1Y
0.08%

Core & Main: The Market Is Overlooking This Steady Growth Machine

Apr 20
GWW
US$1,171.03
W.W. Grainger
7D
1.4%
1Y
17.2%

GWW: Short Cycle Industrial Recovery Will Support Higher Future Upside

Analysts have raised the price target on W.W. Grainger to $1,342 from $1,270.55, citing refreshed estimates related to short cycle industrial recovery and updated quarterly forecasts. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research highlights a cluster of upward price target revisions on W.W. Grainger, tied to refreshed quarterly estimates and expectations around a short cycle industrial recovery.
FAST
US$45.70
Fastenal
7D
2.4%
1Y
12.2%

Fastenal Company: Tariff Concerns On Top Of An Expensive Valuation

Apr 20
NPT
US$3.68
Texxon Holding
7D
-50.3%
1Y
n/a
EQPT
US$23.43
EquipmentShare.com
7D
15.1%
1Y
n/a

Telematics Competition And Mega Project Cycles Will Shape Long Term Fleet Utilization Prospects

Catalysts About EquipmentShare.com EquipmentShare provides equipment rental and connected job site technology, combining a national rental fleet with its proprietary T3 platform. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
NPKI
US$14.30
NPK International
7D
-4.7%
1Y
148.7%
AER
US$140.64
AerCap Holdings
7D
-5.6%
1Y
45.0%
WLFC
US$191.91
Willis Lease Finance
7D
-8.6%
1Y
42.8%

Willis Lease Finance: Engine Leasing Strength Supports Strong Buy Rating (Rating Upgrade)

Apr 15
URI
US$806.22
United Rentals
7D
4.6%
1Y
40.3%

URI: Heavy Price Cuts Will Test Execution And Capital Intensity Assumptions

United Rentals' updated analyst price target has been trimmed by about $33 to $644, reflecting recent Street revisions as analysts factor in refreshed assumptions around growth, margins, and valuation multiples. Analyst Commentary Recent research coverage on United Rentals has leaned cautious, with several price target cuts clustered over a relatively short period.
FERG
US$263.01
Ferguson Enterprises
7D
1.6%
1Y
61.1%

FERG: Large Project Exposure And Buybacks Will Support Balanced Medium Term Outlook

The updated analyst price target for Ferguson Enterprises edges lower to about $276 from roughly $277, as analysts fine-tune their models around slightly higher discount rates, modestly adjusted revenue growth assumptions, and ongoing support from recent Q4-driven target revisions across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent research signals a mix of optimism and caution around Ferguson Enterprises, with most Street models adjusting to Q4 results, updated medium term targets, and evolving project pipelines.
WSO
US$440.40
Watsco
7D
7.2%
1Y
-12.5%
MGRC
US$109.18
McGrath RentCorp
7D
-4.4%
1Y
7.2%
SUNB
US$70.57
Sunbelt Rentals Holdings
7D
2.6%
1Y
31.9%

Mega Project Demand And Specialty Expansion Will Support A Fairly Valued Equipment Renter

Catalysts About Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Sunbelt Rentals Holdings provides equipment rental solutions across general tools and specialty lines for construction and nonconstruction customers in North America and the U.K. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective? Although mega projects in data centers, health care, infrastructure, energy and manufacturing are supporting equipment demand, the long and gradual build and run down phases on these large sites can tie up fleet for extended periods and limit flexibility.
EVI
US$20.64
EVI Industries
7D
-6.9%
1Y
24.3%