Zacks Investment Research·Oct 26, 2026
Best Momentum Stocks to Buy for October 26thHIPO, CAKE and MSM made it to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) momentum stocks list on October 26th, 2026.
MSM's revenue has reaccelerated to 10.3% YoY growth in 2026Q4, yet operating margin has compressed from 11.4% in 2024Q3 to 6.1% and EPS declined 15.8% in the same period, suggesting the recovery is being achieved at structurally lower profitability and warranting further investigation into growth quality.
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Revenue growth accelerated from -8.0% to +10.3% YoY across ten quarters while operating margin simultaneously compressed from 11.4% to 6.1%, indicating the top-line recovery is not translating into earnings, as evidenced by the 15.8% EPS decline in 2026Q4.
MSM's trailing and forward P/E ratios indicate a reasonable valuation, with trailing P/E at 22.75 and forward P/E at 19.42, suggesting potential upside.
Multiple bullish theses from reputable sources like Quality Value Investing and FluentInQuality highlight investor confidence in MSM's growth prospects.
MSC provides robust processes for transporting hazardous goods and offers an online tracking system, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Trailing total returns as of 11/8/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Oct 22, 2026 | $1.45+2.8% vs $1.41 | $1.1B+0.6% vs $1.1B |
Q3 2026 Jul 1, 2026 | $1.43+11.7% vs $1.28 | $1.0B+1.4% vs $1.0B |
Q2 2026 Apr 1, 2026 | $0.82-2.0% vs $0.84 | $918M-1.5% vs $932M |
Q1 2026 Jan 7, 2026 | $0.99+4.2% vs $0.95 | $966M+0.3% vs $963M |
HIPO, CAKE and MSM made it to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) momentum stocks list on October 26th, 2026.
MSLOY, FANUY, GPRE, HIPO and MSM have been added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List on October 26th, 2026.
MSM, MSLOY and FANUY made it to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) income stocks list on October 26th, 2026.
Fastenal, Grainger, and MSC Industrial all profit from the same factory supply chain, but the dividend each pays comes with a very different tradeoff between yield, safety, and growth potential.
Benchmark MSM against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $113.27 | $6.33B | 28.49 | 6.37% | 5.55% | 15.86% | 3.06% | |
| $1440.70 | $68.02B | 31.37 | 4.51% | 11.17% | 48.78% | 0.68% | |
| $52.99 | $60.81B | 42.97 | 8.67% | 15.62% | 35.13% | 1.65% | |
| $112.71 | $4.99B | 29.47 | 3.62% | 3.49% | 9.98% | — | |
| $304.34 | $12.54B | 24.99 | -4.98% | 6.31% | 13.97% | 4.11% | |
| $13.27 | $2.42B | -12.98 | 18.84% | -3.89% | -8.64% | — |
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Oct 22, 2026·SEC
Oct 14, 2026·SEC
Jul 1, 2026·SEC
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MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) reported $4.01B in revenue in fiscal year 2026, which is also its trailing twelve months. That is 815% more than the $438.0M of fiscal year 1997.
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) grew revenue by 6.4% over the trailing twelve months, compared with the twelve months before.
Yes. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) earned $222.6M in net income over the trailing twelve months (a 5.6% net margin).
Yes. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) pays a dividend that yields 3.06% at the current price, a moderate yield.
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) had a return on equity (ROE) of 15.9% over the trailing twelve months. That is above the market's typical 10-15%.
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) generated $225.2M in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months.
