MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM) Financial Ratios
30 years of historical data (1996–2025) · Industrials · Industrial - Distribution
EV/EBITDA
↑
17.27
↑+50% vs avg
5yr avg: 11.50
30Y Low7.9·High26.9
P/FCF
↓
26.95
↑+39% vs avg
5yr avg: 19.43
30Y Low9.4·High101.0
P/B Ratio
↓
4.65
↑+28% vs avg
5yr avg: 3.62
30Y Low1.8·High5.6
ROE
↓
14.2%
↑-29% vs avg
5yr avg: 20.1%
30Y Low8%·High27%
Debt/EBITDA
↓
1.33
↓-3% vs avg
5yr avg: 1.38
30Y Low0.0·High2.0
Percentile shows where the current value sits in 30-year historical distribution. Sparklines show 5-year trend.
MSM Valuation Multiples
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. trades at 32.6x earnings, 72% above its 5-year average of 19.0x, sitting at the 93rd percentile of its historical range. Compared to the Industrials sector median P/E of 25.4x, the stock trades at a premium of 28%. On a free-cash-flow basis, the stock trades at 26.9x P/FCF, 39% above the 5-year average of 19.4x.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $6.5B | $5.0B | $4.6B | $5.7B | $4.4B | $4.8B | $3.7B | $3.8B | $4.8B | $3.9B | $4.5B |
| Enterprise Value | $7.0B | $5.5B | $5.2B | $6.2B | $5.2B | $5.6B | $4.3B | $4.2B | $5.3B | $4.4B | $5.0B |
| P/E Ratio → | 32.57 | 25.27 | 17.96 | 16.64 | 12.97 | 22.05 | 14.78 | 13.00 | 14.71 | 17.01 | 19.37 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.72 | 1.34 | 1.21 | 1.43 | 1.19 | 1.48 | 1.16 | 1.12 | 1.51 | 1.36 | 1.56 |
| P/B Ratio | 4.65 | 3.61 | 3.31 | 3.83 | 3.23 | 4.12 | 2.81 | 2.53 | 3.49 | 3.20 | 4.06 |
| P/FCF | 26.95 | 20.94 | 14.91 | 9.41 | 23.83 | 28.04 | 10.60 | 13.57 | 16.45 | 19.59 | 14.24 |
| P/OCF | 19.45 | 15.11 | 11.30 | 8.17 | 17.89 | 21.33 | 9.35 | 11.43 | 14.27 | 15.90 | 11.12 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
MSM EV Ratios
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s enterprise value stands at 17.3x EBITDA, 50% above its 5-year average of 11.5x. The Industrials sector median is 13.8x, placing the stock at a 25% premium on an enterprise-value basis.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 1.47 | 1.36 | 1.54 | 1.41 | 1.72 | 1.33 | 1.24 | 1.67 | 1.54 | 1.75 |
| EV / EBITDA | 17.27 | 13.68 | 10.60 | 10.92 | 9.28 | 13.03 | 9.27 | 8.39 | 11.02 | 10.06 | 11.21 |
| EV / EBIT | 22.23 | 19.21 | 14.06 | 12.92 | 11.14 | 18.43 | 12.13 | 10.41 | 12.69 | 11.68 | 13.28 |
| EV / FCF | — | 22.94 | 16.64 | 10.19 | 28.25 | 32.71 | 12.18 | 15.05 | 18.11 | 22.17 | 16.01 |
MSM Profitability
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. earns an operating margin of 8.3%, above the Industrials sector average of 4.1%. Operating margins have compressed from 12.3% to 8.3% over the past 3 years, signaling potential cost pressures or competitive headwinds. ROE of 14.2% is modest. ROIC of 12.3% represents solid returns on invested capital versus a sector median of 6.1%.
Margins
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 40.8% | 40.8% | 41.1% | 41.0% | 42.2% | 41.1% | 39.9% | 42.6% | 43.5% | 44.5% | 45.0% |
| Operating Margin | 8.3% | 8.3% | 10.6% | 12.3% | 12.9% | 10.5% | 11.5% | 12.8% | 13.2% | 13.1% | 13.1% |
| Net Profit Margin | 5.3% | 5.3% | 6.8% | 8.6% | 9.2% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 8.6% | 10.3% | 8.0% | 8.1% |
Return on Capital
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 14.2% | 14.2% | 17.9% | 24.0% | 26.9% | 17.5% | 17.9% | 20.1% | 25.2% | 19.9% | 19.0% |
| ROA | 8.1% | 8.1% | 10.3% | 13.0% | 13.1% | 9.0% | 10.7% | 12.6% | 15.0% | 11.1% | 11.1% |
| ROIC | 12.3% | 12.3% | 15.6% | 17.8% | 17.2% | 13.4% | 14.7% | 17.2% | 17.5% | 16.7% | 16.7% |
| ROCE | 17.5% | 17.5% | 21.6% | 25.2% | 24.3% | 17.6% | 19.2% | 23.5% | 25.2% | 24.2% | 23.0% |
MSM Leverage & Debt
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. carries a Debt/EBITDA ratio of 1.3x, which is manageable (58% below the sector average of 3.2x). Net debt stands at $483M ($539M total debt minus $56M cash). Interest coverage of 12.0x signals virtually no risk of debt distress — earnings comfortably cover interest obligations.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.39 | 0.39 | 0.41 | 0.35 | 0.63 | 0.72 | 0.51 | 0.30 | 0.39 | 0.44 | 0.55 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 1.33 | 1.33 | 1.16 | 0.92 | 1.53 | 1.95 | 1.47 | 0.89 | 1.11 | 1.21 | 1.36 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.35 | 0.38 | 0.32 | 0.60 | 0.68 | 0.42 | 0.28 | 0.35 | 0.42 | 0.50 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.19 | 1.19 | 1.10 | 0.83 | 1.45 | 1.86 | 1.20 | 0.83 | 1.01 | 1.17 | 1.24 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 2.00 | 1.73 | 0.78 | 4.42 | 4.66 | 1.57 | 1.48 | 1.66 | 2.58 | 1.77 |
| Interest Coverage | 11.95 | 11.95 | 14.30 | 21.23 | 26.63 | 20.87 | 21.05 | 23.68 | 29.08 | 30.75 | 65.01 |
MSM Liquidity & Efficiency
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
A current ratio of 1.68x means MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. can comfortably meet its short-term obligations, though there is limited excess liquidity. The quick ratio of 0.80x is notably lower than the current ratio, indicating a significant portion of current assets is tied up in inventory. The current ratio has declined from 2.03x to 1.68x over the past 3 years.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.68 | 1.68 | 1.96 | 2.03 | 2.13 | 2.34 | 3.03 | 2.68 | 2.34 | 1.80 | 2.05 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.80 | 0.80 | 0.90 | 0.91 | 1.14 | 1.23 | 1.70 | 1.43 | 1.28 | 0.97 | 1.12 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.31 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 1.53 | 1.55 | 1.58 | 1.35 | 1.32 | 1.34 | 1.46 | 1.40 | 1.38 | 1.39 |
| Inventory Turnover | 3.47 | 3.47 | 3.49 | 3.26 | 2.98 | 3.06 | 3.53 | 3.45 | 3.49 | 3.44 | 3.54 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 40.99 | 39.37 | 39.64 | 67.98 | 63.07 | 56.22 | 58.71 | 59.68 | 59.63 | 50.03 |
MSM Shareholder Yields
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. returns 3.5% to shareholders annually — split between a 2.9% dividend yield and 0.6% buyback yield. The payout ratio of 95.1% is elevated — while still covered by earnings, there is limited headroom for dividend increases. The earnings yield of 3.1% (inverse of P/E) provides a useful comparison to bond yields when assessing the stock's relative attractiveness to fixed income.
Dividends
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 2.9% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 12.0% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Payout Ratio | 95.1% | 95.1% | 72.4% | 51.5% | 49.3% | 77.1% | 176.9% | 50.4% | 38.1% | 44.2% | 45.7% |
Total Shareholder Return Metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 3.1% | 4.0% | 5.6% | 6.0% | 7.7% | 4.5% | 6.8% | 7.7% | 6.8% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| FCF Yield | 3.7% | 4.8% | 6.7% | 10.6% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 9.4% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 5.1% | 7.0% |
| Buyback Yield | 0.6% | 0.8% | 4.0% | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.5% | 0.1% | 2.3% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 8.6% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 3.5% | 4.5% | 8.1% | 4.8% | 4.4% | 5.0% | 12.1% | 6.1% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 11.0% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $56M | $56M | $56M | $56M | $56M | $56M | $56M | $57M | $57M | $61M |
Peer Comparison
Compare MSM with 10 similar companies in its peer group
| Company | Market Cap | P/E | EV/EBITDA | P/FCF | Gross Margin | Op Margin | ROE | ROIC | Debt/EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MSMYou | $6B | 32.6 | 17.3 | 26.9 | 40.8% | 8.3% | 14.2% | 12.3% | 1.3 |
 GWW | $62B | 37.3 | 22.0 | 46.8 | 39.1% | 15.0% | 43.5% | 32.1% | 1.1 |
 FAST | $52B | 41.8 | 28.6 | 49.8 | 45.0% | 20.2% | 33.3% | 31.2% | 0.2 |
 SITE | $5B | 31.3 | 14.4 | 18.9 | 34.8% | 5.1% | 9.3% | 7.3% | 2.6 |
 WSO | $16B | 31.7 | 21.5 | 29.4 | 28.0% | 9.6% | 15.8% | 16.6% | 0.7 |
 DNOW | $2B | -17.9 | — | 11.8 | 17.0% | -2.9% | -5.3% | -3.3% | — |
 WDFC | $3B | 34.0 | 27.7 | 36.7 | 55.1% | 16.7% | 36.5% | 26.2% | 0.9 |
 SNA | $20B | 20.1 | 13.9 | 20.0 | 51.7% | 25.8% | 17.9% | 18.1% | 0.9 |
 SWK | $13B | 31.6 | 12.1 | 18.9 | 29.9% | 7.6% | 4.5% | 5.8% | 3.8 |
 ITW | $75B | 24.9 | 18.1 | 27.9 | 44.1% | 26.3% | 93.7% | 29.0% | 1.9 |
 EMR | $80B | 35.4 | 18.3 | 30.1 | 52.8% | 19.6% | 9.6% | 8.2% | 2.7 |
| Industrials Median | — | 25.4 | 13.8 | 20.0 | 31.7% | 4.1% | 7.9% | 6.1% | 3.2 |
Peer selection based on competitive and market overlap. Compare multiple stocks →
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Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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MSM — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying MSM stock.
What is MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s P/E ratio?
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 32.6x. The historical average is 21.3x. This places it at the 93th percentile of its historical range.
What is MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s EV/EBITDA?
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 17.3x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 12.1x.
What is MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s ROE?
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 14.2%. The historical average is 18.2%.
Is MSM stock overvalued?
Based on historical data, MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is trading at a P/E of 32.6x. This is at the 93th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
What is MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s dividend yield?
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s current dividend yield is 2.92% with a payout ratio of 95.1%.
What are MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s profit margins?
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. has 40.8% gross margin and 8.3% operating margin.
How much debt does MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. have?
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 1.3x, indicating moderate leverage. A ratio below 2x is generally considered financially healthy.