# MSC Industrial Direct share price today (MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., MSM)

> MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s share price has risen faster than its earnings: +41.7% in a year, against +11.5% for earnings per share. MSM · Industrials · Industrial Distribution · data as of 3 November 2026. Page: https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/msm

Sector Alpha also publishes a daily newsletter that explains one Indian stock at a time: https://newsletter.sectoralpha.in/?utm_source=sectoralpha&utm_medium=ai_text&utm_campaign=llms

## Key numbers

- Business trend: Turning around, from the last 12 quarters
- Price: $120.30 (+41.7% in a year)
- P/E: 30.2× (higher than 96% of the last 4.4 years)
- Revenue (Aug 2026): $1.1 B (+10.3% on a year ago)
- Profit (Aug 2026): $47.9 M (−15.2% on a year ago)
- Operating margin: 10.9% (+1.7 points on a year ago)
- ROE: 16%, FY26
- ROIC: 14.8%, against a 8.3% cost of capital: +6.5 points

The main question: the share price moved +41.7% in a year while yearly earnings per share moved +11.5%. The difference came from the market paying a higher multiple. ## What is the MSC Industrial Direct share price today? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s share price was $120.30 at the close on 3 November 2026. It has been rising for 33 weeks. That is 9.6% above its average price over the last 200 trading days. Over the past 13 weeks it has done better than the S&P 500, and it has stayed ahead for 1 week in a row. In the last 52 weeks it traded between $83 and $130, and at that close it sat 79% of the way up from that low. Over the last 10 years the share price moved +65% while the S&P 500 moved +255%, so it is behind the index over that whole period. The chart above shows the 13-week comparison for every week. This page treats a rise as over when the price closes below its 200-day average on two Fridays in a row. ## What dividend does MSC Industrial Direct pay? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. paid $3.50 per share over the last four reported quarters. The most recent declaration was $0.89 for Aug 2026. At today's price of $120.30 that is a yield of 2.91%, based on dividends already paid, not a forecast. ## Which stock lists is MSC Industrial Direct on? MSC Industrial Direct is not in the Nasdaq 100, the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones 30, and is not on the US tech stocks list. ## Is MSC Industrial Direct profitable? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. earned $47.9 M of net profit in the Aug 2026 quarter, −15.2% on the same quarter a year earlier. Full-year FY26 profit was $223 M. Over 5 years profit has grown 0.4% a year on average. That is 4.4% of the quarter's revenue. The same quarter a year earlier earned $56.5 M. For the full year, FY26 profit was $223 M (+11.7% on the year before). Why profit moved: revenue changed +10.3% on a year earlier and the margin moved +1.7 percentage points. Sales did the work, and the margin was about flat. On average over the last four quarters, profit changed +11.3% and revenue +6.3%. Profit is growing faster than sales: fixed costs are spread over more sales, so each extra dollar of revenue adds more to profit. ## How much revenue does MSC Industrial Direct make, and is it growing? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. reported $1.1 B of revenue in the Aug 2026 quarter, +10.3% on the same quarter a year earlier. That is the 5th quarter in a row with growth on the year before. Over 5 years it has grown 4.3% a year on average. The last full year, FY26, came in at $4.0 B. The last four reported quarters add to $4.0 B. FY26 revenue was $4.0 B, +6.4% on the year before. Recent pace: the last four quarters grew +6.3% on average, against 4.3% a year over the longer run, so this year is growing faster than its own long-run rate. Is growth speeding up? Revenue over the last 12 months grew +6.4%, against +2.4% a year over the last 8 quarters (accelerating); profit over the last 12 months grew +11.7%, against −7.2% a year (accelerating). ## How much of every $100 of sales does MSC Industrial Direct keep? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s operating margin was 10.9% in the Aug 2026 quarter, 1.7 percentage points higher than the same quarter a year ago. Across 6 years it has been between 8.3% and 12.8%. The latest quarter is within that range. Why the margin moved: operating margin changed +1.7 percentage points on the year while gross margin changed +0.2 points. So the gain came mostly from costs below the gross margin, such as staff and overheads, measured against sales. ## Is MSC Industrial Direct's profit turning into cash? Over the last 3 years, 154% of MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s reported profit came in as cash from its operations, so the profit is backed by cash. In FY26 it brought in $307 M of operating cash against $223 M of profit. After $81.3 M of spending on assets, $225 M was left over as free cash. Cash-flow figures here are yearly, because quarterly cash statements are not published, so this section changes once a year. Why: the cash figure is clear, but the day counts behind it are not in our data, so we show it without guessing the reason. What to look at next: the main use of cash is spending on assets. The next section checks what that spending is building. ## Where does MSC Industrial Direct's cash go? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. does not report the customer, stock and supplier day counts a cash cycle needs, so this section looks at its spending on assets instead. It spent $274 M on assets over the last 3 years. Averaged over those years that is 2.3% of FY26 revenue a year. Nothing is estimated in place of the missing day counts, so no cash-cycle chart is drawn. Spending on assets: $274 M over the last 3 years. In short: the cash is going into new capacity, not getting stuck in the daily cycle. The question is whether the new capacity earns. ## What is MSC Industrial Direct's P/E ratio, and how does it compare with its own history? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s P/E is 30.2×, near the high end of its own history: higher than 96% of past readings. Its usual P/E (the middle reading) is 17.3×, over 4.4 years of weekly prices. This compares the share price with the company’s own past. It does not say what the business is worth. Why the multiple is where it is: over the past year earnings per share moved +11.5% while the price moved +41.7%. The price did better than earnings, which pushed the multiple up within its own range. Where the price move came from: over 3 years the price moved +7.2% a year; about −13.3% a year came from earnings growth and about +20.5 percentage points from the multiple (the market paying more). The split is approximate (price return minus earnings growth). It shows how much of the move came from the market paying a different multiple. In short: the multiple is high against its own past, so the earnings trend underneath matters more than the multiple. ## Is the MSC Industrial Direct business getting better or worse? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s business is turning around. Profit growth has swung from −31.7% at its low to +11.7%, rising from a low 5 quarters ago, with ROCE rising at 21.3%. This is based on 12 quarters of 4 measures. Why it matters: a turn in growth is often where a bigger change starts. The lines say a turn is forming, so the question is whether the next quarters confirm it. ## How much does MSC Industrial Direct earn on its capital? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. earned a ROE of 16% in FY26. That is up from a low of 14% in FY25. Its return on capital used (ROIC) is 6.5 percentage points above its cost of capital, so growth here adds value, not just size. It comes from a 5.6% net margin and 1.60× asset turnover (sales divided by assets). Why the return is what it is (FY26): a 5.6% net margin × 1.60× asset turnover × 1.76× leverage (assets divided by equity) ≈ 15.8% on equity. The margin does its share; borrowing is a big part of it. The key test, return on capital used minus the cost of capital: 14.8% − 8.3% = +6.5 percentage points. The 8.3% is an estimate of this company's own cost of capital. Read the sign and size of the gap, not the decimals. A gap this wide means each dollar put back into the business creates more than a dollar of value. ## Does MSC Industrial Direct have too much debt? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. has total debt of $528 M against shareholder equity of $1.4 B as of Aug 2026, so its debt is 0.37× its equity. Year by year, that ratio went from 0.72 in FY21 to 0.37 in FY26. Keep that borrowing in mind when reading the returns on this page. ## What is the MSC Industrial Direct shareholding pattern? 5.8% of MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s tradable shares are in short positions, which are bets that the price will fall, so some traders are betting against it. At normal trading volumes, closing those positions would take about 2.9 days. US companies do not publish a quarter-by-quarter list of owners, so this page uses short interest instead. It is a single reading at one point in time; we do not have its history. Why it is at this level: the figure does not say who holds the short positions or why, so we show the level without guessing the story. ## How far is MSC Industrial Direct from balance-sheet trouble? For MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., the Z-score is 5.67. A Z-score above about 3 is safe and below about 1.8 signals danger, so this is well clear of danger. It estimates how far the balance sheet is from trouble; it is not a forecast of failure. Why it matters: a Z-score of 5.67 is well clear of the danger zone, so the balance sheet is not the risk here. ## How does MSC Industrial Direct rank in its industry? 57.9 out of 100, rank 5 of 20 in Industrial Distribution, with 85% of the evidence available. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. scores 57.9 out of 100 against the 20 companies it is compared with in Industrial Distribution, ranking 5. The evidence is balanced: no factor stands out, so another reported quarter is needed before the picture is clearer. The four parts add up to the total exactly: 22.3 + 17.2 + 7.4 + 11 = 57.9. This is the same number shown on the industry page; it is worked out once for the whole group and read here. What would change it: The score would fall if profit growth turns negative or margins stop improving while the share price lags its sector. ## Which companies is MSC Industrial Direct compared with? MSC Industrial Direct ranks 5 of 20 Industrial Distribution companies on the 4-Factor Sector Score, with 57.9 out of 100. 1. [Global Industrial Company](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/gic) GIC · leader · Most evidence points up · 81% evidence 70.2 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 18.4/35 · Revenue 8.5% · Profit 29.9% · Operating margin change -2 points · 83% evidence Capital efficiency 17.4/25 · ROCE 22.1% · Operating margin 7.3% · 76% evidence Valuation 15.8/20 · P/E 14.9× · PEG 0.49 · 65% evidence Relative strength 18.6/20 · Lead over its industry 16.2% · Lead over S&P 500 23.8% · 1 year 61.7% · 100% evidence · 12 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 18.4 + 17.4 + 15.8 + 18.6 = 70.2 · What this means: The evidence is balanced: no factor stands out, so another reported quarter is needed before the picture is clearer. 2. [Fastenal Company](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/fast) FAST · losing its lead · Evidence leans up · 85% evidence 64.8 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 25.6/35 · Revenue 13.5% · Profit 15.7% · Operating margin change 0.8 points · 95% evidence Capital efficiency 21.4/25 · ROCE 41.2% · Operating margin 21.5% · 76% evidence Valuation 5.8/20 · P/E 40.1× · PEG 2.68 · 65% evidence Relative strength 12.0/20 · Lead over its industry 1.2% · Lead over S&P 500 7.9% · 1 year 28.1% · 100% evidence · 6 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 25.6 + 21.4 + 5.8 + 12 = 64.8 · What this means: Earnings, capital efficiency and relative strength all agree. The open questions are about management, upcoming events and risks. 3. [Ferguson Enterprises Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/ferg) FERG · basing · Evidence leans up · 81% evidence 59.3 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 22.2/35 · Revenue 5.1% · Profit 23.7% · Operating margin change -0.1 points · 83% evidence Capital efficiency 18.1/25 · ROCE 22.1% · Operating margin 10.2% · 76% evidence Valuation 14.4/20 · P/E 22.6× · PEG 0.86 · 65% evidence Relative strength 4.6/20 · Lead over its industry -9% · Lead over S&P 500 -3.1% · 1 year -3.1% · 100% evidence · 1 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 22.2 + 18.1 + 14.4 + 4.6 = 59.3 · What this means: The evidence is balanced: no factor stands out, so another reported quarter is needed before the picture is clearer. 4. [W.W. Grainger, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/gww) GWW · turning · Evidence leans up · 81% evidence 58.5 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 17.4/35 · Revenue 7.8% · Profit -2.7% · Operating margin change 1.2 points · 83% evidence Capital efficiency 20.5/25 · ROCE 39.6% · Operating margin 16.1% · 76% evidence Valuation 4.7/20 · P/E 34.3× · PEG 3.23 · 65% evidence Relative strength 15.9/20 · Lead over its industry 4.7% · Lead over S&P 500 11.7% · 1 year 46.4% · 100% evidence · 1 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 17.4 + 20.5 + 4.7 + 15.9 = 58.5 · What this means: Relative strength against the index is 11.7%, and revenue and profit growth are weak. 5. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. this page MSM · turning · Evidence leans up · 85% evidence 57.9 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 22.3/35 · Revenue 6.4% · Profit 11% · Operating margin change 1.7 points · 95% evidence Capital efficiency 17.2/25 · ROCE 21.1% · Operating margin 10.9% · 76% evidence Valuation 7.4/20 · P/E 29.9× · PEG 2.48 · 65% evidence Relative strength 11.0/20 · Lead over its industry 2.6% · Lead over S&P 500 9.4% · 1 year 36.7% · 100% evidence · 2 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 22.3 + 17.2 + 7.4 + 11 = 57.9 · What this means: The evidence is balanced: no factor stands out, so another reported quarter is needed before the picture is clearer. 6. [Xometry, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/xmtr) XMTR · turning · Evidence leans up · 61% evidence 56.9 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 25.2/35 · Revenue 33.4% · Profit n/a · Operating margin change 3.9 points · 62% evidence Capital efficiency 3.0/25 · ROCE -3.6% · Operating margin -2.4% · 76% evidence Valuation 10.0/20 · P/E n/a · PEG n/a · 0% evidence Relative strength 18.7/20 · Lead over its industry 36.3% · Lead over S&P 500 45.6% · 1 year 71.7% · 100% evidence · 5 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 25.2 + 3 + 10 + 18.7 = 56.9 · What this means: The evidence is balanced: no factor stands out, so another reported quarter is needed before the picture is clearer. 7. [EVI Industries, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/evi) EVI · breaking out · Evidence leans up · 81% evidence 51.7 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 18.2/35 · Revenue 14.1% · Profit 0% · Operating margin change 0.6 points · 83% evidence Capital efficiency 8.1/25 · ROCE 7.2% · Operating margin 4.6% · 76% evidence Valuation 11.7/20 · P/E 29× · PEG 1.34 · 65% evidence Relative strength 13.7/20 · Lead over its industry 0.5% · Lead over S&P 500 7.1% · 1 year -20.2% · 100% evidence · 8 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 18.2 + 8.1 + 11.7 + 13.7 = 51.7 · What this means: The evidence is balanced: no factor stands out, so another reported quarter is needed before the picture is clearer. 8. [WESCO International, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/wcc) WCC · losing its lead · Evidence leans up · 81% evidence 50.4 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 20.8/35 · Revenue 12.5% · Profit 12.9% · Operating margin change 0.5 points · 83% evidence Capital efficiency 11.6/25 · ROCE 11.1% · Operating margin 6.1% · 76% evidence Valuation 10.3/20 · P/E 23.5× · PEG 1.77 · 65% evidence Relative strength 7.7/20 · Lead over its industry -0.1% · Lead over S&P 500 6.5% · 1 year 37.7% · 100% evidence · 2 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 20.8 + 11.6 + 10.3 + 7.7 = 50.4 · What this means: The evidence is balanced: no factor stands out, so another reported quarter is needed before the picture is clearer. 9. [Titan Machinery Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/titn) TITN · breaking out · Evidence leans down · 67% evidence 49.9 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 15.4/35 · Revenue -10.7% · Profit n/a · Operating margin change -0.5 points · 71% evidence Capital efficiency 4.5/25 · ROCE -0.6% · Operating margin -0.3% · 76% evidence Valuation 11.2/20 · P/E -6.1× · PEG n/a · 15% evidence Relative strength 18.8/20 · Lead over its industry 7.6% · Lead over S&P 500 14.6% · 1 year 47.1% · 100% evidence · 11 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 15.4 + 4.5 + 11.2 + 18.8 = 49.9 · What this means: Relative strength against the index is 14.6%, and revenue and profit growth are weak. 10. [SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/site) SITE · turning · Evidence leans down · 81% evidence 49.2 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative How the score adds up Growth & earnings 19.4/35 · Revenue 3.3% · Profit 30.6% · Operating margin change 0.1 points · 83% evidence Capital efficiency 10.2/25 · ROCE 9.4% · Operating margin 12.9% · 76% evidence Valuation 12.7/20 · P/E 31.7× · PEG 0.96 · 65% evidence Relative strength 6.9/20 · Lead over its industry -16.8% · Lead over S&P 500 -11.4% · 1 year -9.1% · 100% evidence · 2 of 12 weeks ahead Exact sum: 19.4 + 10.2 + 12.7 + 6.9 = 49.2 · What this means: The evidence is balanced: no factor stands out, so another reported quarter is needed before the picture is clearer. 11. [Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/ait) AIT · quiet · Evidence leans down · 81% evidence 48.4 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
12. [DXP Enterprises, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/dxpe) DXPE · losing its lead · Evidence leans down · 81% evidence 47.4 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
13. [Pool Corporation](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/pool) POOL · turning · Evidence leans down · 75% evidence 46.5 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
14. [Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/dsgr) DSGR · losing its lead · Evidence leans down · 71% evidence 45.4 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
15. [BlueLinx Holdings Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/bxc) BXC · losing its lead · Too little evidence to rank firmly · 58% evidence 43.7 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
16. [Core & Main, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/cnm) CNM · basing · Evidence leans down · 85% evidence 40.8 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
17. [DNOW Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/dnow) DNOW · losing its lead · Evidence leans down · 71% evidence 38.4 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
18. [Resideo Technologies, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/rezi) REZI · basing · Too little evidence to rank firmly · 58% evidence 36.0 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
19. Watsco, Inc. WSO-B · Most evidence points down · 61% evidence 34.3 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative
20. [QXO, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/qxo) QXO · basing · Most evidence points down · 64% evidence 32.2 out of 100 Growth Capital Valuation Relative

Missing figures are not scored as bad. They lower the confidence and pull the final score toward the middle. Relative strength counts only when the company has a reading for this week; with no reading, that factor is left out and its 20 points are shared across the other three in proportion. PEG is not shown when the ratio cannot mean anything: the company must be making a profit, its price-to-earnings must be positive, and its three-year earnings growth must fall between 5% and 60%. Dividing a price multiple by a loss, or by growth measured off a tiny base, produces a number that looks precise and tells you nothing. Under relative strength, one mark per week shows the last 12 weeks: a mark is filled where the company led S&P 500 by 5% or more over the 13 weeks ending that week, which is the same test used everywhere on this site. Price stage places the company on the same six-step path the industry is placed on (basing, turning, breaking out, leader, fading, asleep), read from how many weeks running it has led S&P 500 and whether that lead is growing or shrinking. It describes where the share price stands, not the direction of earnings, and it is not a recommendation; it is left blank for a company whose weekly history is too short or too stale to read. The figures in this ranking come from the industry comparison: results through the Sep 2026 quarter, and the P/E at that quarter's end. The sections above use the latest weekly price, so a P/E or return there can differ a little from the one here. The stage words in this ranking (such as losing its lead or breaking out) describe the lead over the index, not the price phase in the price section. Related companies: [Industrial Distribution](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/sectors/industrial-distribution), all 20 compared on one page. ## Which companies are close to MSC Industrial Direct in size? MSC Industrial Direct is the 10th largest of 20 Industrial Distribution companies on Sector Alpha by market value (scores of 3 November 2026). Just above it: Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc., Core & Main, Inc. and Pool Corporation. Just below it: Xometry, Inc., SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. and Resideo Technologies, Inc. ### Industrial Distribution companies close in size

1. [Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/ait) $11.1 billion
2. [Core & Main, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/cnm) $8.5 billion
3. [Pool Corporation](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/pool) $7.4 billion
4. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. $6.7 billion
5. [Xometry, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/xmtr) $6.4 billion
6. [SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/site) $4.8 billion
7. [Resideo Technologies, Inc.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/rezi) $2.9 billion

[All 20 Industrial Distribution companies, largest first](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/sectors/industrial-distribution#all-companies)

### Companies close in size in other industries

1. [Churchill Downs Incorporated](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/chdn) $6.8 billion · Gambling
2. [Hut 8 Corp.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/hut) $6.8 billion · Capital Markets
3. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. $6.8 billion
4. [First American Financial Corporation](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/faf) $6.8 billion · Insurance - Specialty
5. [NICE Ltd.](https://www.sectoralpha.in/us/stocks/nice) $6.7 billion · Software - Application

## What else do people ask about MSC Industrial Direct? ### What were MSC Industrial Direct's latest quarterly results? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. reported revenue of $1.1 B and net profit of $47.9 M for the Aug 2026 quarter. Revenue rose 10.3% and profit fell 15.2% compared with a year earlier. Earnings per share were $0.86 (as of 3 November 2026). ### What is MSC Industrial Direct's market cap? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s market capitalisation is $6.7 B at a stock price of $120.30. Market cap is the share price times the number of shares, so it changes whenever the price moves (as of 3 November 2026). ### How is MSC Industrial Direct performing? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s share price has been rising for 33 weeks. In its latest quarter, revenue rose 10.3% and profit fell 15.2% compared with a year earlier. Over the past 13 weeks it has done better than the S&P 500, for 1 week running (as of 3 November 2026). ### Will MSC Industrial Direct's stock price go up? This page does not forecast MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s stock price. What it shows instead: the stock price is $120.30, and it has been rising for 33 weeks. Its P/E of 30.2× is higher than 96% of its own last 4 years (as of 3 November 2026). ### Where is MSC Industrial Direct in its business cycle? MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s FY26 operating margin was 9.3%, against a 6-year range of 8.3% to 12.8%: the low end of its own range, which is often where recoveries start. The latest quarter was 10.9%. Comparing margins with a company's own long history is a good way to see where it is in its cycle (as of 3 November 2026). ### What could break the MSC Industrial Direct story? The main question: the share price moved +41.7% in a year while yearly earnings per share moved +11.5%. The difference came from the market paying a higher multiple. On price, this page treats a rise as over when the share price closes below its 200-day average on two Fridays in a row (as of 3 November 2026). ### Is MSC Industrial Direct a stock worth studying right now? What the numbers show: MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.'s share price has risen faster than its earnings: +41.7% in a year, against +11.5% for earnings per share. The main open question: whether earnings grow into a price that has already moved. Every number on this page is worked out by code from the published figures, with no forecasts and no price opinions (as of 3 November 2026). This is research, not advice. We’re not SEBI-registered.