COMPARE · Reviewed August 3, 2026
CNM vs FERG
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. CNM scored 67.3, FERG scored 59.2 — CNM leads.
Compare another set
Different reporting periods. CNM's fundamentals are as of May 2026, but FERG's are as of July 2025 — a 9-month gap. Growth, margin and valuation figures below therefore describe different windows and aren't strictly like-for-like.
CNM
Core & Main, Inc.
67.3
$46.37 · $9.0B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
8.1
CNM leads
FERG
Ferguson Enterprises Inc.
59.2
$256.79 · $49.8B
fundamentals as of
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
CNM
stronger →← stronger
FERG
69
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
76
63
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
60
70
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
46
CNM is stronger on 2 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
CNM
FERG
$608mC+
FCF
$1.6bC+
+0.5%C
Rev
+3.8%C+
1.16C+
D/E
1.04C+
19.6xB+
P/E
25.3xB
1.26B
PEG
1.50B
Winner per row is the stronger grade in our model; a tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
CNM
FERG
20% below
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
92% above
~1%/yr
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
~24%/yr
+14%
1-yr DCF upside
-53%
+25%
5-yr DCF upside
-48%
+43%
10-yr DCF upside
-39%
The DCF is a cross-check on intrinsic value, separate from the quality-growth score above.
Model signals
CNM
Why this score
- Durable high returns
FERG
Why this score
- Raising its dividend
- Durable high returns
The companies
CNMCore & Main, Inc.
Why now
Industrial Distribution · market cap $9.0b. Down 31% from 52-week high of $67.18 — deep drawdown territory. 15 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $60.27 (implying +30% upside).
Moat
ROE 23% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. FCF converts 129% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
Down 31% from the 52-week high — the market is pricing in something the screen can't see; verify the bear case before sizing up.
FERGFerguson Enterprises Inc.
Why now
Industrial Distribution · market cap $49.8b. 5% off the 52-week high of $271.64. 19 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $279.42 (implying +9% upside).
Moat
ROE 32% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which.
Risk
Mature compounder — the risk is paying up for quality at a moment when growth is decelerating. Watch for sequential revenue + margin trends; the inflection from "compounder" to "ex-compounder" is hard to spot until the multiple already started compressing.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.