COMPARE · Reviewed August 3, 2026
CNM vs POOL
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. CNM scored 67.3, POOL scored 63.5 — CNM leads.
Compare another set
CNM
Core & Main, Inc.
67.3
$46.37 · $9.0B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
3.8
CNM leads
POOL
Pool Corporation
63.5
$200.81 · $7.3B
fundamentals as of
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
CNM
stronger →← stronger
POOL
69
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
78
63
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
47
70
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
69
CNM is stronger on 2 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
CNM
POOL
$608mC+
FCF
$313mC
+0.5%C
Rev
+1.8%C
1.16C+
D/E
1.35C
19.6xB+
P/E
18.4xA-
1.26B
PEG
1.60C+
Winner per row is the stronger grade in our model; a tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
CNM
POOL
20% below
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
50% above
~1%/yr
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
~16%/yr
+14%
1-yr DCF upside
-37%
+25%
5-yr DCF upside
-33%
+43%
10-yr DCF upside
-28%
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
POOL
Why this score
- Buying back stock
- 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.
POOLPool Corporation
Why now
Industrial Distribution · market cap $7.3b. Down 40% from 52-week high of $336.15 — deep drawdown territory. 11 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $220.36 (implying +10% upside).
Moat
ROE 36% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which.
Risk
Down 40% from the 52-week high — the market is pricing in something the screen can't see; verify the bear case before sizing up.
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.