Home 
Today's Top Picks 
Top Performers 
Watchlist 
My Robo Portfolios 
ETF Zone 
How It Works 
News - Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
- Revenue
- Valuation
- About
Core & Main Inc(CNM)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CNM
09/18/2026: CNM (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Core & Main is a specialized distributor of water, storm drainage, and fire protection infrastructure products, serving as a critical partner for municipalities and contractors across the US. The company has a leading position in a fragmented market, benefiting from aging infrastructure and long-term federal funding tailwinds. Its primary growth story revolves around continued market consolidation and the expansion of high-margin smart metering technology. While the business model is durable, it faces risks from cyclical economic downturns and fluctuations in construction activity. The stock may best suit growth-oriented investors who can tolerate some cyclical volatility and want exposure to essential US infrastructure modernization.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Strong fit | The company benefits from long-term secular trends in US infrastructure renewal and market share gains. |
| Momentum investor | Strong fit while signal remains positive | The stock has demonstrated strong price trends tied to infrastructure spending cycles. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | Valuation often tracks closely with cyclical economic indicators, requiring careful entry points. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company does not pay a dividend, focusing capital on reinvestment instead. |
| Low-risk investor | Mixed fit | The business is sensitive to economic cycles, which can introduce share price volatility. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | Commodity price fluctuations in materials like pipe and valves impact margins. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Growth expectations are often priced into the stock, leaving less margin for error. |
| Competition risk (Infrastructure Distribution) | Medium | The sector faces competition from both large national players and nimble local distributors. |
| Business quality | Strong | The company has a durable business model serving essential public utility needs. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | Investors seeking immediate income will not find this an attractive feature. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Successful integration of frequent acquisitions is key to long-term performance. |
Price Behavior
Downtrend
The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.
Smooth
The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 16.3% | Avg. Invested days 58 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  2.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/18/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Mid-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 7.91B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 17.65 | 1Y Target Price 55.29 |
Price to earnings Ratio 17.65 | 1Y Target Price 55.29 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 2.5M shares | Beta 0.91 | 52 Weeks Range 40.03 - 59.66 | Updated Date 09/18/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 40.03 - 59.66 | Updated Date 09/18/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.43 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Waterworks | Pipes, valves, and fittings for utility infrastructure. | The bread and butter of the company, driven by steady municipal utility demand. |
| Storm Drainage | Drainage solutions for commercial and residential development. | Tied closely to construction activity and land development trends. |
| Fire Protection | Sprinkler systems and safety equipment. | Steady business driven by fire safety codes and commercial property maintenance. |
| Geography (US) | Operations across the United States. | Highly exposed to US public infrastructure spending trends. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date 2026-09-09 | When Before Market | Estimate 0.91 | Actual 0.92 |
Profitability
Profit Margin 5.96% | Operating Margin (TTM) 10.58% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 7.13% | Return on Equity (TTM) 23.56% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 17.65 | Forward PE 17.27 | Enterprise Value 10.33B | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.03 |
Enterprise Value 10.33B | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.03 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.34 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 11.02 | Shares Outstanding 184.44M | Shares Floating 183.78M |
Shares Outstanding 184.44M | Shares Floating 183.78M | ||
Percent Insiders 0.49 | Percent Institutions 112.75 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About Core & Main Inc
Exchange NYSE | Headquarters Saint Louis, MO, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2021-07-22 | CEO & Director Mr. Mark R. Witkowski CPA | ||
Sector Industrials | Industry Industrial Distribution | Full time employees 5600 | Website https://www.coreandmain.com |
Full time employees 5600 | Website https://www.coreandmain.com | ||
Core & Main, Inc. engages in the distribution of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products and related services in the United States. The company's products portfolio include pipes, valves, hydrants, fittings, and other products and services used for service, repair and replacement of underground water infrastructure; storm drainage products, such as corrugated HDPE and metal piping systems, retention basins, inline drains, manholes, grates, geosynthetics, erosion control, and other related products; fire protection products, including fire protection pipes, valves, fittings, sprinkler heads and other accessories, as well as fabrication and kitting services; smart meter products; and smart metering solutions which include meter accessories, meter installation, network infrastructure and software installation, training, and long-term services, as well as engineered treatment plant products. Its specialty products and services are used in the maintenance, repair, replacement, and construction of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection infrastructure. The company serves municipalities, private water companies, and professional contractors in the municipal, non-residential, and residential end markets. Core & Main, Inc. was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.
All company names, trademarks, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification and informational purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks, and logos does not imply endorsement by their respective owners.