Free cash flow is one of the most reliable indicators of financial durability.
These businesses not only generate cash but reinvest intelligently to sustain momentum.
Mid-cap stocks often strike the right balance between having proven business models and market opportunities that can support $100 billion corporations.
However, they face intense competition from scaled industry giants and can be disrupted by new innovative players vying for a slice of the pie.
Over the past six months, Core & Main’s stock price fell to $51.97. Shareholders have lost 16% of their capital, which is disappointing considering the S&P 500 has climbed by 9.9%. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
Core & Main’s third quarter was met with a positive reaction from the market, reflecting modest growth and stable margins despite ongoing pressures in certain end markets. Management pointed to continued strength in municipal construction, as well as disciplined pricing and gross margin expansion, as key drivers. CEO Mark Witkowski emphasized Core & Main’s resilience, citing the company’s “national scale and resources, local market expertise, and comprehensive product solutions” as central to its performance. While residential demand remained subdued—particularly in the Sun Belt—the company benefited from acquisitions and solid execution in nonresidential and municipal segments.
Water and fire protection solutions company Core & Main (NYSE:CNM) met Wall Streets revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales up 1.2% year on year to $2.06 billion. The company’s outlook for the full year was close to analysts’ estimates with revenue guided to $7.65 billion at the midpoint. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.72 per share was 1.8% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Water and fire protection solutions company Core & Main (NYSE:CNM) met Wall Streets revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales up 1.2% year on year to $2.06 billion. The company’s outlook for the full year was close to analysts’ estimates with revenue guided to $7.65 billion at the midpoint. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.89 per share was 26% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Small-cap stocks can be incredibly lucrative investments because their lack of analyst coverage leads to frequent mispricings.
However, these businesses (and their stock prices) often stay small because their subscale operations make it harder to expand their competitive moats.
Water and fire protection solutions company Core & Main (NYSE:CNM)
will be announcing earnings results next Tuesday before market hours. Here’s what to expect.
Even if a company is profitable, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great investment.
Some struggle to maintain growth, face looming threats, or fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their future potential.
Companies that consistently increase their sales, margins, or returns on capital are usually rewarded with the best returns,
and those that can do all three for years on end are almost always the legendary stocks that return 100 times your money.
Generating cash is essential for any business, but not all cash-rich companies are great investments.
Some produce plenty of cash but fail to allocate it effectively, leading to missed opportunities.
Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.
Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.
In the last three months, 11 analysts have published ratings on Core & Main (NYSE: CNM), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
Companies that consistently increase their sales, margins, or returns on capital are usually rewarded with the best returns,
and those that can do all three for years on end are almost always the legendary stocks that return 100 times your money.
