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MSC Industrial Direct Co (FRA:98M) Forward PE Ratio Explanation
The Forward PE Ratio of a company is often used to compare current earnings to estimated future earnings, as well as gaining a clearer picture of what earnings will look like without charges and other accounting adjustments. If earnings are expected to grow in the future, the Forward PE Ratio will be lower than the current PE Ratio. This measure is also used to compare one company to another with a forward-looking focus.
Trailing PE Ratio relies on what is already done. It uses the current share price and divides by the total EPS (Basic) over the past 12 months. PE Ratio can be affected by Non Operating Income such as the sale of part of businesses. This may increase for the current year or quarter dramatically. But it cannot be repeated over and over. Therefore PE Ratio without NRI is a more accurate indication of valuation than PE Ratio .
MSC Industrial Direct Co Forward PE Ratio Related Terms
MSC Industrial Direct Co Forward PE Ratio Historical Data
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
MSC Industrial Direct Co Forward PE Ratio Chart
MSC Industrial Direct Co Annual Data
Trend
2016-08
2017-08
2018-08
2019-08
2020-08
2021-08
2022-08
2023-08
2024-08
2025-08
Forward PE Ratio
18.12
15.31
14.41
12.41
13.51
15.92
13.23
15.15
16.01
21.87
MSC Industrial Direct Co Quarterly Data
2015-11
2016-02
2016-05
2016-08
2016-11
2017-02
2017-05
2017-08
2017-11
2018-02
2018-05
2018-08
2018-11
2019-02
2019-05
2019-08
2019-11
2020-02
2020-05
2020-08
2020-11
2021-02
2021-05
2021-08
2021-11
2022-02
2022-05
2022-08
2022-11
2023-02
2023-05
2023-08
2023-11
2024-02
2024-05
2024-08
2024-11
2025-02
2025-05
2025-08
2025-11
2026-02
2026-05
Forward PE Ratio
16.37
16.86
17.64
18.12
23.09
25.58
18.59
15.31
18.02
17.09
15.13
14.41
14.77
14.86
11.79
12.41
14.58
12.45
15.43
13.51
17.54
17.83
17.64
15.92
16.16
13.19
13.12
13.23
13.40
13.55
13.89
15.15
15.95
16.29
12.35
16.01
23.92
22.79
20.54
21.87
20.85
21.40
21.83
FRA:98M vs POOL, CNM, REZI: Forward PE Ratio Comparison
For the Industrial Distribution subindustry, MSC Industrial Direct Co's Forward PE Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and Forward PE Ratio data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
MSC Industrial Direct Co Forward PE Ratio vs Industrial Distribution Industry
For the Industrial Distribution industry and Industrials sector, MSC Industrial Direct Co's Forward PE Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where MSC Industrial Direct Co's Forward PE Ratio falls into.
MSC Industrial Direct Co Forward PE Ratio Calculation
It's a measure of the price-to-earnings ratio (PE Ratio) using forecasted earnings for the calculation. While the earnings used are just an estimate and are not as reliable as current earnings data, there is still benefit in estimated P/E analysis. The forecasted earnings used in the formula can either be for the next 12 months or for the next full-year fiscal period.
MSC Industrial Direct Co (FRA:98M) has a Forward PE Ratio of 23.26 as of Jul. 29, 2026. Forward P/E ratio is the share price dividend by the expected per-share earnings in the next 12 months. View historical data on MSC Industrial Direct Co and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, MSC Industrial Direct Co ranks #38 out of 64 companies in the Industrial Distribution industry, placing it in the top 59.4%.
Is MSC Industrial Direct Co's Forward PE Ratio too high?
MSC Industrial Direct Co's current Forward PE Ratio is 23.26. The Industrial Distribution industry median Forward PE Ratio is 20.07. MSC Industrial Direct Co's value of 23.26 is 15.9% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, MSC Industrial Direct Co ranks #38 out of 64 companies in the Industrial Distribution industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, MSC Industrial Direct Co has a GF Score™ of 78/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does MSC Industrial Direct Co's Forward PE Ratio compare to POOL and CNM?
According to the Industrial Distribution industry distribution chart, MSC Industrial Direct Co ranks #38 out of 64 companies for Forward PE Ratio. This places MSC Industrial Direct Co in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Forward PE Ratio is 20.07. MSC Industrial Direct Co's value of 23.26 is 15.9% above this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Forward PE Ratio for an Industrial Distribution company?
The median Forward PE Ratio among Industrial Distribution companies is 20.07, based on 64 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Forward PE Ratio significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Forward PE Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. MSC Industrial Direct Co's current Forward PE Ratio of 23.26 is 15.9% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Forward PE Ratio mean?
A high Forward PE Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Forward P/E ratio is the share price dividend by the expected per-share earnings in the next 12 months. View historical data on MSC Industrial Direct Co and its competitors. For the Industrial Distribution industry, the median Forward PE Ratio is 20.07 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. MSC Industrial Direct Co's current Forward PE Ratio is 23.26. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is MSC Industrial Direct Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MSC Industrial Direct Co (FRA:98M) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €81.90, compared to a current price of €110.60 — trading 35% above its estimated fair value. The current Forward PE Ratio is 23.26 and 15.9% above the Industrial Distribution industry median of 20.07. MSC Industrial Direct Co's overall GF Score™ is 78/100 with 8 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Forward PE Ratio calculated?
Forward PE Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For MSC Industrial Direct Co (FRA:98M), the current Forward PE Ratio is 23.26 as of Jul. 29, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is MSC Industrial Direct Co (FRA:98M) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MSC Industrial Direct Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €110.60 is trading 35% above its estimated GF Value™ of €81.90.
GuruFocus considers MSC Industrial Direct Co to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for FRA:98M:
Forward PE Ratio: 23.26
GF Value™: €81.90 vs. price of €110.60 (35% above fair value)
Industry Position: 15.9% above the Industrial Distribution median (#38 of 64)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:98M stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Founded in 1941, MSC Industrial Direct originally manufactured and sold cutting tools to metalworking shops in New York. Through a series of acquisitions and organic expansions, MSC has grown into an industrial distribution powerhouse with a focus on specialized metalworking products and services. The firm also distributes a wide breadth of maintenance, repair, and operations supplies. MSC primarily operates in North America, where it derives over 95% of its revenue.
78GF Score
Get the complete analysis for FRA:98M
Forward PE Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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