MSC Industrial Direct Co (FRA:98M) Moat Score: 6/10 (As of Jul. 05, 2026)


FRA:98M MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc FRA:98M
81 GF Score
Price €106.70
GF Value €79.79
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 8 Warning Signs
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What is MSC Industrial Direct Co Moat Score?

MSC Industrial Direct Co FRA:98M -0.84% 81 Moat Score is 6 as of Jul. 05, 2026. GuruFocus rates FRA:98M with a GF Score™ of 81/100 and a GF Value™ of €79.79 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 8 warning signs investors should review. Among 152 Industrial Distribution companies, MSC Industrial Direct Co ranks better than 97.37% on this metric.

MSC Industrial Direct Co has the Moat Score of 6, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

MSC Industrial Direct Co has Narrow Moat: MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc has a strong distribution network and economies of scale, providing a competitive edge. Its brand strength and customer loyalty are notable, but not enough to reach a wide moat status.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes MSC Industrial Direct Co might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

MSC Industrial Direct Co  (FRA:98M) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

MSC Industrial Direct Co Moat Score Related Terms

FRA:98M vs POOL, XMTR, SITE: Moat Score Comparison

For the Industrial Distribution subindustry, MSC Industrial Direct Co's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score 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 Moat Score vs Industrial Distribution Industry

For the Industrial Distribution industry and Industrials sector, MSC Industrial Direct Co's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where MSC Industrial Direct Co's Moat Score falls into.


FRA:98M
81GF Score
MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc FRA:98M
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 6 mean?
MSC Industrial Direct Co (FRA:98M) has a Moat Score of 6 as of Jul. 05, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, MSC Industrial Direct Co ranks #4 out of 152 companies in the Industrial Distribution industry, placing it in the top 2.6%.
Is MSC Industrial Direct Co's Moat Score too high?
MSC Industrial Direct Co's current Moat Score is 6. Based on the distribution chart, MSC Industrial Direct Co ranks #4 out of 152 companies in the Industrial Distribution industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, MSC Industrial Direct Co has a GF Score™ of 81/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does MSC Industrial Direct Co's Moat Score compare to POOL and XMTR?
According to the Industrial Distribution industry distribution chart, MSC Industrial Direct Co ranks #4 out of 152 companies for Moat Score. This places MSC Industrial Direct Co in the top 3% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for an Industrial Distribution company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Industrial Distribution industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. MSC Industrial Direct Co's current Moat Score is 6. 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 €79.79, compared to a current price of €106.70 — trading 33.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 6. MSC Industrial Direct Co's overall GF Score™ is 81/100 with 8 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For MSC Industrial Direct Co (FRA:98M), the current Moat Score is 6 as of Jul. 05, 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 €106.70 is trading 33.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of €79.79. GuruFocus considers MSC Industrial Direct Co to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for FRA:98M:

  • Moat Score: 6
  • GF Value™: €79.79 vs. price of €106.70 (33.7% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 81/100 with 8 warning signs

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.

MSC Industrial Direct Co Business Description

Other Exchanges MSM:USA98M:Germany
Address 515 Broadhollow Road, Suite 1000, Melville, NY, USA, 11747
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.
81GF Score

Get the complete analysis for FRA:98M

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€106.70
Price
€79.79
GF Value