MSM vs WCC: MSC Industrial Direct Company and WESCO International compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- WESCO International is the larger company, worth $16.7B, about 2.4 times MSC Industrial Direct Company.
- WESCO International grew revenue faster over the last year (+13.0% vs +7.8%).
- MSC Industrial Direct Company keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (8.5% vs 5.4%).
- On earnings, WESCO International is the cheaper stock (24.3x vs 33.9x).
- WESCO International's price assumes faster free cash flow growth: about 54% a year, against 10% for MSC Industrial Direct Company (reverse DCF).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | MSM | WCC |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $7.0B | $16.7B |
| Share price | $129.51 | $365.69 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $3.8B | $23.5B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | $241M | $25M |
| Revenue growth, last year | +7.8% | +13.0% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +3.8% | +6.6% |
| Operating margin | 8.5% | 5.4% |
| Net margin | 5.9% | 2.8% |
| Return on equity | 16.3% | 13.6% |
| P/E (trailing) | 33.9x | 24.3x |
| Price / free cash flow | 29.2x | 660.8x |
| EV / EBITDA | 17.8x | 15.2x |
| FCF growth the price implies | 9.9% | 54.3% |
| Dividend yield | 2.7% | 0.53% |
| Debt / equity | 0.76x | 2.41x |
| Fundamental grade | C | C |
| Superinvestors holding it | 6 | 10 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 5 | 0 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
MSC Industrial Direct Company
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $3.2B | $171M | 9.3% |
| 2022 | $3.7B | $185M | 12.7% |
| 2023 | $4.0B | $607M | 12.1% |
| 2024 | $3.8B | $311M | 10.2% |
| 2025 | $3.8B | $241M | 8.0% |
WESCO International
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $18.2B | $12M | 4.4% |
| 2022 | $21.4B | -$88M | 6.7% |
| 2023 | $22.4B | $401M | 6.3% |
| 2024 | $21.8B | $1.0B | 5.6% |
| 2025 | $23.5B | $25M | 5.2% |
Where the revenue comes from
MSC Industrial Direct Company
No segment breakdown reported.
WESCO International · by segments, 2025
CSS$9.1B39%
EES$9.0B38%
UBS$5.5B23%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open MSM in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, MSC Industrial Direct Company or WESCO International?
WESCO International (WCC), at $16.7B against $7.0B.
Is MSM or WCC cheaper?
By trailing P/E, WESCO International (24.3x) is cheaper than MSC Industrial Direct Company (33.9x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, MSM or WCC?
WESCO International: revenue grew +13.0% over the last year, against +7.8%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.