AstraZeneca plc vs Core and Main Inc — how do they compare? AstraZeneca plc trades at $158.46 (market cap $248.14B), while Core and Main Inc trades at $45.87 (market cap $8.73B). The key difference: AstraZeneca plc is far larger — about 28.4× Core and Main Inc's market cap, and AstraZeneca plc pays a 2.01% dividend while Core and Main Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZN | CNM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $248.14B | $8.73B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $209.48 | $66.98 |
52-Week Low | $147.06 | $42.37 |
Enterprise Value | $275.41B | $11.02B |
Dividend Yield | 2.01% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AstraZeneca (AZN) trades at $157.39, down 2.79% amid bearish technical signals and merger speculation. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with revenue growth to $58.74B in 2025 and a net income margin of 17.02%. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, and analyst consensus is positive with 47.5% buy ratings. However, news of potential merger talks with Bristol Myers Squibb and a related legal investigation have introduced volatility.
The outlook is mixed; solid profitability and growth support long-term value, but near-term price pressure from technical indicators and merger uncertainty presents a cautious entry point. Key risks include deal execution challenges and integration complexities should a merger proceed.
Core & Main (CNM) trades at $45.85, down 0.97% on the day, with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. The company reported strong Q1 2026 earnings of $0.57 per share, beating estimates, and maintains solid fundamentals including a 23.73% ROE and 5.87% net margin. Recent news highlights institutional activity, such as California State Teachers Retirement System increasing its stake by 22.3% in Q1 2026 (Defense World, 2026-08-04).
The outlook is positive with analyst consensus at 57% buy ratings, supported by revenue growth to $7.6B in 2026 and expanding margins. Risks include high debt levels at $2.24B long-term and competitive pressures in the tools sector. Investors should monitor execution against FY26 guidance of $7.8–$7.9B revenue.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A merger between Astra of Sweden and Zeneca Group of the United Kingdom formed AstraZeneca in 1999. The firm sells branded drugs across several major therapeutic classes, including gastrointestinal, diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer, and immunology. The majority of sales come from international markets with the United States representing close to one third of its sales.
Read more on AZN →Core & Main is a leading US distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products. It provides essential infrastructure solutions to municipalities, private water companies, and contractors.
Read more on CNM →