Core and Main Inc vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? Core and Main Inc trades at $46.18 (market cap $8.73B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $411.81 (market cap $89.08B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 10.2× Core and Main Inc's market cap, and HCA Health Inc pays a 0.76% dividend while Core and Main Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNM | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.73B | $89.08B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $66.98 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $42.37 | $361.32 |
Enterprise Value | $11.02B | $139.62B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.76% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Core & Main (CNM) trades at $45.9, down 0.86% today, with a bullish technical signal despite near-term pressure. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, including Q1 2026 EPS of $0.57 beating expectations of $0.534. Revenue reached $7.44B in 2025 with 5.87% net margin, while analyst consensus remains positive with 57% buy ratings. Recent news highlights institutional activity including California State Teachers Retirement System increasing its position by 22.3% in Q1 2026.
CNM presents a compelling investment case with robust profitability (23.73% ROE) and improving cash flow trends, though elevated debt levels and competitive pressures warrant caution. The stock's current valuation at 19.76 P/E appears reasonable given growth prospects, with technical support at $46 providing downside protection. Upside potential exists if the company maintains its earnings beat streak and executes on FY26 guidance of $7.8-7.9B revenue.
HCA Healthcare trades at $414.66, up 0.15% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a P/E of 13.8. Revenue grew to $75.60B in 2025, with net income of $6.78B, and the company has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent corporate actions include a $0.78 dividend scheduled for September 2026.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $449.93, implying 8.5% upside, supported by strong earnings and institutional buy ratings. Risks include high debt levels, regulatory investigations, and expense pressures noted in Q2 2026 results. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against legal and operational headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →