Core and Main Inc vs PPG Industries, Inc. — how do they compare? Core and Main Inc trades at $45 (market cap $8.46B), while PPG Industries, Inc. trades at $116.55 (market cap $25.56B). The key difference: PPG Industries, Inc. is far larger — about 3× Core and Main Inc's market cap, and PPG Industries, Inc. pays a 2.48% dividend while Core and Main Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNM | PPG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.46B | $25.56B |
Sector | Technology | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $66.98 | $131.56 |
52-Week Low | $44.29 | $94.34 |
Enterprise Value | $10.76B | $31.66B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.48% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Core & Main (CNM) trades at $44.74, down 2.44% today, amid bearish technical signals but strong fundamentals. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $0.72 exceeding expectations, and maintains solid profitability with a 23.73% ROE. Recent news highlights municipal strength and margin gains, though residential segments face weakness. Cash flow trends improved in 2026 projections, with net cash flow rising to $142M from $7M in 2025.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus leans bullish with 57% buy ratings, but technical indicators signal near-term pressure. Key risks include industry headwinds like high operating costs and residential market softness. Investors should weigh strong fundamentals against current bearish momentum for entry timing.
PPG Industries trades at $113.84, down 2.5% on the day, with a bullish technical signal despite near-term volatility. The stock shows strong profitability with a net margin of 9.83% and ROE of 21.09%, supported by consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent news highlights innovation in aerospace and marine coatings, alongside a sustainable dividend profile. Valuation ratios appear reasonable with a P/E of 16.31 and P/S of 1.6.
The outlook remains positive given analyst consensus favoring a buy rating and a $131.75 price target, implying significant upside. Risks include volume softness and margin pressure, but robust cash flow and strategic innovations provide a cushion. The stock presents a value opportunity with growth catalysts from new product launches and market expansion.
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 →PPG is a global producer of coatings. The company is the world's largest producer of coatings after the purchase of selected Akzo Nobel assets. PPG's products are sold to a wide variety of end users, including the automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial markets. The company has a footprint in many regions around the globe, with less than half of sales coming from North America in recent years. PPG is focused on its coatings and specialty products and expansion into emerging regions, as exemplified by the Comex acquisition.
Read more on PPG →