Core and Main Inc vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Core and Main Inc trades at $46.18 (market cap $8.73B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $248.31 (market cap $80.78B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 9.3× Core and Main Inc's market cap, and Ross Stores, Inc. pays a 0.71% dividend while Core and Main Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNM | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.73B | $80.78B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $66.98 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $42.37 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $11.02B | $81.37B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Core & Main (CNM) trades at $46.06, down 0.52% on the day, with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $0.57 exceeding expectations. Financials show solid profitability with a 5.87% net income margin and 23.73% ROE, though debt levels remain elevated. Recent news includes institutional position adjustments and a $750 million senior notes offering priced in June 2026.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with analyst consensus favoring Buy ratings (57%). Key opportunities include margin expansion and municipal strength, while risks involve high debt, competitive pressures, and reliance on infrastructure spending. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 19.76 appears reasonable given growth prospects, but investors should monitor execution against FY26 revenue guidance of $7.8–7.9 billion.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $248.48, down 2.49% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong support near $247. The company reported robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 results expected on August 20, 2026. Revenue grew to $21.13B in 2025, and net income reached $2.09B, reflecting a 9.74% margin. Expansion continues with 47 new stores opened in mid-2026, signaling growth momentum.
ROST offers solid growth potential with high ROE of 38.98% and analyst consensus favoring a buy rating (63.83% of 47 analysts), targeting $259.00. Risks include elevated P/E of 35.17 and sensitivity to consumer spending shifts. The stock's proximity to its 52-week high suggests cautious optimism, but execution on store expansions and margin maintenance are key for sustained upside.
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →