Core and Main Inc vs Unilever plc — how do they compare? Core and Main Inc trades at $46.18 (market cap $8.73B), while Unilever plc trades at $61.75 (market cap $134.06B). The key difference: Unilever plc is far larger — about 15.4× Core and Main Inc's market cap, and Unilever plc pays a 3.65% dividend while Core and Main Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNM | UL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.73B | $134.06B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $66.98 | $74.59 |
52-Week Low | $42.37 | $55.05 |
Enterprise Value | $11.02B | $159.86B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.65% |
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.
Unilever (UL) trades at $61.75, down 1.77% with bearish technical signals. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results with 5.8% underlying sales growth - the strongest in a decade - prompting a raised full-year outlook. Despite recent earnings misses, UL maintains robust profitability with 18.75% net margins and 53.32% ROE. The pending $65 billion McCormick merger and potential Thorne acquisition signal strategic expansion.
UL presents a mixed outlook with strong fundamentals offset by recent underperformance. The merger potential offers growth catalysts, but consecutive earnings misses and bearish technicals warrant caution. Analyst consensus leans neutral (51% Hold) with balanced buy/sell ratings. Key risks include integration challenges and competitive pressures in consumer goods.
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 →Unilever is a diversified personal product (42% of 2021 sales by value), home care (20%), and packaged food (38%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Lipton teas, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemme haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years
Read more on UL →