Earnings call transcript: Core & Main Q3 2025 earnings beat expectations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 09 2025
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Source: Investing
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Analyst Views on CNM
Wall Street analysts forecast CNM stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 50.580
Low
40.00
Averages
58.88
High
65.00
Current: 50.580
Low
40.00
Averages
58.88
High
65.00
About CNM
Core & Main, Inc. specializes in advancing reliable infrastructure with local service, nationwide. The Company, as a specialty distributor with a focus on water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products and related services, provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets. With more than 370 locations across the United States, the Company provides its customers local expertise backed by a national supply chain. The Company also has operations in Canada. The Company’s products include pipes, valves, fittings, storm drainage products, fire protection products, meter products and other products. The Company complements its core products through additional offerings, including fusible high-density polyethylene (fusible HDPE) piping solutions, specifically engineered treatment plant products, geosynthetics and erosion control products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Core & Main Reports 3% Sales Growth for Fiscal 2025
- Strong Sales Performance: Core & Main Inc achieved net sales of $7.65 billion for fiscal 2025, reflecting a 3% increase, and a 5% growth when adjusted for one fewer selling week, indicating robust market share gains and successful acquisitions.
- Robust Cash Flow: The company generated $650 million in operating cash flow for fiscal 2025, with a conversion rate of 70%, which not only enhances financial flexibility but also provides funding for future investments and expansions.
- Gross Margin Improvement: The gross margin for fiscal 2025 reached 26.9%, up 30 basis points year-over-year, reflecting successful strategies in private label penetration and disciplined purchasing and pricing execution, further solidifying its competitive position.
- Positive Future Outlook: The company expects net sales for fiscal 2026 to range between $7.8 billion and $7.9 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected at $950 million to $980 million, demonstrating confidence in future growth despite challenges in the residential market.
See More
Core & Main Projects 2026 Sales Growth
- Sales Forecast Increase: Core & Main anticipates net sales for 2026 to be between $7.80 billion and $7.90 billion, indicating a growth of 2% to 3%, which reflects stable demand in the water and fire protection product sectors.
- Market Performance Fluctuation: In pre-market trading on Tuesday, CNM's stock was priced at $47.40, down $1.01 or 2.09%, indicating a cautious market sentiment regarding its financial outlook.
- Financial Report Release: The company reported its fourth-quarter financial results on Tuesday, showcasing confidence in future sales growth despite market volatility, which underscores its competitive position in the industry.
- Industry Outlook Analysis: With the ongoing demand for water and fire protection products, Core & Main's sales forecast reflects a positive trend in the industry, potentially attracting more investor interest in its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Core & Main Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings Growth
- Earnings Growth: Core & Main, Inc. reported a fourth-quarter net income of $70 million, translating to earnings per share of $0.37, which is an increase from last year's $64 million and $0.33 per share, indicating improved profitability.
- Revenue Decline: Despite the earnings growth, the company's fourth-quarter revenue fell by 6.9% year-over-year, from $1.698 billion to $1.581 billion, primarily due to one less selling week, reflecting competitive pressures in the market.
- Future Outlook: For fiscal 2026, Core & Main anticipates adjusted EBITDA between $950 million and $980 million, with an EBITDA margin of 12.2% to 12.4%, and sales projected between $7.800 billion and $7.900 billion, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
- Market Reaction: In pre-market trading on the New York Stock Exchange, CNM shares fell by 2.09% to $47.40, reflecting investor concerns over the revenue decline despite the improvement in earnings.
See More
Core & Main Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Core & Main reported a Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.52, exceeding expectations by $0.19, indicating strong profitability despite revenue challenges.
- Revenue Decline: The Q4 revenue of $1.58 billion represents a 6.5% year-over-year decline, missing market expectations by $10 million, reflecting challenges in the current market environment that may impact future growth.
- Adjusted EBITDA Changes: Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 6.7% to $167 million, although the EBITDA margin increased by 10 basis points to 10.6%, demonstrating the company's efforts in cost control amidst declining revenues.
- Fiscal 2026 Outlook: Core & Main projects fiscal 2026 net sales between $7.8 billion and $7.9 billion, reflecting a growth of 2% to 3%, which is below the consensus estimate of $7.93 billion, indicating a cautious outlook on future market conditions.
See More
Core & Main Reports Fiscal 2025 Financial Results
- Sales Performance Review: In fiscal 2025, Core & Main's net sales increased by 2.8% to $7.647 billion, despite the impact of one less selling week, with average daily sales rising by 4.8%, demonstrating the company's resilience and growth potential in the market.
- Profitability Improvement: Net income for fiscal 2025 rose by 6.5% to $462 million, with basic and diluted earnings per share increasing by 8.4% and 8.5% respectively, reflecting effective cost control and improvements in gross margin.
- Strong Cash Flow: Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $650 million for fiscal 2025, up $29 million from the previous year, primarily due to lower interest and tax payments, enhancing the company's financial flexibility.
- Future Outlook: Core & Main anticipates net sales for fiscal 2026 to reach between $7.8 billion and $7.9 billion, reflecting optimistic expectations for market demand, and plans to continue investing in technology and high-growth product categories to drive long-term growth.
See More
CORE & MAIN PROJECTS FY NET SALES BETWEEN $7.8 BILLION AND $7.9 BILLION
Sales Overview: The core and main outlook for FY Nets indicates a sales increase from $7,800 million to $7,900 million.
Financial Growth: This reflects a positive trend in financial performance for the fiscal year.
See More
Core & Main Reports 3% Sales Growth for Fiscal 2025
- Strong Sales Performance: Core & Main Inc achieved net sales of $7.65 billion for fiscal 2025, reflecting a 3% increase, and a 5% growth when adjusted for one fewer selling week, indicating robust market share gains and successful acquisitions.
- Robust Cash Flow: The company generated $650 million in operating cash flow for fiscal 2025, with a conversion rate of 70%, which not only enhances financial flexibility but also provides funding for future investments and expansions.
- Gross Margin Improvement: The gross margin for fiscal 2025 reached 26.9%, up 30 basis points year-over-year, reflecting successful strategies in private label penetration and disciplined purchasing and pricing execution, further solidifying its competitive position.
- Positive Future Outlook: The company expects net sales for fiscal 2026 to range between $7.8 billion and $7.9 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected at $950 million to $980 million, demonstrating confidence in future growth despite challenges in the residential market.
See More
Core & Main Projects 2026 Sales Growth
- Sales Forecast Increase: Core & Main anticipates net sales for 2026 to be between $7.80 billion and $7.90 billion, indicating a growth of 2% to 3%, which reflects stable demand in the water and fire protection product sectors.
- Market Performance Fluctuation: In pre-market trading on Tuesday, CNM's stock was priced at $47.40, down $1.01 or 2.09%, indicating a cautious market sentiment regarding its financial outlook.
- Financial Report Release: The company reported its fourth-quarter financial results on Tuesday, showcasing confidence in future sales growth despite market volatility, which underscores its competitive position in the industry.
- Industry Outlook Analysis: With the ongoing demand for water and fire protection products, Core & Main's sales forecast reflects a positive trend in the industry, potentially attracting more investor interest in its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Core & Main Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings Growth
- Earnings Growth: Core & Main, Inc. reported a fourth-quarter net income of $70 million, translating to earnings per share of $0.37, which is an increase from last year's $64 million and $0.33 per share, indicating improved profitability.
- Revenue Decline: Despite the earnings growth, the company's fourth-quarter revenue fell by 6.9% year-over-year, from $1.698 billion to $1.581 billion, primarily due to one less selling week, reflecting competitive pressures in the market.
- Future Outlook: For fiscal 2026, Core & Main anticipates adjusted EBITDA between $950 million and $980 million, with an EBITDA margin of 12.2% to 12.4%, and sales projected between $7.800 billion and $7.900 billion, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
- Market Reaction: In pre-market trading on the New York Stock Exchange, CNM shares fell by 2.09% to $47.40, reflecting investor concerns over the revenue decline despite the improvement in earnings.
See More
Core & Main Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Core & Main reported a Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.52, exceeding expectations by $0.19, indicating strong profitability despite revenue challenges.
- Revenue Decline: The Q4 revenue of $1.58 billion represents a 6.5% year-over-year decline, missing market expectations by $10 million, reflecting challenges in the current market environment that may impact future growth.
- Adjusted EBITDA Changes: Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 6.7% to $167 million, although the EBITDA margin increased by 10 basis points to 10.6%, demonstrating the company's efforts in cost control amidst declining revenues.
- Fiscal 2026 Outlook: Core & Main projects fiscal 2026 net sales between $7.8 billion and $7.9 billion, reflecting a growth of 2% to 3%, which is below the consensus estimate of $7.93 billion, indicating a cautious outlook on future market conditions.
See More
Core & Main Reports Fiscal 2025 Financial Results
- Sales Performance Review: In fiscal 2025, Core & Main's net sales increased by 2.8% to $7.647 billion, despite the impact of one less selling week, with average daily sales rising by 4.8%, demonstrating the company's resilience and growth potential in the market.
- Profitability Improvement: Net income for fiscal 2025 rose by 6.5% to $462 million, with basic and diluted earnings per share increasing by 8.4% and 8.5% respectively, reflecting effective cost control and improvements in gross margin.
- Strong Cash Flow: Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $650 million for fiscal 2025, up $29 million from the previous year, primarily due to lower interest and tax payments, enhancing the company's financial flexibility.
- Future Outlook: Core & Main anticipates net sales for fiscal 2026 to reach between $7.8 billion and $7.9 billion, reflecting optimistic expectations for market demand, and plans to continue investing in technology and high-growth product categories to drive long-term growth.
See More
CORE & MAIN PROJECTS FY NET SALES BETWEEN $7.8 BILLION AND $7.9 BILLION
Sales Overview: The core and main outlook for FY Nets indicates a sales increase from $7,800 million to $7,900 million.
Financial Growth: This reflects a positive trend in financial performance for the fiscal year.
See More
