FrançaisAre analysts right about MSC Industrial Direct (MSM)?
📈 See the interactive version (live chart) →
Historical analyst accuracy
For MSC Industrial Direct, we replayed every analyst price target of the past 12 months and measured the real outcome: 23% were profitable, average return +6% (57 calls). At 3 months: +2% average return (33% profitable). The higher the %, the more often analysts were right on this stock.
Most reliable analysts on this stock (past track record)
Their past track record on this stock (targets replayed against real prices) — not a forecast of what will happen.
| Analyst / broker | Calls i | % profitable i | Avg return i |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keybanc | 15 | 33% | +14% |
| Wunderlich Securities | 6 | 17% | +3% |
| Stephens & Co. | 5 | 0% | -1% |
| Baird | 5 | 40% | +10% |
Valuation
Is MSC Industrial Direct overvalued, and is it a good time to buy MSC Industrial Direct right now? If you're wondering, here's a recap to make up your own mind: MSC Industrial Direct's valuation vs its sector median, to weigh alongside analyst reliability (above) and past performance. Educational information, not buy advice.
The P/E (price ÷ earnings per share) = how many years of earnings you pay for the stock. The higher it is, the more growth the market expects — but the pricier the stock, so more vulnerable if growth disappoints. The forward P/E uses next year's expected earnings: lower than the current P/E = rising expected earnings. We compare it to the sector median to see whether the stock is expensive relative to its peers.
| Metric | MSC Industrial Direct | Sector median (Industrials) |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 29.6 | 29.2 |
| Forward P/E | 22.4 | 19.5 |
| Net margin | 6% | 11% |
👉 MSC Industrial Direct is valued in line with its sector (29.6 vs 29.2).
📖 P/E, PEG, margin…: see the glossary
💵 Dividend : MSC Industrial Direct pays about $3.46/share/yr → 2.81% yield. what is this?
Frequently asked questions
Is MSC Industrial Direct a buy right now?
The analyst consensus on MSC Industrial Direct (MSM) is "Buy" (8 bullish, 0 bearish calls over 12 months). This is not advice: historically, 23% of their targets on this stock turned out profitable over 1 year.
What is MSC Industrial Direct's price target?
The median 12-month price target is $150 (+23% vs $122), ranging from $145 to $155 (3 analysts).
Are analysts accurate on MSC Industrial Direct?
Over 1 year, 23% of analyst targets on MSC Industrial Direct were profitable, for an average return of +6% (across 57 timestamped calls). This is JPI Invest's accuracy metric.
What is the MSC Industrial Direct stock forecast?
Analysts target a median of $150 within 12 months, i.e. +23% vs the current price. The most bullish targets $155, the most cautious $145.
What is the MSC Industrial Direct stock forecast for 2026 or long term (2030)?
Note: analyst targets are 12-month (median $150, +23%), NOT 2030. No reliable 5-10 year price forecast exists (« 2030 prediction » models are speculative). The most useful inputs: the 12-month median above, these analysts' historical accuracy (23%), and the stock's past trajectory.
Is MSC Industrial Direct overvalued?
Its P/E is 29.6, forward P/E 22.4. A forward P/E lower than the current P/E means earnings are expected to grow.
📊 See the full interactive analysis of MSC Industrial Direct →
What is JPI Invest?
JPI Invest aggregates analyst recommendations across the entire S&P 500 (plus the S&P MidCap 400), replays them against real prices and measures who predicts best — on results, not reputation. Instead of taking a price target at face value, you see each analyst's track record on each stock.
- 🏆 Analyst leaderboard by real reliability (beating their sector, not just riding the rally)
- 🎯 What to buy: 3 backtested methods over 6 years, from cautious to aggressive
- 💬 AI assistant: ask anything about any stock, with the numbers
- 📊 Portfolio tracking + 🔔 price alerts by email
⚠️ Educational information, not investment advice. Analyst price targets are 12-month and can be wrong. Data via Yahoo Finance, recomputed by JPI Invest.