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Investing.com - Loop Capital has raised its price target on MSC Industrial (NYSE:MSM) to $84.00 from $74.00 while maintaining a Hold rating on the stock. The company, currently trading near its 52-week high of $90.85, has seen its shares surge over 10% in the past week.
The price target increase follows MSC Industrial’s fiscal third-quarter earnings, which exceeded Loop Capital’s Street-high forecast and surpassed consensus estimates by 5%. The company’s performance was supported by favorable price/cost dynamics and incremental improvement in the core manufacturing vertical, maintaining a healthy gross profit margin of 40.92%.According to InvestingPro, MSC Industrial maintains a "GOOD" financial health score, with 12 additional key insights available to subscribers.
MSC Industrial’s fiscal fourth-quarter sales and gross margin guidance has also increased compared to prior expectations, supported by low-single-digit price increases. Loop Capital noted that an increasingly inflationary backdrop and potential for market share capture supports earnings per share growth into fiscal year 2026.
Despite the positive outlook, Loop Capital maintained its Hold rating, citing "elevated valuation vs. history and peers" as a limiting factor for near-term upside potential in the shares.
The analyst firm indicated it would consider a more constructive stance if its checks detect acceleration in underlying demand or if MSC Industrial’s digital and market share capture strategy shows stronger results.
In other recent news, MSC Industrial Direct reported its third-quarter financial results for fiscal 2025, surpassing both earnings and revenue expectations. The company’s earnings per share were $1.08, exceeding the forecasted $1.03 by 4.85%, while revenue reached $971.1 million, slightly above the anticipated $970.26 million. MSC Industrial Direct also saw an improvement in its gross margin by 10 basis points year-over-year. The company noted growth in its digital and OEM product lines, attributing some of its success to strategic initiatives like network optimization and digital enhancements.
The firm has been focusing on strengthening its core customer base and expanding its high-touch solutions, which include vending machines and implant programs. Looking forward, MSC Industrial Direct anticipates average daily sales for the fourth quarter to range from a decline of 0.5% to an increase of 1.5% year-over-year. The company aims to stabilize revenue and margins, with a focus on achieving over 20% incremental margins over a business cycle.
Analysts have shown interest in the company’s ongoing supplier price increase discussions and its website marketing improvements, which MSC executives addressed during the earnings call. Additionally, MSC Industrial Direct is working on mitigating potential impacts from tariffs, which the company views as an opportunity to strengthen customer relationships. The company continues to optimize its network and enhance digital capabilities, expecting operational expenditure growth to normalize in fiscal 2026.
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