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Investing.com -- Home Depot’s agreement to acquire building products distributor GMS, Inc. for $110 per share in cash has prompted Brad Jacobs-led QXO Inc. (NYSE:QXO) to shift its focus to other targets, according to a person familiar with the matter. QXO is currently evaluating several alternative acquisition opportunities, it was relayed.
On June 18th, QXO, fresh off its $11 billion cornerstone acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply (NASDAQ:BECN), made a surprise all-cash offer of $95.20 per share for GMS. The next day, the Wall Street Journal reported that Home Depot (NYSE:HD) was preparing its own bid. Rather than entering a bidding war, QXO chose to remain disciplined with its price and is seen walking away from the deal.
QXO aims to become the leader in the $800 billion building products distribution industry, targeting $50 billion in annual revenue over the next decade through a mix of strategic acquisitions and organic growth.
Founder Brad Jacobs has a long track record of building multibillion-dollar public companies, including United Waste, United Rentals (NYSE:URI), XPO, and its spin-offs GXO and RXO.
“As expected, it does not appear QXO entered a bidding war for GMS, remaining disciplined on its offer price,” Wolfe Research analyst Trevor Allinson wrote in a note to clients Monday. He added that QXO is actively pursuing multiple acquisition targets and intends to expand into three to four industry verticals.
Allinson also suggested the sector could evolve into a “two-horse race” between QXO and Home Depot as both firms look to consolidate larger assets.
To support its ongoing acquisition strategy, QXO raised nearly $2 billion last week through a public stock offering, bringing its cash war chest to over $7 billion.
While Home Depot may have won GMS, QXO remains committed to its rollup strategy and is expected to announce its next deal in the near future.
Shares of QXO are trading up 4% in afternoon trading on Monday.