Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat, thanks for all your help in these volatile times! What do you think of Core & Main as a stock to buy?

Article Excerpt

A: Core & Main Inc., $19.14, symbol CNM on New York (Shares outstanding: 172.4 million; Market cap: $4.7 billion; Manufacturing sector; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk www.coreandmain.com), is a specialized distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products to municipalities, and residential and non-residential end markets across the U.S. The company offers its customers around 200,000 items covering a wide range of specialized products and services. They include pipes, valves & fittings, storm drainage and erosion control solutions, fire protection products and fabrication services, and smart metering products and technology. Core & Main has a network of 300 branch locations in 48 states across the U.S, which helps link its 4,500-plus suppliers with its 60,000-plus customers. The company has a mix of sales from various product categories, end markets and construction sectors. It gets about 39% of its sales from the municipal construction market, 39% from the non-residential construction segment, and 22% from the residential construction market. It has an equal mix…