AAON (AAON) vs MSC Industrial Direct (MSM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
MSC Industrial Direct (MSM) has outperformed AAON (AAON) over the past year, gaining 44.5% versus a loss of 15.4%. Over five years, AAON leads with a +86.7% price change compared with +54.4% for MSM. On valuation, MSC Industrial Direct trades at a lower forward P/E (23.7x vs 24.6x for AAON).
MSC Industrial Direct offers the higher dividend yield (2.70% vs 0.47%). AAON converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.5% versus 5.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AAON | MSM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $85.95 | $128.92 |
| Market cap | $7.09B | — |
| 1-day change | -1.35% | -1.12% |
| YTD return | +14.27% | +55.03% |
| 1-year return | -15.44% | +44.48% |
| 5-year return | +86.71% | +54.42% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 45.24 | 31.14 |
| Forward P/E | 24.57 | 23.67 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.90 | $4.14 |
| Dividend yield | 0.47% | 2.70% |
| Annual dividend | $0.40 | $3.48 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.44B | $3.77B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +20.11% | -1.35% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $107.59M | $199.33M |
| Gross margin | 26.75% | 40.75% |
| Operating margin | 10.14% | 8.00% |
| Net margin | 7.46% | 5.29% |
| 52-week high | $150.46 | $132.33 |
| 52-week low | $73.19 | $78.80 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -42.88% | -2.58% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +56.78% | +1.61% |
| Average volume | 1.16M | 690.75K |
| Shares outstanding | 82.45M | — |
| Employees | 5,897 | 7,077 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- MSM has outperformed AAON by 59.9 percentage points over the past year.
- AAON trades at a higher earnings multiple (45.2x vs 31.1x trailing P/E).
- MSC Industrial Direct offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.70% vs 0.47%).
- AAON grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+20.11% vs -1.35%).
About AAON
AAON stock →AAON, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and selling air conditioning and heating equipment in the United States and Canada. The company operates through three segments: AAON Oklahoma, AAON Coil Products, and BASX.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 5,897 employees
About MSC Industrial Direct
MSM stock →MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's metalworking and MRO products include cutting tools, abrasives, machining fluids, measuring instruments, metalworking products, machinery and accessories, tooling components, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 7,077 employees
AAON vs MSM FAQ
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AAON or MSM?
MSM returned +44.48% over the past 12 months, compared with -15.44% for AAON (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AAON or MSM?
MSM has the lower trailing P/E at 31.1, versus 45.2 for AAON. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAON or MSC Industrial Direct?
MSC Industrial Direct has the higher yield at 2.70%, compared with 0.47% for AAON.
Are AAON and MSC Industrial Direct in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.