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MSC Industrial (98M) Risk Analysis

Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as ā€œRisk Factorsā€. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or ā€œforeign private issuerā€ reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanksā€™ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning. MSC Industrial disclosed 31 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. MSC Industrial reported the most risks in the ā€œAbility to Sellā€ category.

Risk Overview Q1, 2026

Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Feb 28, 2026, filed Apr 01, 2026

Risk Distribution
31Risks
Sector Avg.Finance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Risk Change Over Time

MSC Industrial disclosed risks per quarterNo. of Risks2930313233Q3Q4Q12023Q2Q3Q4Q12024Q2Q3Q4Q12025Q2Q3Q12026Showing: Q3, 2025
Risks removedRisks addedRisks changedMSC Industrial Risk Factors
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Risk Highlights Q1, 2026

Main Risk Category
Ability to Sell
With 9 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
31
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 32
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Feb 2026
Number of Risk Changed
0
-3
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 1

Risk Word Cloud

changes in tax legislation and associated compliance requirements could adversely affect our financial results.adversely affect our financial resultsour business depends heavily on the operating levels of our customers and the economic factors that affect them, including general economic conditions.operating levels of our customersour business is exposed to the credit risk of our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.credit risk of our customersthe growth of our digital platforms and e-commerce capabilities exposes us to particular risks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.growth of our digital platformsclimate change and societal and governmental responses to climate change could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations, including indirectly through impacts on our customers.governmental responses to climate changewe establish insurance-related healthcare reserves based on historical claims experience and actuarial estimates, which could lead to adjustments in the future based on actual claims incurred.establish insurance-related healthcare reserves bagoodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets recorded as a result of our acquisitions could become impaired.indefinite-lived intangible assets recordedthe terms of our credit facilities and senior notes impose operating and financial restrictions on us, which may limit our ability to respond to changing business and economic conditions.terms of our credit facilitiesdisruptions or breaches of our it systems, or violations of data privacy laws, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.violations of data privacy lawsour e-commerce channels are subject to risks related to online payment methods and other online transactions, including through purchasing platforms.our e-commerce channels

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 31

Competition1 | 3.2%
  • Competition - Risk 1
    We operate in a highly competitive industry, which is evolving and consolidating, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

    The MRO supply industry, although consolidating, still remains a large, fragmented industry that is highly competitive. We face competition from traditional channels of distribution, such as retail outlets, dealers and wholesalers, regional and national distributors utilizing direct sales forces, manufacturers of MRO supplies, large warehouse stores and large direct mail distributors. We believe that sales of MRO supplies will continue to become more concentrated over time, which may make MRO supply distribution more competitive. Some of our competitors challenge us with a greater variety of product offerings, greater financial resources, additional services, or a combination of these factors. In addition, we also face the risk of companies that operate primarily outside of our industry entering our marketplace. Our industry is evolving at a rapid pace. If we do not have the agility and flexibility to effectively respond to the accelerated pace of industry changes, our strategy could be put at risk resulting in a loss of market share. We also face substantial competition in the online distribution space that competes with price transparency. Increased competition from online retailers (particularly those major internet providers who can offer a wide range of products and rapid delivery), and the adoption by competitors of aggressive pricing strategies or sales methods, could cause us to lose market share or reduce our prices, adversely affecting our sales, margins, and profitability. Traditional MRO suppliers are attempting to consolidate the market through internal expansion or acquisitions or mergers with other industrial suppliers, or a combination of both. This consolidation allows suppliers to improve efficiency, spread fixed costs over a greater number of sales, and achieve other benefits derived from economies of scale. The trend of our industry toward consolidation could cause the industry to become more competitive as greater economies of scale are achieved by competitors, or as competitors with new lower-cost business models are able to operate with lower prices and gross profit on products. These trends may adversely affect our sales, margins and profitability. In order to operate more efficiently, control costs and improve profitability, we incur restructuring and other costs, which can include consulting, severance and separation costs. There can be no assurance that action taken in connection with such costs will achieve their intended benefits.

Demand2 | 6.5%
Sales & Marketing6 | 19.4%

See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are ā€œRisk Factorsā€?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment. They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result. It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process. Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for ā€œforeign private issuersā€. Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report. According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in ā€œplain Englishā€ so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing. You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a companyā€™s risk factors compare to others in its sector. Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements. A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below. 1. Financial & Corporate Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results. Share Price & Shareholder Rights ā€“ risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing. Debt & Financing ā€“ risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments. Corporate Activity and Growth ā€“ risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances. 2. Legal & Regulatory Litigation and Legal Liabilities ā€“ risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company. Regulation ā€“ risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation. Environmental / Social ā€“ risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy. Taxation & Government Incentives ā€“ risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives. 3. Production Costs ā€“ risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory. Supply Chain ā€“ risks related to the companyā€™s suppliers. Manufacturing ā€“ risks related to the companyā€™s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls. Human Capital ā€“ risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation. 4. Technology & Innovation Innovation / R&D ā€“ risks related to innovation and new product development. Technology ā€“ risks related to the companyā€™s reliance on technology. Cyber Security ā€“ risks related to securing the companyā€™s digital assets and from cyber attacks. Trade Secrets & Patents ā€“ risks related to the companyā€™s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying. 5. Ability to Sell Demand ā€“ risks related to the demand of the companyā€™s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers. Competition ā€“ risks related to the companyā€™s competition including substitutes. Sales & Marketing ā€“ risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration. Brand & Reputation ā€“ risks related to the companyā€™s brand and reputation. 6. Macro & Political Economy & Political Environment ā€“ risks related to changes in economic and political conditions. Natural and Human Disruptions ā€“ risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19. International Operations ā€“ risks related to the global nature of the company. Capital Markets ā€“ risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.