What Core & Main, Inc. told the SEC could break it.

As a distributor, Core & Main is exposed to historically volatile procurement costs across substantially all products it sells, with the risk hinging on its ability to pass through changes to customer pricing in a timely manner.

“The costs to procure the products we sell are historically volatile and subject to fluctuations arising from changes in supply and demand, national and international economic conditions, raw material costs, labor costs, competition, market speculation, government regulation and trade policies, supply chain constraints, as well as delivery delays or cost changes due to the availability of domestic or global logistics, and fuel cost volatility.”

While Core & Main generally has multiple sources of supply, in some cases materials are provided by a single supplier, and the loss of a sole-source supplier could be material.

“We generally have multiple sources of supply, however, in some cases, materials are provided by a single supplier. Any failure to maintain our relationship with any of our top ten largest suppliers, the loss of a sole source supplier, or a failure to replace any such supplier that is lost, could have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.”

Tariffs could cause price volatility and demand shifts, though Core & Main believes its exposure is limited since over three-quarters of purchased products are domestically manufactured; the Feb 2026 SCOTUS ruling struck down certain tariffs but replacements may follow.

“In February 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down certain of these tariffs, but the U.S. government has indicated it may impose replacement or supplemental tariffs in response to the decision. We believe our exposure to tariffs is limited as over three-quarters of products that we purchase are manufactured domestically.”

Core & Main's purchasing is moderately concentrated: its top supplier was ~7% of product expenditures and its top ten suppliers ~45% of total purchases in fiscal 2025 (no single supplier ≥10%).

“In fiscal 2025, our top supplier accounted for approximately 7% of our product expenditures. Our top ten largest suppliers accounted for approximately 45% of our total purchases in fiscal 2025.”