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Side-by-side financial comparison of ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP (ARLP) and MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC (MSM). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($965.7M vs $516.0M, roughly 1.9× ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP). MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC runs the higher net margin — 5.4% vs 2.1%, a 3.3% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (4.0% vs -3.6%). ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP produced more free cash flow last quarter ($13.3M vs $7.4M). Over the past eight quarters, MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC's revenue compounded faster (-3.4% CAGR vs -6.7%).

Alliance Resource Partners LP is a leading North American natural resource enterprise primarily engaged in the production and marketing of coal for utility and industrial customers. It also operates complementary business segments including mineral royalty management, oil and gas extraction, and logistics support services.

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc (MSC), through its subsidiaries, primarily MSC Industrial Supply Co., is one of the largest industrial equipment distributors in the United States, distributing more than 1.5 million metalworking and other industrial products.

ARLP vs MSM — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
MSM
MSM
1.9× larger
MSM
$965.7M
$516.0M
ARLP
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
MSM
MSM
+7.6% gap
MSM
4.0%
-3.6%
ARLP
Higher net margin
MSM
MSM
3.3% more per $
MSM
5.4%
2.1%
ARLP
More free cash flow
ARLP
ARLP
$5.9M more FCF
ARLP
$13.3M
$7.4M
MSM
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
MSM
MSM
Annualised
MSM
-3.4%
-6.7%
ARLP

Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q1 FY2026

Metric
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Revenue
$516.0M
$965.7M
Net Profit
$10.7M
$51.8M
Gross Margin
40.7%
Operating Margin
4.2%
7.9%
Net Margin
2.1%
5.4%
Revenue YoY
-3.6%
4.0%
Net Profit YoY
11.1%
EPS (diluted)
$0.93

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
$516.0M
Q4 25
$535.5M
$965.7M
Q3 25
$571.4M
$978.2M
Q2 25
$547.5M
$971.1M
Q1 25
$540.5M
Q4 24
$590.1M
$928.5M
Q3 24
$613.6M
Q2 24
$593.4M
$979.4M
Net Profit
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
$10.7M
Q4 25
$82.7M
$51.8M
Q3 25
$95.1M
$56.5M
Q2 25
$59.4M
$56.8M
Q1 25
$74.0M
Q4 24
$16.3M
$46.6M
Q3 24
$86.3M
Q2 24
$100.2M
$71.7M
Gross Margin
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
Q4 25
40.7%
Q3 25
40.4%
Q2 25
41.0%
Q1 25
Q4 24
40.7%
Q3 24
Q2 24
40.9%
Operating Margin
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
4.2%
Q4 25
18.2%
7.9%
Q3 25
18.4%
8.6%
Q2 25
16.2%
8.5%
Q1 25
17.4%
Q4 24
2.6%
7.8%
Q3 24
16.5%
Q2 24
19.8%
10.9%
Net Margin
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
2.1%
Q4 25
15.4%
5.4%
Q3 25
16.6%
5.8%
Q2 25
10.9%
5.9%
Q1 25
13.7%
Q4 24
2.8%
5.0%
Q3 24
14.1%
Q2 24
16.9%
7.3%
EPS (diluted)
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
Q4 25
$0.93
Q3 25
$1.02
Q2 25
$1.02
Q1 25
Q4 24
$0.83
Q3 24
Q2 24
$1.27

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$28.9M
$40.3M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$214.1M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$1.4B
Total Assets
$2.9B
$2.5B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.16×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
$28.9M
Q4 25
$71.2M
$40.3M
Q3 25
$94.5M
$56.2M
Q2 25
$55.0M
$71.7M
Q1 25
$81.3M
Q4 24
$137.0M
$57.3M
Q3 24
$195.4M
Q2 24
$203.7M
$25.9M
Total Debt
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
Q4 25
$214.1M
Q3 25
$168.8M
Q2 25
$285.0M
Q1 25
Q4 24
$289.9M
Q3 24
Q2 24
$299.8M
Stockholders' Equity
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
Q4 25
$1.4B
Q3 25
$1.4B
Q2 25
$1.4B
Q1 25
Q4 24
$1.4B
Q3 24
Q2 24
$1.4B
Total Assets
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
$2.9B
Q4 25
$2.9B
$2.5B
Q3 25
$2.9B
$2.5B
Q2 25
$2.9B
$2.5B
Q1 25
$2.9B
Q4 24
$2.9B
$2.5B
Q3 24
$3.0B
Q2 24
$3.1B
$2.5B
Debt / Equity
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
Q4 25
0.16×
Q3 25
0.12×
Q2 25
0.21×
Q1 25
Q4 24
0.21×
Q3 24
Q2 24
0.21×

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$29.4M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$13.3M
$7.4M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
2.6%
0.8%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
18.5%
2.3%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
0.57×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$342.2M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
Q4 25
$143.9M
$29.4M
Q3 25
$209.9M
Q2 25
$151.7M
$151.6M
Q1 25
$145.7M
Q4 24
$168.4M
$101.9M
Q3 24
$209.3M
Q2 24
$215.8M
$143.5M
Free Cash Flow
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
$13.3M
Q4 25
$99.1M
$7.4M
Q3 25
$145.2M
Q2 25
$84.7M
$100.7M
Q1 25
$58.9M
Q4 24
$75.3M
$81.7M
Q3 24
$99.0M
Q2 24
$114.3M
$114.0M
FCF Margin
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
2.6%
Q4 25
18.5%
0.8%
Q3 25
25.4%
Q2 25
15.5%
10.4%
Q1 25
10.9%
Q4 24
12.8%
8.8%
Q3 24
16.1%
Q2 24
19.3%
11.6%
Capex Intensity
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
18.5%
Q4 25
8.4%
2.3%
Q3 25
11.3%
Q2 25
12.2%
5.2%
Q1 25
16.1%
Q4 24
15.8%
2.2%
Q3 24
18.0%
Q2 24
17.1%
3.0%
Cash Conversion
ARLP
ARLP
MSM
MSM
Q1 26
Q4 25
1.74×
0.57×
Q3 25
2.21×
Q2 25
2.55×
2.67×
Q1 25
1.97×
Q4 24
10.31×
2.18×
Q3 24
2.43×
Q2 24
2.15×
2.00×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

ARLP
ARLP

Coal sales$443.3M86%
Oil & gas royalties$41.3M8%
Other revenues$22.8M4%
Transportation revenues$8.6M2%
Tons Produced$8.0M2%
Mineral Interest Volumes (BOE)$1.0M0%

MSM
MSM

Segment breakdown not available.

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