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Side-by-side financial comparison of GREIF, INC (GEF) and MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC (MSM). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

GREIF, INC is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($994.8M vs $965.7M, roughly 1.0× MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC). GREIF, INC runs the higher net margin — 17.6% vs 5.4%, a 12.2% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (4.0% vs -21.4%). Over the past eight quarters, MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC's revenue compounded faster (-3.4% CAGR vs -9.2%).

Greif, Inc. is a global leader in industrial packaging products and services based in Delaware, Ohio. Originally a manufacturer of barrels, the company is now focused on producing steel, fiber and plastic drums, IBCs, jerrycans, plastic bottles, closures, containerboard, corrugated products and adhesives. In 2018, the company ranked 617 on the Fortune 1000.

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.

GEF vs MSM — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
GEF
GEF
1.0× larger
GEF
$994.8M
$965.7M
MSM
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
MSM
MSM
+25.4% gap
MSM
4.0%
-21.4%
GEF
Higher net margin
GEF
GEF
12.2% more per $
GEF
17.6%
5.4%
MSM
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
MSM
MSM
Annualised
MSM
-3.4%
-9.2%
GEF

Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q1 FY2026

Metric
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Revenue
$994.8M
$965.7M
Net Profit
$174.6M
$51.8M
Gross Margin
20.4%
40.7%
Operating Margin
25.8%
7.9%
Net Margin
17.6%
5.4%
Revenue YoY
-21.4%
4.0%
Net Profit YoY
1930.2%
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
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$994.8M
$965.7M
Q3 25
$1.1B
$978.2M
Q2 25
$1.4B
$971.1M
Q1 25
$1.3B
Q4 24
$1.4B
$928.5M
Q3 24
$1.5B
Q2 24
$1.4B
$979.4M
Q1 24
$1.2B
$935.3M
Net Profit
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$174.6M
$51.8M
Q3 25
$64.0M
$56.5M
Q2 25
$47.3M
$56.8M
Q1 25
$8.6M
Q4 24
$70.1M
$46.6M
Q3 24
$87.1M
Q2 24
$44.4M
$71.7M
Q1 24
$67.2M
$61.8M
Gross Margin
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
20.4%
40.7%
Q3 25
22.7%
40.4%
Q2 25
23.1%
41.0%
Q1 25
19.4%
Q4 24
20.4%
40.7%
Q3 24
20.0%
Q2 24
19.7%
40.9%
Q1 24
18.4%
41.5%
Operating Margin
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
25.8%
7.9%
Q3 25
6.4%
8.6%
Q2 25
8.6%
8.5%
Q1 25
4.7%
Q4 24
8.9%
7.8%
Q3 24
11.8%
Q2 24
7.2%
10.9%
Q1 24
5.7%
9.7%
Net Margin
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
17.6%
5.4%
Q3 25
5.6%
5.8%
Q2 25
3.4%
5.9%
Q1 25
0.7%
Q4 24
4.9%
5.0%
Q3 24
6.0%
Q2 24
3.2%
7.3%
Q1 24
5.6%
6.6%
EPS (diluted)
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$0.93
Q3 25
$1.02
Q2 25
$1.02
Q1 25
Q4 24
$0.83
Q3 24
Q2 24
$1.27
Q1 24
$1.10

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

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

Metric
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$243.5M
$40.3M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$655.1M
$214.1M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$2.9B
$1.4B
Total Assets
$5.5B
$2.5B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.22×
0.16×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$243.5M
$40.3M
Q3 25
$285.2M
$56.2M
Q2 25
$252.7M
$71.7M
Q1 25
$201.1M
Q4 24
$197.7M
$57.3M
Q3 24
$194.2M
Q2 24
$196.0M
$25.9M
Q1 24
$179.3M
$22.2M
Total Debt
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$655.1M
$214.1M
Q3 25
$2.3B
$168.8M
Q2 25
$2.4B
$285.0M
Q1 25
$2.5B
Q4 24
$2.7B
$289.9M
Q3 24
$2.9B
Q2 24
$2.9B
$299.8M
Q1 24
$2.3B
$294.5M
Stockholders' Equity
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$2.9B
$1.4B
Q3 25
$2.2B
$1.4B
Q2 25
$2.1B
$1.4B
Q1 25
$2.0B
Q4 24
$2.1B
$1.4B
Q3 24
$2.1B
Q2 24
$2.0B
$1.4B
Q1 24
$2.0B
$1.4B
Total Assets
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$5.5B
$2.5B
Q3 25
$6.7B
$2.5B
Q2 25
$6.8B
$2.5B
Q1 25
$6.6B
Q4 24
$6.6B
$2.5B
Q3 24
$6.8B
Q2 24
$6.8B
$2.5B
Q1 24
$6.0B
$2.5B
Debt / Equity
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
0.22×
0.16×
Q3 25
1.06×
0.12×
Q2 25
1.12×
0.21×
Q1 25
1.24×
Q4 24
1.31×
0.21×
Q3 24
1.41×
Q2 24
1.44×
0.21×
Q1 24
1.15×
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
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$-24.4M
$29.4M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$7.4M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
0.8%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
2.3%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
-0.14×
0.57×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$-24.4M
$29.4M
Q3 25
$197.7M
Q2 25
$136.4M
$151.6M
Q1 25
$-30.8M
Q4 24
$187.2M
$101.9M
Q3 24
$76.8M
Q2 24
$87.5M
$143.5M
Q1 24
$4.5M
$78.7M
Free Cash Flow
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
$7.4M
Q3 25
Q2 25
$100.7M
Q1 25
Q4 24
$81.7M
Q3 24
Q2 24
$114.0M
Q1 24
$53.4M
FCF Margin
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
0.8%
Q3 25
Q2 25
10.4%
Q1 25
Q4 24
8.8%
Q3 24
Q2 24
11.6%
Q1 24
5.7%
Capex Intensity
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
2.3%
Q3 25
Q2 25
5.2%
Q1 25
Q4 24
2.2%
Q3 24
Q2 24
3.0%
Q1 24
2.7%
Cash Conversion
GEF
GEF
MSM
MSM
Q4 25
-0.14×
0.57×
Q3 25
3.09×
Q2 25
2.88×
2.67×
Q1 25
-3.58×
Q4 24
2.67×
2.18×
Q3 24
0.88×
Q2 24
1.97×
2.00×
Q1 24
0.07×
1.27×

Financial Flow Comparison

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

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

GEF
GEF

Other$501.0M50%
Sustainable Fiber Solutions Segment$300.4M30%
Customized Polymer Solutions Segment$124.8M13%
Durable Metal Solutions Segment$62.5M6%
Innovative Closure Solutions Segment$6.1M1%

MSM
MSM

Segment breakdown not available.

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