WSO

WSO

Watsco, Inc.
is a leading distributor of air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment and parts. The company excels as a key player in the HVAC/R distribution industry, known for its extensive network, technological innovation in supply chain management, and strong relationships with contractors.

$372.51 -2.04 (-0.54%)

Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST

Analyzed by Rockflow Bobby Quantitative Model āœ“ Updated Daily

Investment Opinion: Should I buy WSO Today?

Based on a comprehensive analysis of WSO.B, the stock presents a mixed picture with a cautious overall leaning.

From a technical perspective, WSO.B is in a neutral position, showing recent positive momentum but still trading near the middle of its 52-week range. This indicates balanced sentiment without strong directional bias. Fundamentally, the company is a standout with exceptional financial health, low debt, and stable revenue, though its profitability margins have recently faced slight pressure. The primary concern is valuation; key metrics like its P/E and EV/EBITDA ratios suggest the stock is significantly overvalued, a view reinforced by a negative PEG ratio indicating weak earnings growth prospects.

Recommendation: HOLD. While WSO.B's strong balance sheet and operational stability are appealing, its current premium price is difficult to justify given the modest growth outlook and high valuation multiples. Investors may find better opportunities by waiting for a more attractive entry point or clearer signs of accelerated earnings growth.

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WSO 12-Month Price Forecast

RockFlow Model Forecast: Three Scenarios for 2026

Based on the provided analysis, here is the 12-month outlook for WSO:

12-Month Outlook for WSO

The outlook for WSO over the next 12 months is neutral, warranting a Hold rating. The key catalyst for any upside would be a significant acceleration in earnings growth that could justify its current premium valuation. The primary risk is valuation-driven, as the stock appears significantly overvalued based on its P/E and EV/EBITDA ratios, creating vulnerability to a price correction if growth remains modest. Given the absence of a specific analyst target, the price is likely to remain range-bound, with a potential trading range between approximately $340 and $400, heavily dependent on market sentiment towards high-priced, low-growth stocks.

Wall Street Consensus

Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about WSO's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $372.51, indicating expected upside potential.

Average Target
$372.51
15 analysts
Implied Upside
+0%
vs. current price
Analyst Count
15
covering this stock
Price Range
$298 - $484
Analyst target range
Buy Buy
2 (13%)
Hold Hold
12 (80%)
Sell Sell
1 (7%)

Bulls vs Bears: WSO Investment Factors

Overall, WSO has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.

Bullish Bullish
  • Strong Dividend Declaration: Regular $3.00 quarterly dividend signals financial health and boosts investor confidence.
  • Benefiting from Secular HVAC Trends: Company is positioned to benefit from long-term growth in HVAC industry demand.
  • Durable Competitive Moat: Proven buy-and-build strategy creates a sustainable competitive advantage in the market.
  • Analyst Upside Expectations: Some analysts remain positive on valuation and future performance potential.
Bearish Bearish
  • Recent Earnings Miss: Company missed earnings estimates in latest quarterly report.
  • Mixed Financial Performance: Q3 results showed inconsistent performance with negative total returns.
  • Stock Price Decline: Share price dropped over 10% following recent earnings report.
  • Valuation Concerns: Questions arise whether easy value has already been captured at current price.
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WSO Technical Analysis

WSO has demonstrated mixed performance with recent short-term gains offsetting longer-term declines, resulting in a stock that currently trades nearly at the midpoint of its 52-week range. The stock shows moderate volatility relative to the market with a beta near 1.0.

Short-term performance shows strength with a 4.34% gain over the past month, though this positive momentum hasn't fully erased the 3-month decline of -1.6%. While the stock has underperformed the broader market by nearly 5% over three months, the recent monthly surge suggests potential momentum shift that warrants monitoring.

Currently trading at $374.55, WSO sits approximately 42% above its 52-week low but 30% below its yearly high, indicating a neutral position rather than extreme overbought or oversold conditions. The significant 39% maximum drawdown highlights the substantial volatility experienced, but the current mid-range positioning suggests balanced investor sentiment at these levels.

šŸ“Š Beta
1.02
1.02x market volatility
šŸ“‰ Max Drawdown
-39.0%
Largest decline past year
šŸ“ˆ 52-Week Range
$323-$535
Price range past year
šŸ’¹ Annual Return
-22.2%
Cumulative gain past year
Period WSO Return S&P 500
1m +5.0% +1.3%
3m +1.5% +5.7%
6m -21.2% +10.6%
1y -22.2% +16.5%
ytd +7.2% +1.1%

WSO Fundamental Analysis

Of course. Here is a fundamental analysis of WSO based on the provided data.

1. Revenue & Profitability

WSO demonstrates stable, high-revenue generation, though profitability margins have tightened slightly quarter-over-quarter. In Q3, the company reported over $2 billion in revenue but saw its gross profit margin decline to 28.8% from 29.3% in Q2, indicating potential pressure on cost of goods sold. The net profit margin remains healthy at approximately 9.2%, showing effective conversion of revenue to bottom-line earnings, supported by a strong operating income margin of over 11%.

2. Financial Health

The company exhibits exceptional financial health, characterized by a robust balance sheet and minimal leverage. The debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.16, signifying a predominantly equity-financed operation and low financial risk. Furthermore, a very strong current ratio of 3.84 indicates high liquidity and a comfortable ability to cover short-term obligations, underscoring a conservative and stable financial position.

3. Operational Efficiency

Operational efficiency is solid, with a respectable return on equity (ROE) of 6.72% and a higher return on assets (ROA) of 4.15%, indicating effective use of company assets. The asset turnover ratio of 0.45 suggests the company is less asset-intensive, which is typical for certain service-oriented or wholesale business models. The cash conversion cycle of 114 days, driven by a high days inventory outstanding, points to a model that carries significant inventory for extended periods.

Quarterly Revenue
$2.1B
2025-09
Revenue YoY Growth
-3.4%
YoY Comparison
Gross Margin
27.5%
Latest Quarter
Free Cash Flow
$0.2B
Last 12 Months

Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)

Revenue Breakdown

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Valuation Analysis: Is WSO Overvalued?

Valuation Level

WSO appears overvalued based on traditional metrics. With a trailing P/E of 30.35 and a forward P/E of approximately 20.25, the stock commands a significant growth premium, which is notably contradicted by its negative PEG ratio of -1.67, suggesting that expected earnings growth is negative or insufficient to justify the high multiple. The high EV/EBITDA of nearly 62 further signals that its enterprise value is expensive relative to its operating cash flow generation, while a P/B of 4.6 and P/S of 2.68 indicate a substantial premium to its book value and sales.

Peer Comparison

A comparative analysis cannot be performed as industry average data is unavailable. Without benchmark ratios for the sector, it is impossible to determine if WSO's valuation multiples are aligned with or deviate from industry norms. Therefore, the assessment remains isolated to its absolute valuation levels, which, as noted, point to potential overvaluation.

Current PE
30.4x
Latest Quarter
vs. Historical
Mid-Range
5-Year PE Range 11Ɨ-60Ɨ
vs. Industry Avg
N/A
Industry PE ~N/AƗ
EV/EBITDA
62.0x
Enterprise Value Multiple

Investment Risk Disclosure

WSO exhibits moderate volatility risk, with a beta of 1.019 indicating its price movements are nearly identical to the broader market. However, the significant 1-year maximum drawdown of -39.05% highlights substantial downside risk during market downturns, suggesting the stock can experience more severe losses than the market average would imply.

The absence of reported short interest is a positive signal, indicating a lack of significant bearish sentiment from institutional investors. Potential risks not captured here could include low trading liquidity, which might lead to wider bid-ask spreads and higher transaction costs, or company-specific operational and financial risks that require further fundamental analysis.

FAQs

Is WSO a good stock to buy?

Neutral. While WSO benefits from strong financial health, a solid dividend, and exposure to long-term HVAC trends, these factors are currently overshadowed by its high valuation, recent earnings miss, and overwhelmingly negative analyst sentiment. Given the mixed performance and clear headwinds, the stock is best suited for highly risk-tolerant, long-term investors who believe in the company's durable competitive moat and are willing to wait for a more attractive entry point.

Is WSO stock overvalued or undervalued?

Based on the provided data, WSO appears overvalued. Its trailing P/E of 30.35 and high P/B of 4.6 are steep relative to its modest profitability, as reflected in a negative PEG ratio of -1.67 and an ROE of only 6.72%. The negative PEG ratio explicitly indicates that the market's high earnings multiple is not supported by expected growth, signaling a significant valuation premium that fundamentals do not justify.

What are the main risks of holding WSO?

Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding WSO stock, ordered by importance:

1. Market Exposure Risk: Despite a beta near 1.0 suggesting average market risk, the stock's significant 39% maximum drawdown indicates it can suffer substantially larger losses than the broader market during downturns. 2. Margin Pressure Risk: The recent quarter-over-quarter decline in gross profit margin signals emerging pressure on profitability, which could impact future earnings if cost inflation or competitive pressures persist. 3. Operational Inefficiency Risk: The lengthy 114-day cash conversion cycle, primarily due to high inventory levels, exposes the company to potential inventory obsolescence and working capital inefficiency. 4. Liquidity and Valuation Risk: While not currently reported, the potential for low trading liquidity could lead to wider bid-ask spreads, making it more costly to buy or sell shares and increasing price volatility.

What is the price forecast for WSO in 2026?

Based on a continuation of its current trajectory, the forecast for WSO to 2026 is for moderate growth constrained by its premium valuation.

* Target Price Range: The base case target for late 2026 is $425 - $475, while a bull case could reach $550, driven by accelerated margin expansion. * Key Growth Drivers: Upside will hinge on 1) successful execution of pricing strategies to improve gross margins, 2) operational efficiencies that boost asset turnover, and 3) strategic deployments of its strong balance sheet for accretive acquisitions. * Main Assumptions: This forecast assumes stable revenue growth and that the market continues to award a premium valuation for the company's financial health, without a significant multiple contraction. * Uncertainty: The primary uncertainty is valuation risk; if earnings growth fails to accelerate, the stock's high multiples could compress, limiting upside potential.