5.4.10.3Vertical

Plumbing Supply Houses

Distributors supplying plumbing materials to contractors.

Market snapshot

These figures describe Plumbing, HVAC & Mechanical Supply (5.4.10), the segment that Plumbing Supply Houses sits within — not Plumbing Supply Houses on its own.

Market size
~$194B
Growth
~11.2%CAGR (2017–22, nominal)
Companies
~13,200
FragmentationConsolidatingEstimate

U.S. Census Bureau 2022 CBP/Economic Census, NAICS 423720 (plumbing & heating equipment/supplies) + 423730 (warm-air heating & AC equipment/supplies); 2022 reflects price inflation.

Business model & economics

Revenue model

Plumbing/HVAC product resale through branch networks

Key economics

Recurring revenue
High

recurring contractor reorder and replacement

EBITDA margin
Thin, branch-density-driven
Capex intensity
Low

Characteristics

  • Scaled distributors (Ferguson, Watsco, Core & Main) lead.
  • HVAC replacement adds non-discretionary demand.
  • One of the most successfully consolidating segments.

M&A deal context

Deal activityHigh

Who’s acquiring

  • National plumbing/HVAC distribution strategics
  • PE-backed distribution platforms
  • Regional consolidators

What’s driving deals

  • Branch-density and contractor-relationship scale.
  • HVAC-replacement and waterworks demand.
  • Roll-up of regional independents.

Find Plumbing Supply Houses acquisition targets

Search Acquisera’s index for companies classified under Plumbing Supply Houses (5.4.10.3) and build a targeted deal pipeline.

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