Ferguson plc (FERG)

Plumbing and heating distributor. Read October 2, 2026 from the annual report for the period ending July 31, 2025, filed September 26, 2025. Ranked 2 of the 57 Industrials companies read so far, by the share within reach now.

The filing states approximately 35,000 associates, 32,000 in the United States and 3,000 in Canada, in one distribution business of 1,746 branches and 17 distribution centers, so one pattern carries the whole workforce (c).

The figures on this page come from the company's own annual report and from BLS staffing patterns for its industries, never from a roster. They are estimates with a stated method. Nothing here says what the company will do: within reach is not a forecast of jobs lost or of savings.

What follows from the reading

Share of working time within reach of AI, on the long-run pace at four in five: 25% now, 36% at the end of 2027, 39% at the end of 2028, 40% at the end of 2030. By the patterns, the work is about 40% desk work, 21% people work and 39% body work. These are the site's industry estimates weighted by the shares below: estimates with a stated method and range, not a forecast of what the company will do. By the same patterns, at the end of 2028 about 59% of the working time stays with people (conversation, in-person and hands-on work), 27% becomes checking a model's work and 12% could be handed over with lighter checks, from the industries' own figures, not the company's roles.

Headcount

35,000 employees as of July 31, 2025 (stated). Approximately 32,000 of 35,000 associates are in the United States and 3,000 in Canada.

The filing: “As of July 31, 2025, we serve our customers through a network of 11 regional distribution centers, six MDCs, approximately 5,900 fleet vehicles, 1,746 branches and approximately 35,000 associates.”

The workforce as industry patterns

What the filing says about the workforce: Approximately 35,000 associates including full-time, part-time, seasonal and temporary: 32,000 in the United States, 3,000 in Canada and a small number elsewhere; 1,746 branches, 11 regional distribution centers, six market distribution centers and about 5,900 fleet vehicles.

What the filing says about AI

3 sentences in the filing name AI. The filing names generative AI in its risk factors: competitors who devote more resources to systems development and emerging technologies, and its own pilot programs integrating generative AI into internal and external systems, which it says may intensify cybersecurity, privacy and data security risks.

• “Although we believe that the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: weakness in the economy, market trends, uncertainty and other conditions in the markets in which we...”
• “In addition, certain competitors may devote more resources to systems development and automation or respond more quickly to emerging technologies (such as generative AI) and changes in customer preferences than we do.”
• “For example, the rapid evolution of AI and machine learning technologies and the implementation of pilot programs integrating generative AI into both our internal and external-facing systems may intensify our cybersecurity, privacy and data security risks, such as the risk of increased vulnerability to cybersecurity threats and exposure or theft of proprietary, confidential, personal or otherwi...”

Its annual reports, year by year

Sentences naming AI in each annual report, counted by one rule, beside the median report in the Index that year. Each count links its filing. Every company, by year and sector

• Fiscal 20243median 4
• Fiscal 20253median 10

Headcount by filing year

As reported in each year's annual report, with the filing. A year marked not read had no figure the reading could take from the report's text.

Limits of this reading

• One pattern by description (c): branches, distribution centers and fleet are one wholesale business and the filing counts no employees by kind of location.

Source: the company's annual report on EDGAR, accession 0002011641-25-000027, the filing. Read by Claude Fable 5.1 under rubric version 1, by the method. A company can write to info@stratussc.com to have its reading checked against its filing.