Second Quarter Sales Trends: So Far, So Good

This is earnings season for most public distributors and manufacturers, and so far, the news is good. Granted, increases seen in most sectors in the second quarter 2010 are up from very low levels in the second quarter 2009. But demand has picked up, and most end-markets seem to have hit their lows.

(More benchmarking data for the second quarter can be found in the quarterly MDM/Baird survey results, presented in the latest issue of MDM Premium.)

Here's a quick synopsis of sales trends for public distributors and manufacturers. Second quarter 2010 is compared with second quarter 2009. (Find specific news about the largest distributors and manufacturers on MDM's Company News page: www.mdm.com/company-news. Find sector-specific news here: www.mdm.com/sector-news.)

All of these distributors are MDM Market Leaders. Find the list of top distributors in eight sectors, including 2009 sales trends, at www.mdm.com/marketleaders.

• DXP Enterprises: Up 6.6%
• Airgas: Up 7% (6% organic growth)
• Fastenal: Up 20 %
• MSC Industrial: Up 28.5%
• Grainger: Up 16% (9% increase in the U.S., excluding acquisitions)
• Bossard: Up 18% in first half
• Builders FirstSource: Up 20.5%
• Wesco: Up 8.6%
• L&W Supply: Down 12%

And some manufacturers:

• 3M: Up 18%
• Textron: Up 2.7%
• Illinois Tool Works: Up 20%
• Alfa Laval: Down 2%
• Zep: Up 24.4%

More breaking news can be found here.

Find more data on public companies in the second quarter 2010 Distribution Financial Metrics and Trading Multiples, published in the July 25 issue of MDM Premium.