Operations Archives

Court Upholds Oregon EPR Law in NAW Challenge

A federal judge ruled that Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act does not violate the dormant Commerce Clause or Due Process Clause involved. However, the ruling is not the final word on the matter as NAW weighs next steps and continues EPR challenges in California and Colorado.

August 28, 2026

Finance

Research: Your Costs Changed in 3 Places During 2Q26. Your Pricing Changed Once.

New NAW survey data show that sub-$100M distributors respond to cost pressure with a single blunt instrument, even as that pressure arrives through at least three different channels at once.

August 25, 2026

Legal & Regulatory Issues

NAW-Backed Coalition Moves to Block California’s EPR Law

A 17-state coalition filed a motion for preliminary injunction and amended complaint, arguing SB 54 is unconstitutional.

August 20, 2026

Building Materials/Construction

Lowe’s Pro Sales Help Drive 2Q Growth

Lowe’s second-quarter sales increased 8.3% year-over-year to $26 billion, while comparable sales increased with strength in its Pro, online and home services businesses.

August 19, 2026

Manufacturing

Food Packaging Manufacturer Sabert Expands Distribution Network

A new 300,000-square-foot distribution center to support growing demand throughout the Southeast represents one of the company's most significant recent supply chain investments.

August 19, 2026

Contractor

Home Depot’s Pro Momentum Builds as SRS Gains Share

The Home Depot’s 2Q26 sales were up 5.7%, with Pro segment comps outperforming DIY and SRS performing above the company average in the quarter.

August 18, 2026

Manufacturing

Ancora Eyes H.B. Fuller’s Building Adhesives Segment

Ancora suggests the acquisition of the adhesive maker's BAS segment would "position leadership to exit a segment that has lower margins in a highly fragmented market."

August 17, 2026

Earnings

QXO Posts 2Q Sales of $3.25B as Net Loss Narrows

Building materials distributor QXO’s second-quarter sales reached $3.25 billion, including $595 million from newly acquired Kodiak Building Partners.

August 14, 2026

Operations

Why Construction Estimates Fail, and How Distributors Can Make Them More Reliable

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August 14, 2026

Earnings

Newly Independent ADI Posts Record 2Q Revenue

ADI reported $1.286 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 1% year-over-year, while standalone adjusted EBITDA declined 6%.

August 13, 2026

Power Transmission/Motion Control

Applied Posts Strong End to FY25 as Organic Growth Accelerates

Applied ended fiscal 2026 with its strongest organic growth in more than three years and raised its intermediate targets to $7 billion in sales and a 14% EBITDA margin.

August 13, 2026

Flow Control

Xylem to Buy Cornell Pump, Roper Pump for $1.46B

The deal will add more than $260 million in projected 2026 revenue and expand Xylem’s portfolio of engineered pumping technologies for industrial and municipal applications.

August 11, 2026

Waterworks

Ferguson Posts Healthy 2Q Sales Growth on Nonres Strength

The distributor raised its 2026 outlook, detailed five completed 2Q acquisitions and highlighted its pending $1.6 billion FloWorks deal days after joining the S&P 500.

August 10, 2026

Operations

The KPIs Raising the Bar for Mid-Market Distributors

This this Q&A piece, Ducker Carlisle’s Amy Marzonie and Chris Fisher explain how consolidators are using inventory turns, delivery performance and cost-to-serve to assess distributor scalability — and why operational discipline alone won’t maximize growth or valuation.

August 7, 2026

MRO

DSG Organic Sales Jump 10% in 2Q Ahead of Pending Take-Private Deal

Distribution Solutions Group saw healthy 2Q growth that accelerated across its businesses, while profitability rebounded sharply from 1Q. The results come three weeks after controlling shareholder LKCM Headwater agreed to take DSG private.

August 7, 2026

Industrial PVF

DNOW Raises Outlook After 2Q Beats Expectations & MRC ERP Recovery Advances

The industrial PVF distributor raised its 2026 outlook and accelerated its MRC Global synergy plan while reporting better system speed, service and working capital performance.

August 6, 2026

Fasteners

Fastenal Daily Sales Accelerate Further in July as Growth Among Top Customers Narrows

The company posted its 13th straight month of double-digit daily sales growth as its three largest end markets all improved from June. Get our detailed breakdown and analysis of the figures.

August 6, 2026

Electronics

Avnet Sees 25% FY26 Sales Gain After 4Q Soars

The electronics distributor posted record fourth-quarter sales of $8.3 billion as demand increased across every region and end market.

August 5, 2026

Research

NAW Research: What Distributors and Manufacturers Want Each Other to Improve on Most

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August 5, 2026

Electrical

Graybar Sets More Quarterly Sales, Profit Records in 2Q

The employee-owned electrical and industrial products distributor posted double-digit growth for a second straight quarter, while completing its third acquisition of 2026.