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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK REPORTS
This comprehensive MDM 2Q26 Forecast is a guide to the U.S. wholesale distribution economy, providing a historical, current and future snapshot of numerous key economic indicators in one convenient place along with our exclusive sector-specific forecasts for 19 different product categories. Its economic indicator data is updated through May 15.
This comprehensive MDM 1Q26 Forecast is a guide to the U.S. wholesale distribution economy, providing a historical, current and future snapshot of numerous key economic indicators in one convenient place along with our exclusive sector-specific forecasts for 19 different product categories. This report was freshly updated in late February.
Premium Monthly
Our May issue is packed with articles that cover the margin pressure gap between large and small distributors; a deep dive into Grainger’s impressive 1Q; parts 2 and 3 of Tom Gale’s data analytics series; updates on DNOW’s MRC Global integration and ERP headaches; our monthly MDM Forecast and M&A Roundup; a Wiring products Market Profile; and more.
Market Insight Reports
See our breakdown of M&A activity by product category, the latest EBITDA trading multiples for 27 publicly traded industrial distributors; our latest Premium articles, which take deep dives into the M&A strategies of two prominent companies; and our detailed recap of dealmaking activity during January-March, which was the busiest three-month stretch since May-July 2024.
MDM’s 1Q26 MarketPulse Report consists of the quarterly results, analysis and commentary from the latest Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution Survey — conducted early April — that explored revenue performance, pricing and business expectations for the current quarter and rest-of-year. It includes a wealth of market-specific data and commentary from survey respondents.
Case Studies
This MDM Case Study examines how Stellar Industrial Supply built a differentiated growth model around documented customer savings, service-first selling and digital execution — turning measurable value creation into a durable platform for customer loyalty, expansion and operational excellence.
How has Singer Industrial grown into a 55-plus-company platform while preserving local leadership and culture? This MDM Case Study explores the industrial rubber, fluid power and automation distributor’s coordinated autonomy model, acquisition strategy and technology investments that are helping drive scale, efficiency and long-term growth.
Premium Articles
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We take a deep dive into the industrial rubber, fluid power and automation distributor's “coordinated autonomy” model — a strategy designed to balance shared scale advantages with true local decision-making. Here’s how Singer preserves legacy brands and entrepreneurial leadership while scaling a unified platform.
We share our latest survey-driven snapshot of what distributors and manufacturers indicated their digital sales are, plenty of commentary from distributors on the matter and our analysis and context on underlying factors.
When their $1.5 billion combination finalized in early November, it also kicked off a U.S. ERP transition for MRC that has had major problems from the start. We detail and analyze what DNOW has shared about those issues.
Many distributors believe they collect 100% of the special pricing agreement profit margin they claim. The real question is different: Are you claiming everything you’re entitled to? The second of this three-part deep dive series explores the hidden operational gaps quietly draining SPA margin.
Our latest update shows a modest downgrade for 2025 annual revenues before we get December's government data, and a larger downward revision for 2026. Get your product sector-specific forecasts here through 2027.
For many distributors, Special Pricing Agreement management has become an administrative burden to survive, not something to optimize. The first of this three-part article series explores how SPAs represent hidden margin for distributors and a roadmap for optimizing them.
One-third of distributors polled in the 4Q25 Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution survey say recruiting skilled labor is their biggest workforce challenge this year — and rising wages are forcing some to make cuts. We analyze the data and commentary here.
Years of supply chain disruption haven’t triggered the sourcing pivot many expected. New Baird-MDM survey findings explore why industrial distributors are largely holding steady — and what’s really standing in the way of faster reshoring and nearshoring decisions.
Now is the time for distributors to abandon their “just-in-case” mindset, argues Nelson Valderrama. Today’s (and future) markets and competition require strategic inventory management that optimizes the return on investment in countless SKUs with shifting values.
Driven by continued AI adoption and ERP upgrades, more than half of the distributors/manufacturers polled in the 4Q25 Baird-MDM survey expect to increase IT investment in 2026.
Our January update shows 2025 finishing up as a solid annual growth year for the industry. Get your product sector-specific forecasts here through 2027.
We dissect all the key figures from Fastenal's full year, 4Q and December results and provide the context around them.
As data centers demand nearly $7 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2030, electrical distributors are making strategic bets — from major facility expansions to new leadership roles. See how distributors are looking to capture their share of the growth.
Under new CEO Martina McIsaac, MSC Industrial is emerging from a difficult 2024 and first half of 2025 by refocusing on sales execution, core customers and productivity. Early fiscal 2026 results show rising efficiency, manufacturing-led growth and a distributor proving execution still matters in a muted industrial economy.
For many mid-size distributors, the warehouse is the biggest asset — a huge “bank account,” if you will. But unlike savings you can easily access, this inventory is a financial pain point. It’s a trap because you can’t use all that capital for anything else.
While building materials/construction — which had led every month prior — went quiet, other product verticals picked up the slack.
Stemming from MDM’s 2025 M&A Summit, learn how Singer Equipment scaled to nearly $1 billion through disciplined M&A — without sacrificing culture. CFO Seth Feldman shares how Singer evaluates deals, avoids costly missteps, integrates acquisitions thoughtfully and resists deal pressure, offering a practical blueprint for distributors using M&A to build stronger platforms.
Stellar’s DCS program has delivered approximately $250 million in verified customer savings over the past 16 years while taking the Tacoma, WA-based distributor from a regional player to a national standout. Here, we explain how the company’s DCS program works, why it’s so hard to replicate and how it fuels Stellar’s culture, growth and customer loyalty.
Our final forecast for the year reflects a healthy upgrade for the industry's overall 2025 revenue, with all but two of its 19 product sectors seeing upward revisions. Meanwhile, our 2026 outlook also saw a modest monthly improvement. Get your sector-specific forecast here, along with our new look at year-to-date revenues by sector.
From MDM’s 2025 Virtual M&A Summit, gain an exclusive look at a how a family-owned industrial distributor approached the decision to sell to private equity and what it reveals about valuations, buyer demand and the fast-shifting M&A landscape.
We take a deep dive into the industrial rubber, fluid power and automation distributor's “coordinated autonomy” model — a strategy designed to balance shared scale advantages with true local decision-making. Here’s how Singer preserves legacy brands and entrepreneurial leadership while scaling a unified platform.
We share our latest survey-driven snapshot of what distributors and manufacturers indicated their digital sales are, plenty of commentary from distributors on the matter and our analysis and context on underlying factors.
When their $1.5 billion combination finalized in early November, it also kicked off a U.S. ERP transition for MRC that has had major problems from the start. We detail and analyze what DNOW has shared about those issues.
Many distributors believe they collect 100% of the special pricing agreement profit margin they claim. The real question is different: Are you claiming everything you’re entitled to? The second of this three-part deep dive series explores the hidden operational gaps quietly draining SPA margin.
Our latest update shows a modest downgrade for 2025 annual revenues before we get December's government data, and a larger downward revision for 2026. Get your product sector-specific forecasts here through 2027.
For many distributors, Special Pricing Agreement management has become an administrative burden to survive, not something to optimize. The first of this three-part article series explores how SPAs represent hidden margin for distributors and a roadmap for optimizing them.
One-third of distributors polled in the 4Q25 Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution survey say recruiting skilled labor is their biggest workforce challenge this year — and rising wages are forcing some to make cuts. We analyze the data and commentary here.
Years of supply chain disruption haven’t triggered the sourcing pivot many expected. New Baird-MDM survey findings explore why industrial distributors are largely holding steady — and what’s really standing in the way of faster reshoring and nearshoring decisions.
Now is the time for distributors to abandon their “just-in-case” mindset, argues Nelson Valderrama. Today’s (and future) markets and competition require strategic inventory management that optimizes the return on investment in countless SKUs with shifting values.
Driven by continued AI adoption and ERP upgrades, more than half of the distributors/manufacturers polled in the 4Q25 Baird-MDM survey expect to increase IT investment in 2026.
Our January update shows 2025 finishing up as a solid annual growth year for the industry. Get your product sector-specific forecasts here through 2027.
We dissect all the key figures from Fastenal's full year, 4Q and December results and provide the context around them.
As data centers demand nearly $7 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2030, electrical distributors are making strategic bets — from major facility expansions to new leadership roles. See how distributors are looking to capture their share of the growth.
Under new CEO Martina McIsaac, MSC Industrial is emerging from a difficult 2024 and first half of 2025 by refocusing on sales execution, core customers and productivity. Early fiscal 2026 results show rising efficiency, manufacturing-led growth and a distributor proving execution still matters in a muted industrial economy.
For many mid-size distributors, the warehouse is the biggest asset — a huge “bank account,” if you will. But unlike savings you can easily access, this inventory is a financial pain point. It’s a trap because you can’t use all that capital for anything else.
While building materials/construction — which had led every month prior — went quiet, other product verticals picked up the slack.
Stemming from MDM’s 2025 M&A Summit, learn how Singer Equipment scaled to nearly $1 billion through disciplined M&A — without sacrificing culture. CFO Seth Feldman shares how Singer evaluates deals, avoids costly missteps, integrates acquisitions thoughtfully and resists deal pressure, offering a practical blueprint for distributors using M&A to build stronger platforms.
Stellar’s DCS program has delivered approximately $250 million in verified customer savings over the past 16 years while taking the Tacoma, WA-based distributor from a regional player to a national standout. Here, we explain how the company’s DCS program works, why it’s so hard to replicate and how it fuels Stellar’s culture, growth and customer loyalty.
Our final forecast for the year reflects a healthy upgrade for the industry's overall 2025 revenue, with all but two of its 19 product sectors seeing upward revisions. Meanwhile, our 2026 outlook also saw a modest monthly improvement. Get your sector-specific forecast here, along with our new look at year-to-date revenues by sector.
From MDM’s 2025 Virtual M&A Summit, gain an exclusive look at a how a family-owned industrial distributor approached the decision to sell to private equity and what it reveals about valuations, buyer demand and the fast-shifting M&A landscape.
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