Trading Companies & Distributors

W.W. Grainger's (GWW) third quarter adjusted EPS improved 32% year over year while revenues jumped 19%; both outperforming Zacks Consensus Estimates. For fiscal 2010, Grainger maintained its sales growth guidance in the range of 14% to 15% and raised its EPS guidance. For fiscal 2011, Grainger...

I update the following portfolio/screen on a monthly basis on Scott's Investments. December's list of 19 stocks is here and returned an average of 3.47% for the top 5 stocks on the list versus 3.63% for SPY. The entire list of 19 stocks last month returned an average of 2.59%, led by Varian...

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) Chairman & Chief Executive Officer David L. Pugh today announced that the Company's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per common share, payable on February 28, 2011, to shareholders of record on February 15, 2011.

The board of directors of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW) has declared a cash dividend of 54 cents per share payable on March 1, 2011, to shareholders of record on February 14, 2011.

In a Form 4 filed earlier today, MSC Industrial Direct Co. (NYSE: MSM) Chief Operating Officer, Erik Gershwind, reported that he sold 5,150 shares of MSM on January 21st-24th for an average price of $59.73. The transaction totaled $307,606. Mr. Gershwind owns 135,570 direct shares of MSM. Source:...

W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) delivered adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.79 in its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010, up from $1.27 in the year-ago period. The company exceeded the Zacks Consensus estimate of $1.68. EPS reported in the quarter was substantially ahead of the company's...

W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) delivered adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.79 in its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010, up from $1.27 in the year-ago period. The company exceeded the Zacks Consensus estimate of $1.68. EPS reported in the quarter was substantially ahead of the company's...

Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported record sales, net earnings and earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2010. Sales of $7.2 billion were up 15 percent versus $6.2 billion in 2009. Net earnings of $511 million increased 19 percent versus $430 million in 2009. Earnings per share of $...

Piper Jaffray has published a research report on the 2011 Building Materials Outlook, and its key themes. In the report, Piper Jaffray writes "After attending the recent IBS 5 key themes stand out for 2011. 1) still sluggish availability of credit 2) a continuing trend toward composite/alternative...

GATX Corporation (GMT), a leader in leasing transportation assets, reported fourth quarter adjusted earnings of 33 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 40 cents and was below the earnings of 35 cents in the year-ago quarter. The decline was due to a lower marine demand...

GATX Corporation (GMT), a leader in leasing transportation assets, reported fourth quarter adjusted earnings of 33 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 40 cents and was below the earnings of 35 cents in the year-ago quarter. The decline was due to a lower marine demand...

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) Chairman & Chief Executive Officer David L. Pugh: "We believe that we will continue to see moderate growth in our daily sales run rates from the current levels throughout the remaining two quarters of our fiscal year. Based on the strength of our...

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) today reported second quarter fiscal 2011 sales and earnings for the three months ended December 31, 2010. Net sales for the second quarter increased 18.7% to $529,517,000 from $446,253,000 in the comparable period a year ago. Net income for the...