Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) and the best and worst performers in the maintenance and repair distributors industry.

Supply chain and inventory management are themes that grew in focus after COVID wreaked havoc on the global movement of raw materials and components. Maintenance and repair distributors that boast reliable selection and quickly deliver products to customers can benefit from this theme. While e-commerce hasn’t disrupted industrial distribution as much as consumer retail, it is still a real threat, forcing investment in omnichannel capabilities to serve customers everywhere. Additionally, maintenance and repair distributors are at the whim of economic cycles that impact the capital spending and construction projects that can juice demand.

The 9 maintenance and repair distributors stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2%.

While some maintenance and repair distributors stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 2.8% since the latest earnings results.

Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST)

Founded in 1967, Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) provides industrial and construction supplies, including fasteners, tools, safety products, and many other product categories to businesses globally.

Fastenal reported revenues of $2.13 billion, up 11.7% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with EPS in line with analysts’ estimates and a miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is down 10.3% since reporting and currently trades at $41.05.

Read our full report on Fastenal here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Best Q3: VSE Corporation (NASDAQ: VSEC)

With roots dating back to 1959 and a strategic focus on extending the life of transportation assets, VSE Corporation (NASDAQ: VSEC) provides aftermarket parts distribution and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for aircraft and vehicle fleets in commercial and government markets.

VSE Corporation reported revenues of $282.9 million, up 3.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 6.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $191.50.

Is now the time to buy VSE Corporation? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Weakest Q3: Global Industrial (NYSE: GIC)

Formerly known as Systemax, Global Industrial (NYSE: GIC) distributes industrial and commercial products to businesses and institutions.

Global Industrial reported revenues of $353.6 million, up 3.3% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

Global Industrial delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 14.1% since the results and currently trades at $30.16.

Read our full analysis of Global Industrial’s results here.

Transcat (NASDAQ: TRNS)

Serving the pharmaceutical, industrial manufacturing, energy, and chemical process industries, Transcat (NASDAQ: TRNS) provides measurement instruments and supplies.

Transcat reported revenues of $82.27 million, up 21.3% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Transcat scored the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 14.7% since reporting and currently trades at $60.22.

Read our full, actionable report on Transcat here, it’s free for active Edge members.

MSC Industrial (NYSE: MSM)

Founded in NYC’s Little Italy, MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE: MSM) provides industrial supplies and equipment, offering vast and reliable selection for customers such as contractors

MSC Industrial reported revenues of $978.2 million, up 2.7% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

MSC Industrial had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $86.24.

Read our full, actionable report on MSC Industrial here, it’s free for active Edge members.

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