Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q3 behind us, let’s have a look at Boise Cascade (NYSE:BCC) and its peers.

Supply chain and inventory management are themes that grew in focus after COVID wreaked havoc on the global movement of raw materials and components. Distributors that boast a reliable selection of products–everything from hardhats and fasteners for jet engines to ceiling systems–and quickly deliver goods 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 better interact with customers. Additionally, distributors are at the whim of economic cycles that impact the capital spending and construction projects that can juice demand.

The 29 industrial distributors stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.6%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.4% on average since the latest earnings results.

Boise Cascade (NYSE:BCC)

Formed through the merger of two lumber companies, Boise Cascade Company (NYSE:BCC) manufactures and distributes wood products and other building materials.

Boise Cascade reported revenues of $1.71 billion, down 6.6% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a miss of analysts’ Building Material Distribution revenue estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 2.2% since reporting and currently trades at $136.89.

Read our full report on Boise Cascade here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Richardson Electronics (NASDAQ:RELL)

Founded in 1947, Richardson Electronics (NASDAQ:RELL) is a distributor of power grid and microwave tubes as well as consumables related to those products.

Richardson Electronics reported revenues of $53.73 million, up 2.2% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 8.7%. The business had an incredible quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 8.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $13.96.

Is now the time to buy Richardson Electronics? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: 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 $67.83 million, up 8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 8.5% since the results and currently trades at $109.12.

Read our full analysis of Transcat’s results here.

Rush Enterprises (NASDAQ:RUSHA)

Headquartered in Texas, Rush Enterprises (NASDAQ:RUSH.A) provides truck-related services and solutions, including sales, leasing, parts, and maintenance for commercial vehicles.

Rush Enterprises reported revenues of $1.90 billion, down 4.3% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 8.4% since reporting and currently trades at $59.51.

Read our full, actionable report on Rush Enterprises here, it’s free.

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 $952.3 million, down 8% year on year. This result missed analysts’ expectations by 0.8%. It was a slower quarter as it also produced a miss of analysts’ EPS and organic revenue estimates.

The stock is up 3.1% since reporting and currently trades at $83.31.

Read our full, actionable report on MSC Industrial here, it’s free.

Market Update

The Fed’s interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), has fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty heading into 2025.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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