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.
Emerging Markets
Article
Distributors Bet on Data Center Wave, Position for Long-Term Market Growth
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...
Operations
Article
MSC Begins New Chapter Marked by Sales Execution & Efficiency
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...
Inventory Management
Article
Managing Inventory Like a Retirement Portfolio: A Strategic Shift for Distributors
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...
Mergers & Acquisitions
Article
December M&A Roundup: Solid Activity in Holiday-Shortened Month
While building materials/construction — which had led every month prior — went quiet, other product verticals picked up the slack.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Article
How Singer Equipment Built a Disciplined M&A Engine — With Culture at the Core
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...
Strategy
Article
How Stellar Industrial Turned Documented Cost Savings into a Market-Defining Value Proposition
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...
Economic Trends
Article
MDM Forecast: December 2025 Update
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...
Mergers & Acquisitions
Article
Inside Crane Group’s Sale to PE, and Lessons for Distributors Entering 2026 M&A Cycle
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...
Mergers & Acquisitions
Article
November M&A Roundup: 4Q Momentum Continues on Building Materials Strength
Building Materials/Construction continues to rack up frequent deals, while all of November’s activity was comprised of small, tuck-in transactions.
Digital Commerce
Article
Benchmarks: Here’s How Much Distributors Really Spend on eCommerce
Distributors increasingly want to know whether their eCommerce investment is too high, too low or right on target. The latest Baird-MDM survey breaks down eCommerce SG&A spend across all respondents, distributors and manufacturers — including...

