The Coca-Cola Company (KO) Refreshes the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) as These Two Stocks Bubble Up

With credible partners like the ones it’s lining up, UniPixel Inc (NASDAQ:UNXL) looks to be a viable challenger to others in its space like Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ:ATML), which is also pursuing metal mesh touch sensor technology.

Supplying growth
Maintenance, repair, and operations is a lot sleepier and a lot less sexier than touch sensors, but W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) still makes it an attractive field to invest in nonetheless by exhibiting consistent performance. Yesterday the industrial supplier jumped 7% after reporting earnings that beat analyst expectations and raised its outlook for the rest of 2013.

The surprising strength of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)’s performance is what drove the stock higher, since last week industry peer Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST) reported higher revenues and profits but fell short of expectations in sales. MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc (NYSE:MSM), on the other hand, saw profits fall 7% as demand significantly weakened among its metalworking customers and its stock has fallen by nearly 10% in the past month.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW), though, has long been my preferred MRO specialist and over the long haul has outperformed either of its rivals.

GWW data by YCharts.

The MRO industry is very fragmented, and while MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc (NYSE:MSM) in particular has made it a point to acquire rivals to add to its growing presence in the field, I expect Grainger, as the industry leader, to remain ahead of its rivals.

The article Coke Refreshes the Dow as These 2 Stocks Bubble Up originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Rich Duprey .

Fool contributor Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Coca-Cola, MSC Industrial Direct, and PepsiCo. The Motley Fool owns shares of MSC Industrial Direct and PepsiCo.

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