The manufacturing sector has been one of the biggest drivers of the economic recovery after the recession. The upswing in manufacturing activity has also helped ancillary sectors like maintenance, repair and operation (MRO). W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) is a leading broad-line supplier of MRO products, with consistently improving operations, a great reputation, and room for continued growth.
Based on data of private companies through 2012, the machinery, equipment and supplies sector increased a solid 17% and it is among the U.S. economy’s top 10 growth segments. W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW), along with peers like Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) and WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC), is one of the few heavyweights in this segment.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) boasts a sound balance sheet, low debt, and healthy cash flow, which all allow it to invest in growth opportunities, raise dividends, and return capital though share buybacks. Despite missing consensus estimates on revenue in its last reported quarter, it has consistently hiked dividends for more than four decades.
Looking ahead
The global MRO market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.82% from 2012 to 2016. The global oil & gas and equipment services industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% to $613 billion by 2017.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) is a leading name in the MRO space, and stands to gain from this growth as it has presence across the globe. Latin America and Asia are among the world’s fastest-growing regions. Consequently, the company is planning to spend $150 million to expand its sales force and add more products to its portfolio in these regions.
Grainger is also looking at merger & acquisitions to grow. It recently acquired E&R Industrial Sales. This acquisition brings in an industry-leading team of metalworking experts and strengthens W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)’s capability of serving customers in the manufacturing space. E&R Industrial provides more than 100,000 products to 4,000 customers across the aerospace, automotive and general industrial sectors with annual revenue of $180 million in 2012. This acquisition is expected to be accretive from 2014 onwards.
The business to business (B2B) e-commerce industry in the U.S. is projected to be twice the size of the business to customer (B2C) segment. By the end of 2013, its value could reach an estimated $559 billion.
Grainger has plans for continued investments in its e-commerce platform, one of its most profitable sales channels. New product additions and private label offerings are expected to increase revenue and margins.
Through these efforts, W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) aims to improve on its second-quarter revenue of $2.4 billion, up 6% year over year, and its earnings of $3.03 per share, up 15%. Of the 6% revenue growth, 4 percentage points were attributed to volume growth, 2 percentage points were due to pricing revisions, and 1 percentage point came from acquisitions, partially offset by a negative-1-percentage-point impact from unfavorable currency movements.
Looking around
WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) released its quarterly report at the end of July and earnings missed consensus estimates. It recorded quarterly EPS of $1.25, below the consensus estimate of $1.35, and revenue of $1.89 billion, up 13.2% year over year, primarily on account of acquisitions. For example, the acquisition of EECOL Electric last December boosted sales in the June quarter.
The reduction in organic sales and unfavorable currency movements partly offset the benefits that accrued from the acquisitions. WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC)’s client base is quite diversified, with no customer accounting for more than 3% of its total sales in 2012, which is a good sign since the company doesn’t have to depend on a few sources for most of its revenue.
The utilities business continues to witness good growth while the construction business was mixed. The non-residential construction market in the U.S. remains challenged, but WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) is seeing the Canadian and international markets improve. Having very limited exposure to the residential construction end markets, the company doesn’t foresee much of an impact from the same.
In May this year, WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) was on Barron’s list of 500 strongest publicly traded companies where it moved from the 34th position last year to the second position in May 2013. Also, WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) remains the cheapest of the three stocks based on the P/E ratio.
GWW P/E Ratio TTM data by YCharts
However, from a revenue growth perspective, Grainger is the clear leader if we look at the five year data.
GWW Revenue TTM data by YCharts
If we look at the growth in adjusted EPS over the last five years, Grainger again emerges as the clear leader out of the three.
GWW EPS Diluted TTM data by YCharts
Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) reported fourth-quarter results recently where revenue increased 3.3% to $640.5 million. Adjusted earnings came in at $0.76, which was a shade higher than the year-ago value of $0.75, and in line with analysts’ estimates.
Despite macroeconomic conditions that were a drag on sales, the company managed growth in EPS due to consistent focus on operating efficiency improvements. Going forward, Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) is looking to make its sales team more efficient and close more deals. The company is counting on its expertise and know-how of customers’ equipment to address requirements and help customers reduce transaction costs.
Conclusion
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) might have come up with a mixed performance in the previous quarter, but it cannot be doubted that the company’s revenue and earnings grew in an impressive way. With focus on international expansion and margin expansion in the long run, Grainger looks like a good long-term holding and the best option among its peers.
The article This Industrial Equipment Services Company Looks Good originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by ANUP SINGH.
ANUP SINGH has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.
Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
