Finance & Strategy
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Applied Industrial Targets $7 Billion as Automation, M&A Drive Growth Strategy
Applied is positioning itself around plant modernization, robotics, artificial intelligence, infrastructure investment, and rising demand for technical support, while using acquisitions to add capabilities and cross-selling to push those capabilities deeper into its existing customer base.
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Cardinal Health Sales Rise 6% to $63.7 Billion as Earnings Jump 67%
Cardinal Health plans to open a distribution center in Indianapolis in 2027 that will feature advanced robotics and automation to add capacity and increase operating flexibility.
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Ferguson Sales Rise 4.6% as Nonresidential Business, Acquisitions Fuel Growth
Ferguson also continued an aggressive acquisition push, completing five deals during the quarter that expanded its HVAC, waterworks, commercial and industrial operations.
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Portland Bolt Acquires Threadline Products, Expands Southeast Distribution Reach
The acquisition gives Portland Bolt another distribution point on the East Coast and expands its ability to produce and deliver custom products closer to customers in the Southeast.
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US Foods Gains Ground With Independent Restaurants as Q2 Profit Climbs
The company said it continues to focus on independent restaurants, one of its fastest-growing customer segments, as part of its long-term strategy to gain market share.
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DXP Enterprises Posts Strong Q2 Growth, Expands Canadian Water Business with Mequipco Acquisition
Founded in 1974, Mequipco operates three locations serving British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. DXP financed the acquisition with cash and shares of common stock. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
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Hillman Acquires Kanebridge for $315 Million to Expand Industrial Fastener Distribution
The acquisition marks Hillman’s first major expansion into the U.S. master distribution market for industrial fasteners.
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BlueLinx Gains Market Share Through Specialty Products, Supplier Partnerships and Digital Transformation
BlueLinx’s strategy centers on expanding its higher-margin specialty products business while reducing its dependence on more volatile commodity building materials.
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Graybar Reports Record Second-Quarter Sales and Profit as Growth Strategy Gains Momentum
For the first six months of 2026, net sales increased 12.1% to $7.1 billion from $6.3 billion in the same period last year, while net income climbed 25.7% to $300.5 million from $239.1 million.
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AlarMax Expands Logistics, Training Capabilities with New Fulfillment Center and Innovation Lab
The investments reflect a broader shift in specialty distribution as security, access control, networking and audiovisual systems become more integrated and technically complex.