How the public companies fared in '97

By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 2/1/1998

WINNERS

Applied Industrial Technologies 34 13/16 18 1/4 26 3/4 +43.9%

Lawson Products, Inc. 32 1/2 21 1/8 29 3/4 +36

Kaman Industrial Technologies 20 3/8 12 16 3/8 +26

Vallen Corp. 22 3/8 15 1/2 20 3/4 +24.8

W.W. Grainger 99 3/4 70 1/2 97 3/16 +21.1

Barnes Group (Bowman Dist) 30 3/8 19 3/4 22 3/4 +13.8

MSC Industrial Supply Co. 46 1/8 27 3/4 42 +13.5

LOSERS

Noland Co. 25 1/4 20 1/2 22 1/2 -2.2

Fastenal, Inc. 60 1/2 30 3/4 38 1/4 -16.4

DXP Enterprises (Sepco) 7 5 5 3/4 -17.9

Industrial Distribution Group 23 1/4 1 4 9/16 15 11/16- -25.3

Airgas 24 1/2 13 3/8 14 -36.4

Strategic Distribution, Inc. 8 1/8 3 3/16 4 1/2 -42.9

Source: Industrial Distribution*Based on closing price on 12/31/97; dividends not included