This week's biggest items included earnings for Fastenal and HD Supply, while Amazon made waves in the distribution sector once again, reportedly amassing its own large trucking fleet.
Here's this week's Top 5
Fastenal's Daily Sales Slide, Hiring Continues In November: Fastenal reported its November sales on Dec. 4, which included a year-over-year decline in sales for a third straight month. The company posted total November sales of $298.2 million, a 4.1 percent increase over 2014. But 2015 had one more selling day than last year, making this November's daily sales of $14.9 million down 1.1 percent. It was the fifth straight month that Fastenal had smaller daily sales than the year prior. November's total sales were down 11.8 percent from October's $338.0 million. Fastenal's total employee headcount net gained by 257 in November to 20,784, up 12.5 percent YOY. The bulk of the gain was in sales personnel, which went up by 204 to 13,102. Selling personnel at the end of November was up 11.6 percent from a year ago.
Are You Wasting Your Most Valuable Sales Resource?: Sales guru Paul Reilly of Reilly Sales Training discusses the problem of salespeople spending far too much time on non-sales related activities. Reilly uses the results of a recent calling habits study, which reveal some eye-opening numbers about sales time management.
Amazon Buys Truck Trailers To Ship Between Warehouses: Multiple reports indicated that Amazon recently purchased thousands of commercial trailers to transport products between its distribution centers. The move would allow Amazon to sort its own packages before its contractors deliver them to customers' homes. The trucks and drivers, however, would remain employed by third-party delivery companies, which would prevent the additional regulations and costs of registering as a commercial trucking operation. Additional reports, meanwhile, said that Amazon is also considering launching its own air cargo service,potentially based in Ohio. Those steps could draw the e-retailer into direct competition with FedEx, UPS and other parcel carriers.
HD Supply Q3 Profit Soars, Sales Continue Rise: HD Supply reported a strong third quarter on Tuesday, highlighted by a profit that more than quadrupled from last year and healthy sales growth. The company posted Q3 sales of $2.1 billion, up 5.1 percent from a year ago, while total profit of $250 million, dwarfing last year's $60 million. Adjusted net income in Q3 increased $51 million from last year, or 62.2 percent, to $133 million. Q3's operating income increased by $50 million, or 27.9 percent from last year to $229 million.
Meet Fortive, Danaher's New Industrial Company: Danaher Corporation on Dec. 3 revealed the name of the new diversified industrial growth company expected to launch in 2016 as Fortive Corporation. Fortive will be comprised of two segments, Professional Instrumentation and Industrial Technologies, and will include market leading brands such as Fluke, Qualitrol, Tektronix, Gilbarco Veeder-Root, Kollmorgen and Matco Tools.