John Wolz

The FIN Fastener Stock Index saw double-digit growth for the second year in a row, gaining 19.9% during 2007, compared with a 6.2% increase by an index of related industrial stocks.\ During 2006 the FINdex rose 19.7%.
While Precision Castparts achieved a strong 77% gain in share value, B/E Aerospace bested all other public companies that handle fasteners by doubling its share value in 2007.
Other companies with share growth of at least 30% included Barnes, Honeywell, Kaydon, Park-Ohio and Dorman.
Companies whose stock lost value during 2007 included Black & Decker, Chicago Rivet, Lawson and Paulin.
The year’s lone stock split among fastener companies was offered by Paulin during the second quarter of 2007.
No public fastener companies were bought out by private investors during 2007. During 2006, companies divesting their fastener holdings or being taken private during 2006 included Aviall, GE and Textron.
Q4 FINdex Outperforms Competition
The FINdex lost 4.1% during the fourth quarter of 2006, a slight improvement over the 4.2% of share value lost by the index of related industrial stocks.
B/E Aerospace saw the largest percentage gain during the quarter, jumping 27% to $52.90. Other stocks that gained value during Q4 included Barnes, Danaher, Honeywell, Kaydon, Lawson and Dorman Products.
Anixter recorded the largest percentage loss of stock value among publicly traded fastener companies, with its share price dropping 24% to $62.27 in Q4. Other fastener companies with final quarter stock declines included Alcoa, Black & Decker, ITW, Nucor, Grainger, Precision Castparts, Chicago Rivet, Fastenal, Park-Ohio and Paulin.
�2008 FastenerNews.com