The FIN Review of Fastener Stocks covers the fastener portion of 19 public companies with fastener operations.

A summary of each company’s results for the past 10 years is available to FIN Subscribers by clicking on the FIN Stock Review section of GlobalFastenerNews.com.

The publicly-held companies reported 2018 sales ranging from $37.2 million to $25.1 billion.

Highlights include:

  • Arconic reported revenue increased 8% to $14 billion in 2018, which included organic revenue growth of 7%. Net income soared to $642 million, or $1.30 per share, versus net loss of $74 million, or $0.28 per share, in 2017.

  • Bossard Group posted record results for 2018, with sales rising 10.8% to CHF 871.1 million (US$884.7 million) and “all market regions contributing.”

  • Dorman Products reported record net sales and net income in fiscal 2018. Sales, including fasteners, increased 7.8% to $973.7 million in 2018. Operating income fell 2.8% to $171.1 million, while net income increased 25% to $133.6 million, while earnings per share rose 29% to $4.04.

  • Bisco Industries reported revenues, including fasteners, increased 23.1% to $193.2 million in fiscal 2018. Gross profit grew 23% to $55 million, with gross margin flat at 28.5%.

  • During 2018, Fastenal sales increased 13.1% to $4.96 billion, with gross profit up 10.9% to $2.4 billion. Operating income grew 13.3% to $999.2 million, while net earnings improved 29.9% to $751.9 million. Fastener sales totaled $1.73 billion during the year.

The gains came amid market turmoil.

After two consecutive years of double-digit growth, the FIN Fastener Stock Index contracted in 2018, hampered by volatility that dominated the markets, making 2018 the worst year for stocks in a decade.

The FINdex declined 7.1% during the year, compared to a 7% drop by an index of related industrial stocks.

During 2018, industrial fastener stocks replaced aerospace stocks as the dominant performer.

FINdex stocks achieving growth during the year included Dorman Products (up 47.2%); Bisco Industries (up 87.2%); Grainger (up 19.5%); Lawson Products (up 27.7%); TriMas (up 2%); and Wesco Aircraft (up 6.8%).

Click here to read the FIN Review of Fastener Stocks.