ASA reports plenty of growth in February monthly pulse report

ASA member wholesaler-distributors reported a median sales increase of 1.9 percent for February, compared to the same month in 2016.

Calendar year-to-date, all respondents reported median sales growth of 6.0 percent, and the median increase for the trailing twelve months is 3.9 percent. Inventory rose 4.3 percent compared to prior year, and the median three-months average days sales outstanding dropped from 45.8 to 44.6 days. Over half (54.8 percent) of the respondents reported an increase in gross margin percentages, and company YTD profit before taxes increased for 57.8 percent of the total sample. The percentage of respondents having more Full-Time Equivalent employees compared to a year ago increased from 52.9 percent in January to 56.0 percent in February.

Industrial pipe-valve-fitting (PVF) distributors reported a median sales increase of 2.0 percent for the month compared to last year. Calendar YTD, PVF respondents reported a median sales increase of 10.5 percent, and the median increase for the trailing twelve months is 4.3percent. Inventories grew 5.0 percent compared to prior year, and the median three-months average DSOs dropped from 46.0 days in January to 45.0 in February. PVF respondents reporting an increase in company YTD profit before taxes increased from 66.7 percent in January to 73.7 percent in February.

Based on the number of respondents reporting, this installment of the report also provides additional detailed performance results by the various demographic categories, including sales volume, primary business emphasis, regions and 19 specific market areas