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TheStreet Wire

MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc. (MSM): Today's Featured Wholesale Loser

By TheStreet Wire 07/16/12 - 05:01 PM EDT

Find out if (MSM) is in Cramer's Portfolio.

MSC Industrial Direct (MSM) pushed the Wholesale industry lower today making it today's featured Wholesale loser. The industry as a whole closed the day down 1.2%. By the end of trading, MSC Industrial Direct fell $1.22 (-1.9%) to $63.56 on light volume. Throughout the day, 354,163 shares of MSC Industrial Direct exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 632,400 shares. The stock ranged in price between $62.92-$64.36 after having opened the day at $64.36 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $64.78. Other company's within the Wholesale industry that declined today were: Westinghouse Solar (WEST), down 20.6%, China Armco Metals (CNAM), down 7.7%, Wesco International (WCC), down 6.5%, and MWI Veterinary Supply (MWIV), down 5.1%.

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MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a direct marketer and distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products to industrial customers in the United States. MSC Industrial Direct has a market cap of $2.98 billion and is part of the services sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.2, equal to the average wholesale industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 10.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are six analysts that rate MSC Industrial Direct a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and four rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates MSC Industrial Direct as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, reasonable valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

You can view the full MSC Industrial Direct Ratings Report.

On the positive front, InfoSonics Corporation (IFON), up 12.1%, Rada Electronics Industries (RADA), up 6.8%, Aegean Marine Petroleum Network (ANW), up 5.9%, and Coast Distribution System (CRV), up 1.9%, were all gainers within the wholesale industry with Omnicare (OCR) being today's featured wholesale industry winner.

Use our wholesale section to find industry-relevant news.
Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the wholesale industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Goods (IYK) while those bearish on the wholesale industry could consider ProShares Ultra Sht Consumer Goods (SZK).

Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc. click any of the following:

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