Written by R.W.Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 9/7/21 Key Takeaway: The August seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) cooled m/m as raw material, freight, and labor constraints partially hindered growth, although the index remained firmly in expansionary/growth territory at 55.4. Commentary pointed to a strong supply-demand imbalance, labor shortages, accelerating […]
Written by R.W.Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 8/4/21 Key Takeaway: The July seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) of 59.6 improved vs. June, driven by slightly better selling conditions. Commentary continued to point to a supply-demand imbalance, along with labor shortages, accelerating pricing, and logistics backlogs. The Forward-Looking Indicator (FLI) […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 7/7/21 Key Takeaway: The June seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) moderated slightly at 55.8, but remains solidly in expansionary territory. Driving the slight m/m contraction was a decline in both the sales and employment indexes. Respondent commentary focused on broad-based inflationary […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 6/4/21 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) showed market conditions improved at an accelerating rate in May with a reading of 61.8, remaining above 50 and with strong m/m improvement. Respondent commentary focused on continued robust sales/order activity, however, […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 5/5/21 Key Takeaway: The April seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) 58.7 showed market conditions cooled off from the frenetic pace seen in February and March as supply chain constraints inhibited growth. Respondent commentary indicates underlying demand remains strong but servicing all […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 4/7/21 Key Takeaway: The March seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) was essentially stable m/m at 66.0, implying conditions remained at the strong pace seen in February. The sales index remained at very high levels as respondents continue to report more demand […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 3/4/21 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for February saw strong m/m improvement with a reading of 66.1. The sales index surged as two-thirds of respondents saw sales that were above seasonal expectations in a normally seasonally softer month. […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 2/4/21 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for January came in at 57.7, moderating slightly from last month’s very strong December reading but still showing nice growth (well above a neutral 50 reading). The sales index saw sustained strength […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 1/8/21 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for December came in at 62.6, showing nice m/m improvement and signaling a strong end to the year. The sales index saw similar strength with about two thirds of respondents seeing better-than-seasonally […]
Written by R.W. Baird analyst David J. Manthey, CFA with Quinn Fredrickson, CFA 12/3/20 Key Takeaway: The seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) for November was 54.5, moderating slightly from last month but remaining in growth range. The sales index, however, showed some modest improvement m/m as sales were slightly above normal expectations for the […]