Industrial distributor MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc. (NYSE: MSM), Melville, NY, reported sales for its fiscal second quarter ended March 4 of $703.8 million, an increase of 2.9 percent from the prior-year period. Profit for the quarter was $53.6 million, up 8.1 percent from the same quarter a year ago.
Sales for the first six months were $1.4 billion, flat compared to the prior-year period. Profit was $107.8 million, up 3.1 percent.
"The environment continued to improve during our fiscal second quarter and the momentum sustained into March, the start of our fiscal third quarter," said Erik Gershwind, president and CEO. "Most of our customers continue to express an improving outlook, particularly those in our core metalworking market. Our fiscal second quarter results reflected these developments."
