Deals Report 2023: Tracking the Openings, Closings, and Acquisitions Craig Webb The construction supply industry saw high lending rates and a relative lack of big transactions result in 22% fewer deals involving 2.6% fewer locations in 2023 vs. 2022. There also were 10% fewer buyers, with several big players barely present. But greenfield openings, while down 5% from 2022,... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 98
Creating Your Own Commodity Market Performance Measures Valerie Hansen If you haven’t considered BuyMetrics yet, I have one more reason for you to check it out in 2024 – our new Commodity Analysis and Visualization Module. This new module will give BuyMetrics’ clients the power to control their own market analysis and measure their own... Read More January 2024 Issue #16294 Page 64
ROI: Turn Your Largest COST (Lumber) into a Profit Driver Valerie Hansen Lumber is mission-critical to every component manufacturer (CM). On average, it represents two-thirds of your cost-of-goods (CoG), roughly half of the value of your product (Revenue – Pretax Profit). So, what are the market dynamics that surround the purchase of lumber? And how/why can CMs... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 72
CS150 Shows Revenue Gains Dropped, Big Differences Persisted Between Lumberyards, Home Centers, Specialty Dealers Craig Webb Dramatic falls in lumber prices caused America’s biggest sellers of building materials to record in 2022 less than half the revenue gain they achieved the year before, Webb Analytics’ latest Construction Supply 150 (CS150) reveals. The group, which arguably accounts for two-thirds... Read More June 2023 Issue #15287 Page 86
Deals Report 2022: Tracking the Openings, Closings, and Acquisitions Craig Webb Where you wanted to be and what you wanted to sell both figured mightily as factors in construction supply’s acquisition, openings, and closures activity in 2022. Deals were almost as numerous as in 2021, but big deals were rarer. Meanwhile, greenfield openings were far more... Read More March 2023 Issue #15284 Page 90
5 Tips for Surviving Stagflation Craig Webb When one of housing’s biggest optimists changes his outlook, attention must be paid. Stephen Kim, senior managing director and head of Evercore ISI’s Housing Research Team, had declared in September 2020 that housing had entered a Golden Age. But that changed on June... Read More July 2022 Issue #14276 Page 96
A Closer Look at Webb Analytics’ 2022 Construction Supply 150: Lumberyards, Dealers, and Component Manufacturing Craig Webb When the 52-page Webb Analytics’ 2022 Construction Supply 150 Report was released on May 3, the top headline was: Report Shows Lumberyards’ Revenues Soared Far Above Gains for Specialty Dealers, Big-Box Stores. Indeed, high-flying lumber prices helped drive a 19.2% revenue increase... Read More June 2022 Issue #14275 Page 92
Record-Breaking EBITA Exceeded Mid-Twenties for Many CMs for 2021 Todd Drummond Last year should have been a record profit year for wood truss and wall panel component manufacturers (CM). Many of my clients have mid to upper-twenties EBITA. A few made it to the mid-thirties of their total sales. Yet, so many find this hard to believe. Too many believe mid to high teens for... Read More January 2022 Issue #14270 Page 35
Business Tax Savings with Section 179 Deduction Carl Villella One of the most efficient and popular tax breaks for small to midsize businesses is the Section 179 tax deduction, and if you’re not currently taking advantage of it, you should certainly consider doing so. Here is how it is defined: Section 179 is an immediate expense deduction that... Read More December 2021 Issue #13269 Page 78
The Great Employee Wage Debate Todd Drummond A sign that could have appeared in any town has caused quite a stir. The message is direct: “Stimulate your ass to work—Every business in town is hiring.” [For image, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] For business leaders, it aptly voices their frustration when trying to compete... Read More November 2021 Issue #13268 Page 36