MSC Industrial (MSM Quick QuoteMSM - Free Report) reported $952.28 million in revenue for the quarter ended August 2024, representing a year-over-year decline of 8%. EPS of $1.03 for the same period compares to $1.64 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.72% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $959.16 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.08, the EPS surprise was -4.63%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how MSC Industrial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Sales Days: 63 compared to the 63 average estimate based on eight analysts.
• Average Daily Sales (ADS): $15.10 million versus $15.25 million estimated by six analysts on average.
• Total Company ADS Percent Change: -8% versus the six-analyst average estimate of -7.2%.

View all Key Company Metrics for MSC Industrial here>>>

Shares of MSC Industrial have returned -3.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.