BENCHMARKS REPORT

Industry Measure: Company Level Data
| SIC: | 5200 |
| INDUSTRY: | BLDG MATL,HARDWR,GARDEN-RETL |
| BENCHMARKS FOR THE INDUSTRY |
| NO. OF SEGMENTS REPORTING IN THE INDUSTRY: 6 |
|
1997 SALES FOR THE INDUSTRY: $ 1367 (Total Sales in $Millions) |
|
OPERATING MARGIN: 6.9 (EBIT (divided by) Sales) |
|
CAPITAL INTENSITY: 29.4 (Sum of Total Debt plus Shareholder Equity (divided by) Sales) |
|
SALES GROWTH: 21.7 (Compound 3-Year Growth Rate in Sales for the Median Participant in the Industry) |
| BENCHMARKS FOR THE TOP FOUR COMPETITORS |
| ROE: Net Profits (divided by) Total Shareholder Equity RONCE: EBIT (divided by) Sum of Total Debt plus Shareholders' Equity |
| Competitor/Rank by Sales |
Market Share (% Ind. Sales) |
ROE | RONCE |
| #1: TRACTOR SUPPLY CO |
37.2 | 11.2 | 16.3 |
| #2: FASTENAL CO |
29.1 | 24.6 | 37.5 |
| #3: TREND-LINES INC -CL A |
15.3 | 7.5 | 10.8 |
| #4: HOME CENTERS (DIY) LTD |
9.5 | NC | NC |
| Total of #1-4: | 91.1 | 17.3 | 23.3 |