Oct 31 (Reuters) - Industrial maintenance and safety

products supplier WW Grainger Inc ( GWW ) lowered its 2024

profit and revenue forecasts, citing "slow but steady" demand.

The Lake Forest, Illinois-based company now expects 2024

diluted earnings per share of $38 to $39.50, with the midpoint

below its earlier estimate of $38.65 to $39.35.

The company revised the lower end of its 2024 net sales

forecast to $17 billion, compared with its prior projection of

$17.1 billion to $17.3 billion.

The company, which provides hand tools, power tools and

industrial products to home improvement retailers, construction

businesses and aerospace manufacturers, reported a 4.3% rise in

third-quarter sales to $4.39 billion.

WW Grainger ( GWW ) reported diluted per-share earnings for the

quarter ended Sept. 30 of $9.87, up from $9.43 a year earlier.

Shares of the company, which competes with Fastenal ( FAST )

and WESCO, were down 1.7% before the opening bell in

light trading.