NASDAQ:FAST
Fastenal Company (FAST)
Financials 
Technical Analysis 
Jul 30, 2026, 12:00 amThis summary was created by AI, based on 2 opinions in the last 12 months.
Fastenal Company, scheduled to report earnings soon, is currently navigating some challenges despite benefiting from trends like reshoring and energy sector growth. The insights from Trevor Rose highlight that while Fastenal's third-quarter earnings slightly missed expectations due to heightened operating costs and lower-than-anticipated pricing, the company remains on a path of gaining market share. The decision to delay product pricing in order to strengthen customer relations impacted top-line performance, although the company achieved positive share gains and gross margins. Looking forward, guidance suggests a slight decline in gross margins for the coming quarter, indicating that profitability may be under short-term pressure. Overall, while Fastenal has shown strong performance over the past decade, its current valuation at 38 times earnings raises some concerns, suggesting a cautious approach for potential investors.
Despite Fastenal's slightly weaker-than-expected 3Q results, market share gains should continue to drive above-market growth, even though signs of a short-cycle industrial recovery remain elusive. The 3Q earnings miss was primarily due to higher operating costs, reflecting a reset of the bonus program, and softer-than-anticipated pricing. Fastenal delayed product pricing by about 30 days to strengthen customer relations, which resulted in a 240-270-bp top-line contribution in 3Q, below management's 300-500-bp expectation. The company’s share gains and gross margin were positives in 3Q, though higher costs and less favorable pricing are likely to pressure near-term profitability. Guidance implies 4Q gross margin will decline about 70 bps sequentially to 44.6%, 40 bps below estimates. The sector has some economic sensitivity, but FAST is up 363% in the past ten years and one of the better names. It is not cheap at 38X earnings which would be our main objection. We would be OK with a starter buy position.
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The sold it over the summer. They report next week, A quality business but economically sensitive to the industrial capex cycle. Not a bad company. He sold it to buy more 3M. A reason to sell is that we may not see the soft landing to the economy. It trades at 32x forward PE vs.17x PE in 3M, which runs a more diversified business.
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Premium contentPremium contentBrendan CaldwellPremium contentIf you want a case study for the anatomy of exceptional dividend growth, this would be the company. Back in 2005 they had a low payout ratio and were growing top and bottom lines, and then they increased the payout ratio. Their dividend in 2005 went to $0.16 a share, and then went to $1 per share in 2014, a 23% dividend growth per share in 10 years. The dividend is secure although it is growing at a slower rate.
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Fastenal Company (FAST) Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fastenal Company stock symbol?
Fastenal Company is a American stock, trading under the symbol FAST (previously FAST-Q on Stockchase) on the NASDAQ (FAST). It is usually referred to as NASDAQ:FAST or FAST
Is Fastenal Company a buy or a sell?
In the last year, 2 stock analysts issued a Buy, Sell, or Hold rating on FAST (previously FAST-Q on Stockchase). 2 analysts recommended to BUY and 0 analysts recommended to SELL the stock. The latest stock analyst rating is BUY. Read the latest stock experts' ratings for Fastenal Company.
Is Fastenal Company a good investment or a top pick?
Fastenal Company was recommended as a Top Pick by Bill Baruch, Founder, Blue Line Capital on 2026-07-10. Read the latest stock experts ratings for Fastenal Company.
Why is Fastenal Company stock dropping?
Earnings reports or recent company news can cause the stock price to drop. Read stock experts' recommendations for Fastenal Company.
Is Fastenal Company worth watching?
Fastenal Company is followed by 32 investors on Stockchase and is a trending stock that is worth watching.
What is Fastenal Company stock price?
On 2026-07-30, Fastenal Company (FAST) stock closed at a price of $46.66.
It reports Monday. They benefit from reshoring and energy. Will do well.