Fastenal Company FAST

What the company does

Fastenal Company is a large-cap company in the Industrials sector (Industrial Distribution), with a market value of $59.6B, based in the USA.

It employs about 21,749 people and has been listed since Mar 26, 1990.

Fastenal Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the wholesale distribution of industrial and construction supplies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. It offers fasteners, and related industrial and construction supplies under the Fastenal name. The company's fastener products include threaded fasteners, bolts, nuts, screws, studs, and related washers that are used in manufactured products and construction projects, as well as in the maintenance and repair of machines.

Cheap or expensive? relatively expensive

Its price-to-earnings (P/E) is 42.2 versus 29.6 for the median of the Industrials sector in our universe (24 companies) — relatively expensive.

Revenue is growing 16% a year — the market is paying ahead for that growth. If it slows, the high multiple becomes the risk.

On analysts' next-year forecasts the multiple drops to 36.2 — they expect higher earnings.

The average analyst price target is 51.07, 2% below the current price (their view, not ours).

The stock sits at 93% of its one-year range (0% = the low, 100% = the high).

The risks

• No risk flags were detected from the data we have.

Strengths

• ✅ Profitable — 16 of every 100 dollars of revenue stays as profit.
• ✅ Generates free cash flow — profit becomes cash in the bank.
• ✅ Revenue is growing 16% a year.
• ✅ Pays a dividend (1.8% a year).

What changed this week

Over the past week the stock rose 1.7% (for comparison: S&P 500 -0.4%, sector ETF XLI -1.9%).

It set a new one-year high this week.

The company published its quarterly report this week — see the plain-language summary above.

This week's news

• Fastenal (FAST) Earnings Put Its Valuation Back In Focus finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-24
  What the article says

  Fastenal (FAST) is back in focus after reporting third quarter results that featured higher sales, stronger earnings, and a clear boost from demand tied to AI data center projects. Fastenal shares sit at US$51.91 after slipping 1.56% on a 1-day share price basis. However, the 90-day share price return of 10.40% and… source ↗

• Does AI Data Center Demand Change The Bull Case For Fastenal (FAST)? finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-24
  What the article says

  Fastenal reported third quarter 2026 sales of US$2,463.3 million and net income of US$401.6 million, with earnings per share of US$0.35 from continuing operations. AI driven data center demand played a material role in supporting Fastenal's recent earnings performance. This highlights how newer technology end markets… source ↗

• Fastenal (FAST) Stock Looks Rich Even After Stronger Earnings finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-24
  What the article says

  Fastenal has delivered a strong run in recent years, and the question now is whether the current share price properly reflects what its earnings justify. With the stock around US$51.91, investors are asking how much of the recent profitability story is already embedded in that valuation. Over the past 5 years the… source ↗

• 2 cash-producing stocks to target this week and 1 we question finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-23
  What the article says

  2 cash-producing stocks to target this week and 1 we question A company that generates cash isn't automatically a winner. Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand. Not all companies are created equal, and StockStory is here to surface the ones with real upside.… source ↗

• IBD Stock Of The Day: From Nuts And Bolts To Artificial Intelligence finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-23
  What the article says

  Q3 Fastenal earnings jumped 21%, the best gain in years, aided by AI data center demand. The Stock Of The Day is just below a buy point. Continue Reading source ↗

• MSC Industrial (MSM) Q3 Earnings Report Preview: What To Look For finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-21
  What the article says

  MSC Industrial (MSM) Q3 Earnings Report Preview: What To Look For Industrial supplies company MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM) will be reporting earnings this Thursday morning. Here's what to expect. MSC Industrial beat analysts' revenue expectations last quarter, reporting revenues of $1.05 billion, up 7.8% year on… source ↗

What changed since last week

No material change: same valuation verdict, same risk flags, price moved less than 3%.