Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST) Stock

Fastenal

Fastenal opened its first fastener store in 1967 in Winona, Minnesota. Since then, it has greatly expanded its footprint as well as its products and services. Today, Fastenal serves its 400,000 active customers through approximately 1,600 branches, over 2,000 on-site locations, and 15 distribution centers. Since 1993, the company has added other product categories, but fasteners remain its largest category at about 30%-35% of sales. Fastenal also offers customers supply chain solutions, such as vending and vendor-managed inventory.

FAST


([content-module:CompanyOverview, NASDAQ:FAST)
Fastenal Inc. (NASDAQ:FAST) is a leading supplier of construction and industrial supplies, including fasteners, bolts, screws, studs, washers, as well as safety supplies

Fastenal : Growth Trends, Challenges &amp; Key Investment Insights

streetTRACKS Dow Jones U.S. Large Cap Value Index Fund

With the stock market going through its first earnings season of 2025, companies are making important announcements. This includes the approval of share buyback programs, as well as dividend increases. Below, I’ll

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Fastenal Co

FAST ACCOUNTING CO LTD by FAST ACCOUNTING CO LTD.

FASTIGHETS AB BALDR U/ADR by FASTIGHETS AB BALDER

FASTIGHETS AKTIEBLAET AKB by FASTIGHETS AKTIEBOLAGET

FAST CASUAL CONCEPTS INC by FAST CASUAL CONCEPTS INC.

Fast Casual Concepts Inc

Fast Finance Pay Corp

FAST FINANCE PAY CORP NEW by Fast Finance Pay Corp.

FAST RETAILING CO LTD by Fast Retailing Co. Ltd.

Fast Retailing Co Ltd

FAST RETAILING UNSP/ADR by Fast Retailing Co. Ltd.

Fastbase Inc

FASTIGHETS BALDER B NEW by FASTIGHETS AB BALDER

Fastighets AB Balder

Fastly Inc

Fastned BV

Fastenal's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NYSE">FAST</a>) short percent of float has risen 6.19% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 12.05 million shares sold short, which is 2.4% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.05 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Fastenal Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737662414_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Fastenal has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Fastenal's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Fastenal's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.03%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Looking Into Fastenal's Recent Short Interest

In the last three months, 4 analysts have published ratings on Fastenal (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $85.25, a high estimate of $88.00, and a low estimate of $82.00. Observing a 7.57% increase, the current average has risen from the previous average price target of $79.25. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737496844_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
The standing of Fastenal among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Brian Butler</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$86.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Butler</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$86.00</td>
<td>$86.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Volkmann</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amit Mehrotra</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Fastenal. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Fastenal compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.</li>
</ul>
Understanding these analyst evaluations alongside key financial indicators can offer valuable insights into Fastenal's market standing. Stay informed and make well-considered decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FAST/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Fastenal analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Fastenal</h2>
Fastenal opened its first fastener store in 1967 in Winona, Minnesota. Since then, it has greatly expanded its footprint as well as its products and services. Today, Fastenal serves its 400,000 active customers through approximately 1,600 branches, over 1,800 on-site locations, and 15 distribution centers. Since 1993, the company has added other product categories, but fasteners remain its largest category at about 30%-35% of sales. Fastenal also offers customers supply chain solutions, such as vending and vendor-managed inventory.
<h3>Fastenal: Delving into Financials</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization surpasses industry averages, showcasing a dominant size relative to peers and suggesting a strong market position.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Fastenal's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 3.48% as of 30 September, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Industrials sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 15.61%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Fastenal's ROE lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns on equity capital. With an ROE of 8.41%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Fastenal's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 6.38%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, Fastenal adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
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Analyst Ratings

What 4 Analyst Ratings Have To Say About Fastenal

Stifel analyst Brian Butler maintains Fastenal (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $86 to $82.

News

Price Target

Stifel Maintains Hold on Fastenal, Lowers Price Target to $82

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed an improvement in overall market sentiment, but the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday.
U.S. stocks settled higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 300 points during the session.
All three major indices also recorded their first weekly gain of 2025. The Dow jumped 3.7%, while the S&amp;P 500 added 2.9% last week. The Nasdaq, meanwhile, surged 2.5% during the week to notch its strongest weekly performance since December.
Big tech shares recorded gains on Friday, with shares of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) surging 3% and NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) adding over 3% during the session.
Fastenal C.o (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings. J B Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) shares fell around 7% on Friday after the company reported fourth-quarter EPS below estimates.
On the economic data front, U.S. industrial production rose by 0.9% in December, topping market estimates of a 0.3% increase. Housing starts rose by 15.8% from the previous month to an annualized rate of 1.499 million units in December. Building permits declined by 0.7% to an annualized rate of 1.483 million in December.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with consumer discretionary, information technology, and communication services stocks recording gains on Friday. However, healthcare and real estate stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 335 points to 43,487.83 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 1% to 5,996.66, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.51% at 19,630.20 during Friday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from 3M Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>), D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>), and Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 37.7, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 34.1.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
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Nasdaq Surges 1.5% Amid Gains In Tesla, Nvidia: Investor Sentiment Improves, But Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

Risk appetite surged on Wall Street at the end of the week, with investors ramping up stock purchases ahead of Monday's market closure for Martin Luther King Day, which is also when Donald Trump will be sworn in as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">the 47th U.S. president.</a>
All major indices posted robust gains in midday trading, setting up for their strongest weekly performance since early November. Broad-based buying lifted every sector into the green, underscoring the strength of the rally.
Adding to the positive mood, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hamas <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43055426/oil-dips-as-israeli-security-cabinet-approves-gaza-ceasefire-yet-experts-warn-red-sea-risks-persist">in Gaza</a>, leaving final government approval as the last step before the agreement takes effect on Sunday.
Chipmaker Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) soared 8.9%, marking its biggest single-day jump since August 2024. The rally was fueled by rumors that the company could be a takeover target. 
Treasury yields edged higher but remained on track for steep weekly declines, following a softer-than-expected December inflation report that eased concerns over aggressive Federal Reserve policy.
The U.S. dollar rose 0.3% on Friday but is still slightly lower for the week, potentially snapping a six-week winning streak.
Gold prices steadied after Thursday's strong rally, while oil prices extended their decline as ceasefire efforts gained traction.
Cryptocurrency sentiment surged, driven by speculation that the incoming Trump administration could announce the creation of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43062518/2025-to-see-dogecoin-etf-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-microstrategy-of-ethereum-predicts-crypto-hedge-fund">a Bitcoin Reserve Fund.</a> Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) was up 5% to over $105,000. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day % chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,483.46</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,013.18</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,641.72</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,279.34</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1.2% to $598.98.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 1.1% to $436.12.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rallied 1.8% to $522.24.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.7% to $226.01.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up 1.8%; the&nbsp;Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, down 0.1%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Truist Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TFC#NYSE">TFC</a>) rallied nearly 5% in reaction to stronger-than-expected quarterly results. </li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to earnings included Schlumberger N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>), up 7.9%; Fastenal Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>), up 0.64%; State Street Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>), down 3%; Huntington Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>), up 0.39%; Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>), down 0.86% and Citizens Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>), up 1.8%.</li>
</ul>
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Wall Street Roars Ahead Of Trump's Inauguration, Intel Rallies, Bitcoin Tops $105,000: What's Driving Markets Friday?

U.S. stocks traded higher midway through trading, with the S&amp;P 500 gaining around 1% on Friday.
The Dow traded up 0.86% to 43,524.83 while the NASDAQ rose 1.46% to 19,620.72. The S&amp;P 500 also rose, gaining, 1% to 5,996.98.
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Leading and Lagging Sectors Information technology shares surged by 1.8% on Friday.
In trading on Friday, health care shares rose by just 0.1%.
Top Headline
Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings.
Fastenal reported sales growth of 3.7% year-over-year to $1.825 billion, missing the consensus of $1.844 billion. The company's fourth-quarter EPS was 46 cents, missing the estimate of 48 cents.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Nukkleus Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUKK#NASDAQ">NUKK</a>) shares shot up 62% to $33.26 after the company announced it resolved its Nasdaq delisting notice and is now achieving compliance with the listing standards.</li>
<li>Shares of Versus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VS#NASDAQ">VS</a>)got a boost, surging 49% to $2.86 after the company announced expansion into the Brazilian market as part of its strategy to grow its international footprint.</li>
<li>Qorvo Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QRVO#NASDAQ">QRVO</a>) shares were also up, gaining 13% to $83.31 following a WSJ report indicating activist investor Starboard Value has acquired a 7.7% stake in the company.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>Scorpius Holdings, Inc. &nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCPX#NYSE">SCPX</a>) shares dropped 27% to $0.27 after the company announced its board approved a 1-for-20 reverse stock split.</li>
<li>Shares of BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLRX#NASDAQ">BLRX</a>) were down 21% to $0.096 after the company announced a dilutive change in the ratio of American depositary shares to ordinary shares. The proposed exchange ratio is equivalent to a 1-for-40 basis reverse stock split.</li>
<li>J B Hunt Transport Services Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) was down, falling 7% to $173.60 after the company reported fourth-quarter EPS below estimates.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded down 0.5% to $78.28 while gold traded down 0.1% at $2,748.00.
Silver traded down 1.8% to $31.160 on Friday, while copper fell 1.4% to $4.3780.
Euro zone
European shares were higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 surged 0.74%, Germany's DAX 40 gained 1.15% and France's CAC 40 gained 1.06%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index rose 0.50%, while London's FTSE 100 gained 1.58%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed mixed on Friday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 falling 0.31%, China's Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.18%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbing 0.31% and India's BSE Sensex falling 0.55%.
Economics
<ul>
<li>U.S. industrial production rose by 0.9% in December, topping market estimates of a 0.3% increase.</li>
<li>Housing starts rose by 15.8% from the previous month to an annualized rate of 1.499 million units in December.</li>
<li>Building permits declined by 0.7% to an annualized rate of 1.483 million in December.</li>
</ul>
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S&P 500 Gains 1%; Fastenal Posts Downbeat Earnings

Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) shares are trading lower after the company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b43052123/fastenal-company-reports-2024-annual-and-fourth-quarter-earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported fourth-quarter&nbsp;results</a>.
Fastenal reported sales growth of&nbsp;3.7%&nbsp;year-over-year to&nbsp;$1.825 billion, missing the consensus of&nbsp;$1.844 billion.
There was one more selling day in the&nbsp;fourth quarter&nbsp;of 2024 relative to the prior year period, and considering this, the company&#8217;s net daily sales increased&nbsp;by 2.1%. Growth remained slow due to a persistently weak manufacturing environment, further impacted by sharp year-end production cuts from major customers.
Foreign exchange fluctuations reduced sales by 20 bps in the quarter. Unit sales increased in the quarter due to growth at Onsite locations opened in the last two years along with larger customers not serviced through an Onsite. 
Weighted FASTBin/FASTVend signings (MEUs) rose&nbsp;24.3%&nbsp;Y/Y to 6,790; Weighted FASTBin/FASTVend installations rose&nbsp;12.2%&nbsp;Y/Y.
In the&nbsp;fourth quarter, FAST&#8217;s Digital Footprint represented&nbsp;62.2%&nbsp;of sales, an increase from&nbsp;58.1%&nbsp;a year ago.
The gross margin contracted to&nbsp;44.8%&nbsp;from&nbsp;45.5% a year ago quarter, primarily due to unfavorable customer and product mix, pressured fastener and safety product margins and higher import duty fees.
Operating income was&nbsp;$344.8 million&nbsp;(-2.6%&nbsp;Y/Y), and the margin was&nbsp;18.9%, a decline from&nbsp;20.1%&nbsp;in the same quarter of 2023.
The company&#8217;s&nbsp;fourth-quarter&nbsp;EPS was&nbsp;46 cents,&nbsp;missing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">the estimate of&nbsp;48 cents</a>.
Fastenal&#8217;s operating cash flow for the year was&nbsp;$1.173 billion, a decrease of&nbsp;18.1%&nbsp;year over year. The company held cash and equivalents of&nbsp;$255.8 million&nbsp;as of December end. The company did not repurchase any common stock in 2024 or 2023.
Total debt decreased to&nbsp;$200&nbsp;million&nbsp;(5.2%&nbsp;of total capital) at the end of the quarter. This compares to&nbsp;7.2%&nbsp;of total capital at the end of 2023.
The company signed 56&nbsp;new Onsite locations in the&nbsp;fourth quarter, resulting in 358 signings in 2024. Active Onsite locations rose&nbsp;11.5%&nbsp;to 2,031.
Outlook: For 2025, the company targets weighted FASTBin and FASTVend device signings <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">between 28,000 and 30,000 MEUs</a>.
The company expects 66% &#8211; 68% of the sales volume to account for the Digital Footprint during 2025.
In 2025, net investment in property and equipment is expected to be within the $265.0 million &#8211; $285.0 million range, up from $214.1 million in 2024.
Price Action: FAST shares are down 1.7% at $73.50 at the last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43051358/us-stock-futures-inch-up-as-sp-500-is-poised-for-a-weekly-gain-despite-snapping-three-day-streak-all-11-sectors-to-report-growing-profits-in-2025-says-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stock Likely To Open Higher Ahead of Trump&#8217;s Inaugration: All 11 Sectors To Report Growing Profits In 2025, Says Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Guidance

Fastenal Q4: Earnings Miss, 3.7% Sales Growth, Manufacturing Woes And More

<h3>Gainers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Zeo Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZEO#NASDAQ">ZEO</a>) stock increased by 73.9% to $4.07 during Friday's pre-market session. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $56.5 million. </li>
<li>Capital Clean Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCEC#NASDAQ">CCEC</a>) shares rose 20.21% to $22.0. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $1.2 billion. </li>
<li>Caravelle Intl Gr (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HTCO#NASDAQ">HTCO</a>) shares rose 11.72% to $4.48. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $249.9 million. </li>
<li>Erayak Power Solution Gr (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RAYA#NASDAQ">RAYA</a>) stock rose 8.87% to $1.35. The company's market cap stands at $37.8 million. </li>
<li>Lichen China (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LICN#NASDAQ">LICN</a>) shares rose 8.53% to $0.16. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $16.2 million. </li>
<li>ClearSign Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLIR#NASDAQ">CLIR</a>) shares moved upwards by 7.75% to $1.39. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $69.8 million. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Losers</h3>
<ul>
<li>JB Hunt Transport Servs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) shares declined by 10.0% to $167.6 during Friday's pre-market session. The company's market cap stands at $16.8 billion. As per the news, the Q4 earnings report came out yesterday. </li>
<li>Fastenal (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) stock decreased by 6.32% to $70.05. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $40.1 billion. As per the news, the Q4 earnings report came out today. </li>
<li>Lucas GC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LGCL#NASDAQ">LGCL</a>) stock fell 6.19% to $0.52. The company's market cap stands at $41.0 million. </li>
<li>PS International Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSIG#NASDAQ">PSIG</a>) stock fell 5.69% to $0.41. The company's market cap stands at $10.0 million. </li>
<li>Surf Air Mobility (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SRFM#NYSE">SRFM</a>) shares declined by 5.29% to $3.76. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $58.3 million. </li>
<li>Safe &amp; Green Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGBX#NASDAQ">SGBX</a>) shares fell 4.99% to $0.85. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $3.7 million. 
See Also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/best-industrials-stocks/" title="www.benzinga.com/money/best-industrials-stocks/">www.benzinga.com/money/best-industrials-stocks/</a></li>
</ul>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Movers

CCEC

CLIR

HTCO

LGCL

LICN

PSIG

RAYA

SGBX

SRFM

12 Industrials Stocks Moving In Friday's Pre-Market Session

General

Fastenal shares are trading lower following worse-than-expected Q4 financial results.

Fastenal (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $0.48 by 4.17 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.825 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $1.844 billion by 1.04 percent. This is a 3.72 percent increase over sales of $1.759 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

Fastenal Q4 2024 GAAP EPS $0.46 Misses $0.48 Estimate, Sales $1.825B Miss $1.844B Estimate

U.S. stock futures were trading higher on Friday morning, recovering from the previous day&#8217;s losses. Futures across all major indices showed gains.
Although the S&amp;P 500 ended its winning streak on Thursday, a strong Friday session could potentially result in the best weekly performance for the index since the November election.
The 10-year Treasury note yielded 4.60% and the two-year note was at 4.23%. Market expectations for the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting outcome on Jan. 31 suggest a high probability of 97.3% that the central bank will maintain interest rates at their current level, <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">according to</a> CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch tool.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>0.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.06%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.19%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Major stock market ETFs, such as the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), were trading higher in pre-market trading on Friday. SPY saw a 0.35% increase to $593.70, while QQQ climbed 0.44% to $515.33, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Cues From The Last Session
U.S. stocks closed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43049530/sp-500-ends-three-session-win-streak-amid-decline-in-apple-nvidia-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">lower </a>on Thursday, ending a three-day winning streak. The tech sector weighed heavily on the market, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares declining significantly.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) posted positive earnings reports. Whereas, retail sales growth slowed in December, and jobless claims rose slightly, potentially dampening investor sentiment.
While most sectors finished the day in positive territory, including utilities, real estate, and industrials, the technology and communication services sectors dragged down the overall market.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-0.89%</td>
<td>19.338.29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.21%</td>
<td>5,937.34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.16%</td>
<td>43,153.13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.15%</td>
<td>2,266.79</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
As Donald Trump moves to the White House on Monday, Dec. 20, Robin Brooks, the ex-Goldman Sachs FX Strategist and a senior fellow at Brookings Institution <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/china-tariffs-and-trump-2-0/">said</a> the tariff confrontation between the U.S. and China could prove detrimental to the S&amp;P 500.
China's most &#8220;potent weapon&#8221; is the depreciation of the yuan as an offset to additional U.S. tariffs. This could negatively impact the U.S. economy, potentially tightening financial conditions and weighing on the S&amp;P 500, Brooks said in his research note.
Even though the new administration may seek to mitigate this by implementing targeted tariffs or a phased-in, conditional universal tariff, he said, &#8220;Given how little is priced, it seems likely that market volatility will rise in the months ahead.&#8221;
Highlighting the corporate earnings in 2025, Callie Cox, the chief market strategist at Ritholtz Wealth Management, said in an X post &#8220;All 11 sectors are expected to report growing profits, which would be the first time that&#8217;s happened since 2018.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Wall Street expects the perfect year from S&amp;P 500 companies in 2025. All 11 sectors are expected to report growing profits, which would be the first time that&#39;s happened since 2018. Think about that when you listen to management comments this season. <a href="https://t.co/HinFA3zu88">pic.twitter.com/HinFA3zu88</a>
&mdash; Callie Cox (@callieabost) <a href="https://twitter.com/callieabost/status/1880016203093332149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Carson Research's report <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43049404/bull-markets-last-for-79-years-on-average-but-third-year-returns-can-be-weak-says-this-research-firm">analyzing</a> bull markets over the past 50 years shows that the 1987 and 2002 bull markets spanned five years each, while the 1974 bull market extended for 6.2 years.
Notably, the 2009 bull market lasted for 11 years, the longest in recent times. Additionally, the 1988 bull market held a record at 12.3 years.
On average, these five bull markets over the last 50 years were 7.9 years long.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Bull Markets Over The Last 50 Years</td>
<td>Total Duration (In Years)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>August 1982-1987</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>October 2002-2007</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>September 1974 to November 1980</td>
<td>6.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>February 2009-2020</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>January 1988 to March 2000</td>
<td>12.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>7.9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
"Looking at the previous 11 bull markets, we found the average bull lasted more than five years, suggesting even though this bull market is mighty, it could have plenty of room left to run," the note stated.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>
Upcoming Economic Data
<ul>
<li>On Friday, Housing Starts and Building Permits for December will be announced at 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization for December is slated to release at 9:15 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Fastenal Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) was up 0.17% in premarket on Friday as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings at 48 cents per share on revenue of $1.84 billion before the opening bell before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>State Street Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>) was up 0.01% ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $2.43 per share on revenue of $3.32 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Schlumberger NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) was up 0.51% in premarket on Friday as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of 90 cents per share on revenue of $9.18 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>JB Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) dropped 10.85% after reporting weaker-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Versus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VS#NASDAQ">VS</a>) was up 83.85% as it announced its expansion into Brazil to leverage its gamification platform to transform audience engagement across industries.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>iSpecimen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ISPC#NASDAQ">ISPC</a>), a leading online biospecimen marketplace, was up 44.56% as it secured the critical hMPV virus specimens as cases surged in China.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Qorvo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QRVO#NASDAQ">QRVO</a>) was up 7.09% as the activist investor Starboard Value LP reportedly acquired a 7.7% stake worth approximately $500 million in the struggling semiconductor manufacturer for potential operational changes.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.32% to hover around $78.10 per barrel.
The gold spot index was down by 0.77% to $2,729.99 per ounce. The Dollar Index was up 0.13% at 109.104 level.
Most Asian markets closed lower on Friday including Australia&#8217;s ASX 200, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225, and South Korea&#8217;s Kospi index. On the other hand, Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng and China&#8217;s CSI 300 index advanced. European markets were trading higher.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43027048/blackrock-generates-industry-leading-etf-inflows-of-390-billion-in-2024-here-are-five-ishares-etfs-that-investors-should-look-out-for">BlackRock Generates Industry-Leading ETF Inflows Of $390 Billion In 2024: Here Are Five iShares ETFs That Investors Should Look Out For</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

AAPL

ISPC

US Stocks Likely To Open Higher Ahead of Trump's Inaugration: All 11 Sectors To Report Growing Profits In 2025, Says Analyst

With U.S. stock futures trading higher this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) to report quarterly earnings at 48 cents per share on revenue of $1.84 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. Fastenal shares gained 0.5% to $75.15 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) reported weaker-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter on Thursday. J.B. Hunt Transport shares dipped 11.1% to $165.50 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts are expecting State Street Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $2.43 per share on revenue of $3.32 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. State Street shares gained 0.1% to $100.50 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>Activist investor Starboard Value LP has reportedly acquired a 7.7% stake worth approximately $500 million in Qorvo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QRVO#NASDAQ">QRVO</a>) on Thursday, targeting the struggling semiconductor manufacturer for potential operational changes. Qorvo shares climbed 7.1% to $78.84 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) to post quarterly earnings at 90 cents per share on revenue of $9.18 billion before the opening bell. SLB shares gained 0.2% to $41.18 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43025282/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-views-on-3-energy-stocks-with-over-7-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts&#8217; Views On 3 Energy Stocks With Over 7% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

SLB, J.B. Hunt Transport And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• Schlumberger (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.90 per share on revenue of $9.18 billion. 
• Regions Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.55 per share on revenue of $1.86 billion. 
• Sify Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SIFY#NASDAQ">SIFY</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $152.30 million. 
• Wipro (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WIT#NYSE">WIT</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.04 per share on revenue of $2.67 billion. 
• Webster Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBS#NYSE">WBS</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.36 per share on revenue of $611.93 million. 
• Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.31 per share on revenue of $1.88 billion. 
• State Street (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $2.29 per share on revenue of $3.26 billion. 
• Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.83 per share on revenue of $1.96 billion. 
• Truist Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TFC#NYSE">TFC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.88 per share on revenue of $5.05 billion. 
• Fastenal (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.48 per share on revenue of $1.84 billion. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• BOK Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BOKF#NASDAQ">BOKF</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.00 per share on revenue of $517.46 million. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

BOKF

SIFY

Earnings Scheduled For January 17, 2025

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Thursday, with the S&amp;P 500 ending a three-session winning streak.
Big tech shares recorded losses during the session, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) falling 4% and NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) down around 2%.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) topped earnings expectations, while Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) also surpassed bottom-line projections.
On the economic data front, U.S. retail sales rose 0.4% month-over-month in December versus a revised 0.8% increase in the previous month and down from market estimates of 0.6%. U.S. initial jobless claims increased by 14,000 from the previous week to 217,000 in the week ending January 11, compared to market estimates of 210,000.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with utilities, real estate, and industrials stocks recording gains on Thursday. However, information technology and communication services stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed lower by around 68 points to 43,153.13 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.21% to 5,937.34, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.89% to 19,338.29 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Fastenal Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>), State Street Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>, )) and Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 28.4, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 31.1.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43025282/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-views-on-3-energy-stocks-with-over-7-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts&#8217; Views On 3 Energy Stocks With Over 7% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

S&P 500 Ends Three-Session Win Streak Amid Decline In Apple, Nvidia: Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results, before the opening <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FAST/earnings">bell, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the Winona, Minnesota-based company to report quarterly earnings at 48 cents per share, up from 46 cents per share in the year-ago period. Fastenal projects quarterly revenue of $1.84 billion, compared to $1.76 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Oct. 11, Fastenal reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results.
Fastenal shares gained 0.7% to close at $74.27 on Wednesday&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; .
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GBX/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Jefferies analyst Stephen Volkmann maintained a Hold rating and raised the price target from $74 to $85 on Dec. 6, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>UBS analyst Amit Mehrotra assumed a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $71 to $88 on Nov. 13, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Chris Snyder maintained an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $72 to $76 on Oct. 14, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Tommy Moll maintained an Equal-Weight rating and increased the price target from $56 to $75 on Oct. 14, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 79%.</li>
<li>Baird analyst David Manthey maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $67 to $80 on Oct. 14, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying FAST stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
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Fastenal Gears Up For Q4 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FAST/earnings">opening bell, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the Winona, Minnesota-based company to report quarterly earnings at 48 cents per share, up from 46 cents per share in the year-ago period. Fastenal projects quarterly revenue of $1.84 billion, compared to $1.76 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Dec. 11, Stifel analyst Brian Butler downgraded Fastenal from Buy to Hold and maintained the price target of $86.
With the recent buzz around Fastenal, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends too. Fastenal offers an annual dividend yield of 2.18%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of 39 cents per share ($1.56 a year).
So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly?
To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $275,489 or around 3,846 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $55,083 or around 769 shares.
To calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($1.56 in this case). So, $6,000 / $1.56 = 3,846 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $1.56 = 769 shares ($100 per month).
Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time.
How that works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stock&#8217;s current price.
For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40).
Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yield. If a company increases its dividend, the yield will also increase, provided the stock price stays the same. Conversely, if the dividend payment decreases, so will the yield.
Price Action: Shares of Fastenal fell 1.8% to close at $71.63 on Friday.
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Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

How To Earn $500 A Month From Fastenal Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Industrials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CHPT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$1.50</td>
<td>$88.0K</td>
<td>23.4K</td>
<td>22.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FAST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$51.6K</td>
<td>312</td>
<td>542</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/03/25</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$45.0K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>330</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ENVX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$28.0K</td>
<td>40.5K</td>
<td>217</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACHR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>02/07/25</td>
<td>$11.00</td>
<td>$37.0K</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>202</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UAL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$47.8K</td>
<td>10.8K</td>
<td>121</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$50.9K</td>
<td>406</td>
<td>63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPIR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$11.00</td>
<td>$26.5K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$185.8K</td>
<td>199</td>
<td>47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UBER</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$25.2K</td>
<td>97</td>
<td>32</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For CHPT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHPT#NYSE">CHPT</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 21 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 22000 contract(s) at a $1.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $88.0K, with a price of $4.0 per contract. There were 23407 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22613 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FAST (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 56 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 287 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 36 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $51.6K, with a price of $180.0 per contract. There were 312 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 542 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on January 3, 2025. Parties traded 40 contract(s) at a $170.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.0K, with a price of $1125.0 per contract. There were 1772 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 330 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ENVX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENVX#NASDAQ">ENVX</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 385 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.0K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 40588 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 217 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ACHR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACHR#NYSE">ACHR</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 42 day(s) on February 7, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $11.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.0K, with a price of $185.0 per contract. There were 13 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 202 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UAL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 56 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 60 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.8K, with a price of $797.0 per contract. There were 10890 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 121 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CAT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 385 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 31 contract(s) at a $310.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.9K, with a price of $1645.0 per contract. There were 406 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 63 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SPIR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPIR#NYSE">SPIR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 231 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $11.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.5K, with a price of $530.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 50 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GEV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 140 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 38 contract(s) at a $320.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $185.8K, with a price of $4890.0 per contract. There were 199 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 47 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UBER (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 749 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 8 contract(s) at a $35.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.2K, with a price of $3158.0 per contract. There were 97 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 32 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

ACHR

CHPT

ENVX

SPIR

UBER

10 Industrials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Management

Fastenal Announces Senior Executive Vice President And Chief Financial Officer Holden Lewis Provided Notice Of His Resignation, Effective On Apr. 16, 2025

Stifel analyst Brian Butler downgrades Fastenal (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) from Buy to Hold and maintains the price target from $86 to $86.

Downgrades

Stifel Downgrades Fastenal to Hold, Maintains Price Target to $86

In the last three months, 8 analysts have published ratings on Fastenal (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $80.88, a high estimate of $88.00, and a low estimate of $72.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 15.54% from the previous average price target of $70.00.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733500813_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look</h2>
The standing of Fastenal among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Volkmann</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amit Mehrotra</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$71.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Snyder</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
<td>$72.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Baumann</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$72.00</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Butler</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$86.00</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tommy Moll</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Manthey</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$67.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sabrina Abrams</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Fastenal. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Fastenal compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts provide insights into price targets, offering estimates for the future value of Fastenal's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into Fastenal's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FAST/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Fastenal analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Fastenal</h2>
Fastenal opened its first fastener store in 1967 in Winona, Minnesota. Since then, it has greatly expanded its footprint as well as its products and services. Today, Fastenal serves its 400,000 active customers through approximately 1,600 branches, over 1,800 on-site locations, and 15 distribution centers. Since 1993, the company has added other product categories, but fasteners remain its largest category at about 30%-35% of sales. Fastenal also offers customers supply chain solutions, such as vending and vendor-managed inventory.
<h3>Financial Milestones: Fastenal's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization: Exceeding industry standards, the company's market capitalization places it above industry average in size relative to peers. This emphasizes its significant scale and robust market position.
Revenue Growth: Fastenal displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 3.48%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.
Net Margin: Fastenal's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 15.61%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Fastenal's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 8.41%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Fastenal's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 6.38%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.15.
<h2>The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

A Closer Look at 8 Analyst Recommendations For Fastenal

Press Releases

Fastenal Company Reports 2024 Second Quarter Earnings

Jeff Watts Promoted to President and Chief Sales Officer of Fastenal, Dan Florness to Continue as CEO

Fastenal Company Announces Conference Call to Review 2024 Third Quarter Earnings

Fastenal Company Announces Cash Dividend

Fastenal Company Reports 2024 Third Quarter Earnings

Fastenal Names New Executive Vice President of Strategy and Communications

Fastenal Company Announces Conference Call to Review 2024 Annual and Fourth Quarter Earnings

Fastenal and RFK Racing Celebrate 15 Years of NASCAR Partnership

Fastenal Company Reports 2024 Annual and Fourth Quarter Earnings

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Laser Photonics (NASDAQ: LASE) H1 Milestones Update: Expanded And Upgraded Product Offering, Deepened Partnerships, Successful Anti-Drone Laser Tech Testing And More

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