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Fastenal Company FAST is scheduled to report first-quarter 2025 results on April 11, before the opening bell.
Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.
In the last reported quarter, Fastenal’s earnings and net sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.2% and 1.1%, respectively. On a year-over-year basis, the top line rose 3.7% while the bottom line remained flat.
Fastenal’s earnings missed the consensus mark in two of the last four quarters and met on other two occasions, with the average negative surprise being 1.5%.
Fastenal Company Price and EPS Surprise
Fastenal Company price-eps-surprise | Fastenal Company Quote
Trend in Estimate Revision for FAST
For the quarter to be reported, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has remained unchanged at 52 cents over the past 60 days. The estimated figure remains the same as the year-ago profit level. The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $1.94 billion, indicating a 2.5% increase from the year-ago reported figure of $1.9 billion.
Key Factors to Note for Fastenal's Q1
Sales: Improving manufacturing markets are likely to have contributed to the company’s top line. Although soft industrial activity remains a headwind, the company has several factors working in its favor that are expected to have driven its quarterly sales growth. These include a significant number of large customers, a strong digital strategy, a balanced mix of onsite and offsite services and market share gains across various product categories. Notably, a change in national account strategy is expected to have contributed to the positives. Despite challenging market conditions, Fastenal's positive attributes are anticipated to have driven its growth.
If we go by the latest monthly sales report, February’s average daily sales (ADS) grew 5% to $31.4 million, improving from 1.9% growth in January 2025.
In terms of end markets/products/customers in February and January 2025, total manufacturing sales improved 15.2% (Heavy Manufacturing and Other Manufacturing) and 6.7% from the year-ago months, respectively. Non-residential construction declined 6.7% in February and 3.6% in January. Fastener sales were up 0.6% in February but down 1.7% in January 2025. On the other hand, Safety sales increased 8.5% in February compared with 3.7% growth in January 2025. Other categories improved 6.8% in February and 3.5% in January 2025.
Our model predicts Fastenal’s overall daily sales to be $30.8 million for the first quarter, indicating an increase of 4.1% from a year ago.
Margins: The negative impact from the customer and product mix, higher import duties—particularly in Mexico—and reduced supplier rebates and lower product purchases are likely to have been headwinds. Additionally, rising employee and occupancy-related expenses are likely to have further hindered bottom-line growth.
Per our model, the gross margin for the quarter is expected to be 45.3%, down from 45.5% in the year-ago figure. We expect total operating expenses to increase 2.5% to $483 million in the first quarter from a year ago.