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Have you assessed how the international operations of Fastenal (FAST - Free Report) performed in the quarter ended June 2026? For this maker of industrial and construction fasteners, possessing an expansive global footprint, parsing the trends of international revenues could be critical to gauge its financial resilience and growth prospects.

In today's increasingly interconnected global economy, a company's ability to tap into international markets can be a pivotal factor in shaping its overall financial health and growth trajectory. For investors, understanding a company's reliance on overseas markets has become increasingly crucial, as it offers insights into the company's sustainability of earnings, ability to tap into diverse economic cycles and overall growth potential.

Being present in international markets serves as a counterbalance to domestic economic challenges while offering chances to engage with more rapidly evolving economies. However, this kind of diversification introduces challenges like currency fluctuations, geopolitical uncertainties and varying market trends.

Our review of FAST's last quarterly performance uncovered some notable trends in the revenue contributions from its international markets, which are commonly analyzed and tracked by Wall Street experts.

For the quarter, the company's total revenue amounted to $2.39 billion, experiencing an increase of 14.7% year over year. Next, we'll explore the breakdown of FAST's international revenue to understand the importance of its overseas business operations.

Exploring FAST's International Revenue PatternsOf the total revenue, $83.4 million came from Other foreign countries during the last fiscal quarter, accounting for 3.5%. This represented a surprise of +16.14% as analysts had expected the region to contribute $71.81 million to the total revenue. In comparison, the region contributed $79.1 million, or 3.6%, and $66.1 million, or 3.2%, to total revenue in the previous and year-ago quarters, respectively.

During the quarter, Canada and Mexico contributed $333.7 million in revenue, making up 14% of the total revenue. When compared to the consensus estimate of $325.21 million, this meant a surprise of +2.61%. Looking back, Canada and Mexico contributed $306.3 million, or 13.9%, in the previous quarter, and $281.4 million, or 13.5%, in the same quarter of the previous year.

Revenue Forecasts for the International MarketsIt is projected by analysts on Wall Street that Fastenal will post revenues of $2.44 billion for the ongoing fiscal quarter, an increase of 14.3% from the year-ago quarter. The expected contributions from Other foreign countries and Canada and Mexico to this revenue are 3.1%, and 13.7%, translating into $74.55 million, and $333.11 million, respectively.

For the full year, the company is expected to generate $9.23 billion in total revenue, up 12.5% from the previous year. Revenues from Other foreign countries and Canada and Mexico are expected to constitute 3.2% ($290.86 million), and 13.8% ($1.27 billion) of the total, respectively.

Wrapping UpThe dependency of Fastenal on global markets for its revenues presents a mix of potential gains and hazards. Thus, monitoring the trends in its overseas revenues can be a key indicator for predicting the firm's future performance.

In an environment where global interconnections and geopolitical skirmishes are intensifying, Wall Street analysts keep a keen eye on these trends, particularly for firms with overseas operations, to adjust their earnings predictions. Moreover, a range of other aspects, including how a company fares in its home country, significantly affects these projections.

Here at Zacks, we put a great deal of emphasis on a company's changing earnings outlook, as empirical research has shown that's a powerful force driving a stock's near-term price performance. Quite naturally, the correlation is positive here -- an upward revision in earnings estimates drives the stock price higher.

Boasting a remarkable track record that's been externally verified, the Zacks Rank, our unique stock rating system, leverages changes in earnings projections to function as a reliable gauge for predicting short-term stock price movements.

Fastenal, bearing a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is expected to outperform the broader market's movements in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

A Look at Fastenal's Recent Stock Price PerformanceOver the past month, the stock has seen a decline of 1.3% in its value, whereas the Zacks S&P 500 composite has posted an increase of 0.3%. The Zacks Industrial Products sector, Fastenal's industry group, has descended 3.4% over the identical span. In the past three months, there's been an increase of 0.7% in the company's stock price, against a rise of 6.6% in the S&P 500 index. The broader sector has increased by 2.1% during this interval.

Key Takeaways Fastenal's contract sales rose 17.6%, reaching 75.8% of quarterly sales as larger accounts gained share.Digital Footprint sales grew 16.2%, while FMI sales climbed 16.4% to $1.08 billion in Q2.FAST's gross margin fell 75 bps as tariffs, supplier inflation, freight and customer mix weighed on margins. Fastenal Company (FAST - Free Report) is becoming a useful read-through on how industrial distribution is changing. The company’s latest results show customers moving toward larger supplier relationships, digital procurement and automated inventory tools.

Those trends support growth, but they also reshape revenue mix and margins. The key question is whether scale and operating leverage can keep offsetting cost and gross-margin pressure.

Fastenal Shows the Shift to Larger AccountsFastenal’s second-quarter 2026 contract sales increased 17.6% year over year and represented 75.8% of quarterly sales, up from 73.2% a year earlier. Contract count rose 7.2% to 3,694, showing that more customers are consolidating spend through structured relationships.

The larger-site data points in the same direction. Customer sites spending at least $50,000 per month increased 16.5% to 3,125, while sales from those sites rose to $1.38 billion from $1.09 billion. That shift makes Fastenal less dependent on one-off transactions and more tied to integrated service models.

FAST Digital Adoption Is Changing DistributionFastenal’s Digital Footprint daily sales increased 16.2% in the second quarter and represented 61.6% of revenues. eBusiness sales rose 12.6%, reflecting deeper customer use of procurement-system connections and digital ordering.

Fastenal Managed Inventory is another sign of where the industry is heading. FMI sales rose 16.4% to $1.08 billion, and the installed base of weighted FASTBin and FASTVend devices increased 6.5% to 140,789 units. These tools embed replenishment and usage data into customer workflows.

Fastenal Margin Trends Reflect a New Trade-OffThe growth quality is improving, but the margin mix is more complicated. Larger strategic customers typically generate more recurring sales and higher profit dollars, but they also tend to carry lower gross margins because of scale and negotiated pricing.

That is the emerging trade-off for industrial distributors. Fastenal’s gross margin declined 75 basis points to 44.6% in the second quarter, while operating margin held at 21% because selling, general and administrative expense leverage offset the drag.

FAST Faces a More Complex Cost EnvironmentTariffs, supplier inflation and freight costs remain important pressures. Unfavorable net price-cost reduced gross margin by about 40 basis points in the second quarter, and customer mix, transportation costs and rebate activity added pressure.

That makes cost recovery a continuing trend to watch across the supply chain. Even with stable demand, trade-policy changes or supplier increases can slow pricing recovery and make quarterly profitability less predictable.

What Fastenal Says About 2026 DemandDemand appears stable to modestly positive, not uniformly strong. Fastenal’s manufacturing daily sales rose 14.9% in the second quarter, led by 18.1% growth in heavy manufacturing, while non-residential construction increased 17%.

Other end markets rose 14.1%, helped by transportation and warehousing customers. That breadth supports the view that industrial demand is constructive, although management commentary also pointed to softness in certain discretionary consumer-linked areas.

FAST Ratings Match a Trend-Driven StoryThe bottom line is that FAST remains a trend-driven industrial distribution story, with digital tools, contract growth and large-site expansion supporting revenue durability. W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW - Free Report) provides a relevant comparison because it also operates across industrial supplies, online channels, inventory management services and technical support.

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT - Free Report) is another useful peer for the broader distribution backdrop, with exposure to bearings, power transmission, fluid power and other industrial products.

FAST stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), with a Momentum Score of A, Growth Score of C and Value Score of D. The Rank and Momentum Score support the near-term setup, while the Value Score suggests investors should still watch how much of the digital and contract-strength story is already reflected in the stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 21st, 2026

Andra AP fonden decreased its stake in Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST – Free Report) by 54.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 469,019 shares of the company’s stock after selling 559,081 shares during the quarter. Andra AP fonden’s holdings in Fastenal were worth $21,762,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wiregrass Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Fastenal during the 4th quarter valued at $1,020,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in shares of Fastenal by 20.2% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 328,263 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,173,000 after purchasing an additional 55,191 shares during the period. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Fastenal by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 1,491,994 shares of the company’s stock worth $59,874,000 after purchasing an additional 39,406 shares during the period. LBP AM SA raised its position in shares of Fastenal by 11.8% during the fourth quarter. LBP AM SA now owns 232,847 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,344,000 after buying an additional 24,536 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fideuram Asset Management Ireland dac bought a new stake in shares of Fastenal in the fourth quarter valued at about $4,041,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America lifted their target price on Fastenal from $48.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Monday, April 13th. Wolfe Research reissued an “underperform” rating and set a $47.00 price objective on shares of Fastenal in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $55.00 target price on Fastenal and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Fastenal from $47.00 to $46.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Fastenal from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Fastenal has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $48.83.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Fastenal

Fastenal Stock Performance Fastenal stock opened at $44.76 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.72. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $45.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $45.23. Fastenal Company has a 52-week low of $38.97 and a 52-week high of $50.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 4.18 and a quick ratio of 2.21.

Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 14th. The company reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.33. The business had revenue of $2.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.34 billion. Fastenal had a net margin of 15.45% and a return on equity of 34.03%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.29 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Fastenal Company will post 1.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Fastenal Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.26 per share. This is a positive change from Fastenal’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 28th. Fastenal’s payout ratio is currently 81.36%.

About Fastenal (Free Report)

Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) is a wholesale distributor of industrial and construction supplies, best known for its broad assortment of fasteners such as bolts, nuts, screws and anchors. Founded in Winona, Minnesota, Fastenal has grown from a regional supplier into a national and international distributor serving a wide range of end markets, including manufacturing, construction, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and government customers. The company is publicly traded and operates through a network of locally staffed branches combined with national distribution capabilities.

Product offerings extend beyond fasteners to include tools, safety and personal protective equipment, power transmission components, cutting and welding supplies, janitorial and material handling items, and other industrial consumables.

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Did you analyze how Fastenal (FAST - Free Report) fared in its international operations for the quarter ending June 2026? Given the widespread global presence of this maker of industrial and construction fasteners, scrutinizing the trends in international revenues becomes imperative to assess its financial strength and future growth possibilities.

In the modern, closely-knit global economic landscape, the capacity of a business to access foreign markets is often a key determinant of its financial well-being and growth path. Investors now place great importance on grasping the extent of a company's dependence on international markets, as it sheds light on the firm's earnings stability, its skill in leveraging various economic cycles and its broad growth potential.

Participation in global economies acts as a defense against economic difficulties at home and a pathway to more rapidly developing economies. However, it also comes with the complexities of dealing with fluctuating currencies, geopolitical risks and different market dynamics.

While delving into FAST's performance for the past quarter, we observed some fascinating trends in the revenue from its foreign segments that are commonly modeled and observed by analysts on Wall Street.

For the quarter, the company's total revenue amounted to $2.39 billion, experiencing an increase of 14.7% year over year. Next, we'll explore the breakdown of FAST's international revenue to understand the importance of its overseas business operations.

Trends in FAST's Revenue from International MarketsOf the total revenue, $83.4 million came from Other foreign countries during the last fiscal quarter, accounting for 3.5%. This represented a surprise of +16.14% as analysts had expected the region to contribute $71.81 million to the total revenue. In comparison, the region contributed $79.1 million, or 3.6%, and $66.1 million, or 3.2%, to total revenue in the previous and year-ago quarters, respectively.

During the quarter, Canada and Mexico contributed $333.7 million in revenue, making up 14% of the total revenue. When compared to the consensus estimate of $325.21 million, this meant a surprise of +2.61%. Looking back, Canada and Mexico contributed $306.3 million, or 13.9%, in the previous quarter, and $281.4 million, or 13.5%, in the same quarter of the previous year.

Anticipated Revenues in Overseas MarketsFor the current fiscal quarter, it is anticipated by Wall Street analysts that Fastenal will post revenues of $2.44 billion, which reflects an increase of 14.3% the same quarter in the previous year. The revenue contributions are expected to be 3.1% from Other foreign countries ($74.23 million), and 13.6% from Canada and Mexico ($331.64 million).

For the full year, a total revenue of $9.23 billion is expected for the company, reflecting an increase of 12.5% from the year before. The revenues from Other foreign countries and Canada and Mexico are expected to make up 3.1%, and 13.7% of this total, corresponding to $289.41 million, and $1.27 billion, respectively.

Key TakeawaysFastenal's leaning on foreign markets for its revenue stream presents a mix of chances and challenges. Therefore, a vigilant watch on its international revenue movements can greatly aid in projecting the company's future direction.

In an era of growing international interdependencies and escalating geopolitical disputes, Wall Street analysts are vigilant in tracking these trends for businesses with a global reach, in order to refine their predictions of earnings. It should be noted, however, that a multitude of other elements, such as a company's domestic position, also play a significant role in shaping the earnings forecasts.

Here at Zacks, we put a great deal of emphasis on a company's changing earnings outlook, as empirical research has shown that's a powerful force driving a stock's near-term price performance. Quite naturally, the correlation is positive here -- an upward revision in earnings estimates drives the stock price higher.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool - the Zacks Rank - harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions and serves as an effective indicator of a stock's near-term price performance.

Fastenal currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

A Review of Fastenal's Recent Stock Market PerformanceOver the past month, the stock has lost 0.9% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's 0.6% increase. The Zacks Industrial Products sector, of which Fastenal is a part, has declined 2.5% over the same period. The company's shares have increased 1.8% over the past three months compared to the S&P 500's 5% increase. Over the same period, the sector has risen 1.1%

On July 15, 2026, we present a discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis for Fastenal Co (FAST). The company has experienced a price performance of -2.9% over the pas

Fastenal Today

$45.56 -1.49 (-3.18%)

As of 02:34 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$38.97▼

$50.63Dividend Yield2.11%

P/E Ratio40.05

Price Target$48.31

Fastenal’s NASDAQ: FAST stock price declined following its Q2 earnings release, creating another solid entry point for investors. The worst that can be said about the report is that earnings were only in alignment with the consensus forecast, providing no immediate impetus for bullish behavior.

However, “tepid” as the results may have been, the company revealed strengths investors like to own, including double-digit growth and strength across all segments, categories, and end markets, driven by new clients, client penetration, and digitization. Fastenal, among industrial suppliers, is uniquely positioned to benefit from digitization and AI, as it is a leader in technology-backed inventory management, providing effective solutions for businesses.

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Fastenal Fires on All Cylinders: Persistent Strength ExpectedFastenal had a solid Q2 with revenue growing by nearly 15% on broad-based strength. Revenue outpaced MarketBeat’s reported consensus by a slim margin, underpinned by a 14.7% increase in daily sales. Strength was driven by market share gains linked to large-client penetration, with double-digit demand across product lines and end markets. The single area of weakness was the comparison between national-level and localized business, which grew at a 7.2% pace compared to the stronger 17.9% posted by the national-level business.

Margin news was also good, despite the relative weakness in bottom-line results. A slight contraction in gross margin was offset by SG&A leverage, leaving operating and net margins flat to slightly up year over year. Net income grew by 14.9%, enabling balance sheet improvement while investing and returning capital to investors. The capital return is the operational factor, as quarterly strength and business trends allowed management to accelerate buyback activity.

Fastenal is a healthy capital-returning machine. The company’s dividend yields about 2% with shares near the middle of a long-term trading range and is expected to grow annually. Share buybacks have a smaller, but still significant, impact on capital returns, offsetting the impact of share-based compensation, with higher levels expected in upcoming quarters. Q2 capital returns came in at nearly 80% of the net income, well above the long-running 69% average.

Fastenal’s balance sheet highlights provided no red flags for investors, only incentives for ownership. The company's cash balance declined in Q2, but was offset by increases in assets, debt reduction, and equity improvements. Equity improved by more than 3% year-to-date, more than offsetting the incremental increase in the share count logged for the quarter. Looking ahead, investors can expect to see Fastenal’s balance sheet continue improving as it locks in market share and cash flow.

Sell-Side Data Reflects Strong Support for FastenalSell-siders may have wanted more from the Fastenal Q2 release, but it was not sufficient to alter their stance, which reflects strong support. MarketBeat tracks 15 analysts rating the stock as a consensus Hold; there is a 33% Buy-side bias within the data, coverage is increasing, and price targets are steady. Forecasting only modest upside as of mid-July, analyst trends are positive and likely to continue supporting market action. Institutions, meanwhile, are accumulating aggressively, limiting downside risk.

The stock price action also reflects strong, rising support, with the price trending higher over the past two years. The story in 2026 is that price action hit a ceiling in 2025 that will likely be retested before the year ends. The question is whether new highs will be set, and cash flow and capital returns suggest they will. Between then and now, the critical support is near a cluster of exponential moving averages (EMAs), including the 150-day EMA. It is a trigger likely to spur institutional investment when (if) reached.

Fastenal’s primary catalyst this year is the accelerating rollout of its digitized inventory management systems, FastBin and FastVend. They enable manufacturers, industries, and enterprises the ability to manage and control supply costs while providing Fastenal with visibility. Easing inflation is another catalyst, affecting the company’s margin and end-market demand. Assuming energy prices remain subdued, economic activity could pick up across the board.

What the market gets wrong about Fastenal is that its gross margin contractions are part of the overall strategy. The company is leaning hard into national contracted accounts that naturally have lower margins and expenses. Lower expenses are the critical factor, as reduced SG&A more than offsets the decline in gross margin. Meanwhile, the company is becoming entrenched in the end-market ecosystems, a fractured end-market at that, with its FastBin and FastVend systems, establishing a wide moat that competitors will not be able to cross. More importantly, localized vendors are unable to match Fastenal’s scale and digital capabilities, which enable it to gain share across the entire business cycle.

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Key Takeaways Fastenal reported Q2 sales above estimates as earnings met expectations and both rose year over year.FAST benefited from contract customer growth, pricing actions and a 16.2% increase in digital sales.Gross margin narrowed, but operating margin held steady as productivity and cost leverage offset pressures. Fastenal Company (FAST - Free Report) reported mixed second-quarter 2026 results, with earnings meeting the Zacks Consensus Estimate and net sales beating the same. Conversely, year over year, both metrics grew notably.

Fastenal continued to benefit from customer signings secured since the first quarter of 2024. Contract customer daily sales increased 17.6% year over year and represented 75.8% of quarterly revenues, up from 73.2% a year earlier.

FAST stock lost 2.2% during today’s pre-market trading session after the announcement of the financial results.

Fastenal’s Q2 Earnings & Sales HighlightsFastenal’s quarterly earnings of 33 cents per share were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but increased 15.9% year over year from 29 cents per share.

Net sales rose 14.7% year over year to $2.39 billion and surpassed the consensus mark of $2.34 billion by 1.9%. Growth reflected stronger customer contract signings, pricing actions and improved industrial production. Daily sales also advanced 14.7%.

FAST’s Daily Sales Growth TrendsManufacturing daily sales increased 14.9%, with the segment contributing 75.9% of total sales. Heavy Manufacturing led the improvement with 18.1% growth and represented 44.1% of revenues. Other Manufacturing sales rose 10.8%.

Non-Residential Construction daily sales advanced 17%, marking continued growth in the market. Other End-Market sales increased 14.1%, aided by transportation and warehousing customers. Total Non-Manufacturing daily sales climbed 15.1%.

Direct-Material daily sales grew 16.5% and accounted for 39.2% of revenues. Direct Fasteners and Hardware increased 16.8%, while direct cutting tools and abrasives rose 14.8%. Direct Non-Fasteners and Hardware sales improved 16.7%.

Indirect-Material daily sales increased 14.1% and represented 60.8% of revenues. Indirect Fastener sales rose 14.6%, Safety Products increased 13.1%, and other indirect product lines advanced 14.6%. Direct materials slightly outpaced indirect products due to stronger fastener demand and manufacturing activity.

Fastenal’s Digital Sales Outpace Company GrowthDigital Footprint sales increased 16.2% to $1.49 billion and represented 61.6% of revenues, up from 61% in the prior-year quarter. The metric combines sales through Fastenal Managed Inventory technology with eBusiness sales that do not overlap with those services.

FMI sales rose 16.4% to $1.08 billion and accounted for 44.6% of revenues. FAST signed 6,993 weighted FASTBin and FASTVend devices, up 8.3%, while the installed base grew 6.5% to 140,789 units. eBusiness sales increased 12.6% to $711.9 million.

FAST Holds Operating Margin Despite PressureGross margin contracted 75 basis points (bps) to 44.6%. Unfavorable net price-cost reduced the margin by about 40 bps, while customer mix, transportation costs and rebate activity created additional pressure. Larger customers generally carry lower gross margins but produce greater profit dollars and operating efficiencies.

Selling, general and administrative expenses improved 80 bps to 23.5% of sales. Labor productivity and fixed-cost leverage offset higher incentive compensation, transportation and travel expenses. As a result, operating margin remained unchanged at 21%, while operating income increased 15.1% to $501.8 million.

Fastenal Generates Solid Cash and Returns CapitalNet income increased year over year by 15.9% to $382.8 million. Operating cash flow totaled $265.7 million, down 4.6%, and represented 69.4% of net income. Accounts receivable increased 17.6%, while inventories edged up 0.5% and accounts payable rose 25.2%.

The company returned $305.1 million to shareholders through $275.4 million in dividends and $29.7 million in share repurchases. Total debt declined to $120 million from $230 million a year ago.

FAST’s Zacks Rank & Stocks With the Favorable CombinationFastenal currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Here are some companies from the Industrial Products sector, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their respective quarters to be reported.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.82% and a Zacks Rank of 2.

 Grainger’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 4.2%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to increase 13.1% year over year.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.11% and a Zacks Rank of 2.

 Caterpillar’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 9.6%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to grow 31.6% year over year.

Kennametal Inc. (KMT - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +45.29% and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

 Kennametal’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 18.6%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to surge a whopping 376.5% year over year.

Industrial distributor Fastenal reported second-quarter earnings per share of 33 cents, in line with Wall Street estimates.

WINONA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fastenal Company (Nasdaq:FAST) ('Fastenal,' 'we,' 'our,' or 'us'), a global leader in supply chain services, today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. Results reflected strong daily sales growth, operating expense leverage, and continued growth with larger customers supported by our onsite, digital, and supply chain solutions. Except for share and per share information, or as otherwise noted, amounts are stated in millions. Percentage and.

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13.7.2026 14:09

Výsledková sezóna v USA se tento týden začíná rozbíhat. V centru pozornosti bude především finanční sektor, zejména výsledky velkých amerických bank, jako jsou JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citi či Morgan Stanley. Investoři budou sledovat také výsledky správce aktiv BlackRock. Mimo finance budou důležité také výsledky ze segmentu polovodičů, kde reportují ASML a TSMC. Pozornost investorů přitáhne rovněž Netflix, zatímco zdravotnický sektor zastoupí UnitedHealth Group, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott a Intuitive Surgical.

Přehled vybraných společností reportujících své výsledky v tomto týdnu (zdroj: síť X - Earnings Whispers)

Úterý (14. července) USA (před trhem): JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citi, Fastenal, Ericsson

Středa (15. července) USA (před trhem): Johnson & Johnson, ASML, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Progressive, The Bank of New York Mellon, PNC Financial Services, Elevance Health, Cintas, M&T Bank

USA (po trhu): United Airlines, J.B. Hunt Transport Services

Eurozóna (před trhem): ASML

Čtvrtek (16. července) USA (před trhem): UnitedHealth Group, General Electric, Abbott Laboratories, Prologis, U.S. Bancorp, Kinder Morgan, State Street, Citizens Financial Group

USA (po trhu): Netflix, Intuitive Surgical

Evropa (před trhem): ABB, Nordea Bank

Taiwan: TSMC

Pátek (17. července) USA (před trhem): The Travelers, Truist Financial, Fifth Third Bancorp, Regions Financial

Zdroj: Bloomberg, Earnings Whispers

Marek Krejčiřík
Fio banka, a.s.
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Key Takeaways Fastenal is expected to post higher Q2 sales, supported by manufacturing demand and contract growth.FAST's May 2026 daily sales rose 14.8%, led by heavy manufacturing, construction and direct product demand.Cost controls, pricing and supply initiatives may support margins despite higher freight and overhead costs. Fastenal Company (FAST - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 14, before the opening bell.

In the last reported quarter, its earnings per share (EPS) met the Zacks Consensus Estimate at 30 cents and grew year over year by 13.6%. Net sales marginally topped the consensus mark by 0.04% and grew 12.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Fastenal’s earnings topped the consensus mark in one of the last four quarters, met on two occasions and missed on the remaining one, with the average surprise being 0.1%.

How Are Estimates Placed for FAST Stock?For the second quarter, FAST’s Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has moved upward over the past 60 days to 33 cents per share from 32 cents. The estimated figure indicates 13.8% year-over-year growth.

The consensus mark for net sales is pegged at $2.34 billion, indicating a 12.6% increase from the year-ago reported figure of $2.08 billion.

Factors Likely to Have Shaped Fastenal's Q2 PerformanceSales

In the second quarter, the top-line performance of Fastenal is likely to have improved year over year, driven by improved customer contract signings and an improvement in industrial production, alongside favorable pricing and several sales-boosting initiatives. The company’s focus on growing its digital footprint, increasing inventory and improving picking efficiency at its hubs is expected to have boded well, despite the sluggish industrial environment.

Direct materials, which include fasteners, cutting tools and other production-related items, are expected to have added to the sales growth of Fastenal, led by improved demand trends for direct fasteners and hardware. Besides, its manufacturing exposure is likely to have been another major driver for the results. Moreover, a balanced mix of on-site and off-site services, along with market share gains across various product categories, is likely to have been an additional growth contributor.

If we go by the latest monthly sales report, May's daily sales grew 14.8% to $37.6 million year over year and grew 4.6% from April 2026.

In terms of end markets in May 2026, Heavy Manufacturing and Other Manufacturing daily sales increased 18.7% and 11.5%, respectively, with Non-residential Construction growing 16%. In terms of customer usage, daily sales for Direct Fasteners/Hardware and Direct non-Fasteners/Hardware jumped 15.9% and 17.2%, respectively. Daily sales under Direct Cutting Tools and Abrasives also improved 13.2% in May 2026.

During the same month, the daily sales growth of contract and non-contract customers was 18% and 8%, respectively, with daily sales through eBusiness increasing 11%.

Margins

The bottom line of FAST is expected to have improved during the second quarter on the back of a favorable price-cost mix, the ongoing fastener expansion project, supply improvement initiatives and cost control strategies. The company’s efforts in controlling costs, especially container and transportation costs, are encouraging. Automating warehouses, increasing delivery efficiency through its trucking network and selling more private-label products with higher margins are likely to have aided the fourth quarter’s bottom-line growth.

Fastenal is likely to have faced an unfavorable customer and product mix, alongside higher freight and overhead costs, given the broader macro uncertainties spanning the economy. However, the increased leverage from top-line growth and margin expansion initiatives is expected to have more than offset these headwinds.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for FastenalOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Fastenal this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat.

FAST’s Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of +1.96%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

FAST’s Zacks Rank: Currently, the stock carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Other Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are some other companies from the Industrial Products sector, which, according to our model, also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their respective quarters to be reported.

 Kennametal Inc. (KMT - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +45.29% and a Zacks Rank of 1.

 Kennametal’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 18.6%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to surge a whopping 376.5% year over year.

 Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.11% and a Zacks Rank of 2.

 Caterpillar’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 9.6%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to grow 31.6% year over year.

 W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.81% and a Zacks Rank of 2.

 Grainger’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 4.2%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to increase 12.9% year over year.

WINONA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST) is proud to announce the publication of its 2026 Impact Report. The report, which covers the year ended December 31, 2025, highlights Fastenal's initiatives and impacts in pursuit of three objectives: empowering people, preserving our world, and serving as a trusted partner. The report reflects the creativity and hard work of Fastenal's team members as they continually push for improvements in areas like sustainability, governance,.

Fastenal Company (NYSE:FAST) will release its second quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Monday, July 13.

Analysts expect the Winona, Minnesota-based company to report quarterly earnings of 33 cents per share, up from 29 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Fastenal’s quarterly revenue is $2.34 billion. It reported $2.08 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.

On April 13, the industrial and construction supplies distributor posted first-quarter net sales of $2.20 billion, up 12.4% year-over-year and ahead of the $2.199 billion estimate.

Fastenal shares gained 0.6% to close at $47.40 on Monday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings 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 analysts have rated the company in the recent period.

Considering buying FAST stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Investors interested in stocks from the Industrial Services sector have probably already heard of EquipmentShare.com Inc. (EQPT - Free Report) and Fastenal (FAST - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.

Both EquipmentShare.com Inc. and Fastenal have a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) right now. This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that these stocks have improving earnings outlooks. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.

EQPT currently has a forward P/E ratio of 36.46, while FAST has a forward P/E of 38.07. We also note that EQPT has a PEG ratio of 1.82. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. FAST currently has a PEG ratio of 2.99.

Another notable valuation metric for EQPT is its P/B ratio of 4.15. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, FAST has a P/B of 13.5.

These metrics, and several others, help EQPT earn a Value grade of B, while FAST has been given a Value grade of D.

Both EQPT and FAST are impressive stocks with solid earnings outlooks, but based on these valuation figures, we feel that EQPT is the superior value option right now.

LAS VEGAS, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, today announced the launch of its new Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) channel, Best Bets TV, powered by VSiN to reach more sports fans. Leveraging podcast and live content from across VSiN’s platforms, the new 24/7 channel delivers actionable sports betting content to a broader audience — combining highlights from its live linear programming, original analysis, and video podcasts in a free streaming format.

Best Bets TV provides broadcast and streaming services access to the full 24/7 channel or blocks of programming that can be integrated into daily schedules. The full 24/7 Best Bets TV channel is currently streamed exclusively on the OrkaTV platform within its sports category now streaming on Roku, Fire TV, Google Play, Android OS, tv.orka.tv, and coming soon on all Smart TV platforms.

“VSiN programming for Best Bets TV is a unique offering in FAST, with specially curated clips and three hours of live programming each weekday,” said Mike Woods, Founder and CEO of OrkaTV. “As viewers increasingly turn to streaming for live television, Best Bets TV represents the kind of dynamic content that we're focused on bringing to the OrkaTV platform. In partnership with VSiN, we're creating a compelling destination for sports fans who want insight, analysis, and live coverage throughout the day.”

In addition to the exclusive launch of its 24/7 channel on OrkaTV, select Best Bets TV sports betting content airs on Anthem’s Game+, available across North America through major IPTV, cable, and satellite systems, as well as Marquee Sports Network, available directly and via providers like Hulu+ Live TV, FuboTV, DIRECTV and various cable providers.

“VSiN continues to grow its distribution footprint across every major platform to reach more sports fans in more ways with its award-winning sports betting content,” said Miles Gwyn, chief operating officer at VSiN. “With the launch of Best Bets TV, we have an incredible opportunity to introduce VSiN content to millions of new viewers, while leveraging some of the content we’re already creating. We expect to continue this rapid expansion to make sports betting information accessible to every fan, by providing the credible insights, expert commentary, and entertainment that make VSiN the leading voice in sports betting.”

The launch of Best Bets TV leverages VSiN’s daily output of more sports betting content than there are hours in a day and underscores the network’s commitment to delivering credible, high-quality sports betting programming wherever and however fans consume it. The new channel curates the most timely, engaging, and informative segments to give millions of new sports fans access to the network’s programming on free-to-watch platforms.

The new channel taps a mix of AI clipping through a partnership with TVU Networks and manual clipping to generate more than 150 new video clips each day. The network’s partnership with Zype for content organization and management enables deep content customization through rich metadata. VSiN’s Amagi collaboration uses metadata to build shows with dynamic themes and content, while prioritizing the most recent clips. This first-of-its-kind system helps VSiN curate content to deliver the most relevant and timely programming to sports fans everywhere.

Programming on Best Bets TV draws from VSiN’s leading podcasts, including “The GM Shuffle,” “Fade Us Sports,” “The College Football Betting Podcast,” and “Pod to the Futures,” alongside up to three hours of live content daily such as “VSiNLive on Mad Dog Radio,” which simulcasts weekdays on SiriusXM. The channel also features clips from VSiN’s live linear shows, packaging key betting insights, expert analysis, and daily highlights in new ways to help fans make more informed wagering decisions.

About VSiN
VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, is the first sports media company dedicated to providing news, analysis, and proprietary data to the millions of Americans who wager on sports and power the multibillion-dollar sports betting industry. Fueled by award-winning broadcasters and legendary oddsmakers, VSiN delivers sports betting insights across multiple platforms — including YouTube TV, SiriusXM, SportsNet Pittsburgh, Marquee Sports Network, NESN, MASN, Spectrum SportsNet LA, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, more than 350 terrestrial radio stations throughout the U.S., VSiN.com, and VSiN.com/Podcasts.

VSiN’s broadcast studios are located inside Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and Circa Sports at The Mint Gaming Hall in Franklin, KY.

About Game+
Game+ is the destination for fast-paced, live-action sports and dynamic coverage of wagering, fantasy sports, esports, and millennial-driven competition. From pickleball, sports betting and professional wrestling, Game+ delivers nonstop, competition-based entertainment. A subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. and a division of Anthem Sports Group, the network reaches millions of viewers across North America through linear and digital tv streams like FuboTV as well as its dedicated YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.gameplusnetwork.com, its YouTube Channel, Instagram and @GamePlusNetwork on X.

About OrkaTV
OrkaTV is a TV-native Advertising Technology provider and the leading media marketplace built specifically for the FAST and CTV ecosystem. Through direct relationships with hundreds of Streaming TV content providers, OrkaTV delivers cleaner access, smarter supply, stronger transparency, and big screen storytelling value to marketers, brands, and consumers around the world. Learn more at www.Orka.TV

About the OrkaTV Streaming TV Platform
The OrkaTV streaming platform brings together premium FAST channels, emerging creator-led content, and commerce-driven experiences in a single consumer-facing service. Already, OrkaTV has grown to 350 channels spanning international news, local media, sports, travel, lifestyle, kids and family programming, and emerging creator content. We help content creators expand their distribution, grow their audiences, and unlock new monetization opportunities. For business development, contact Lisa Hochberg at [email protected]

Media Contact:
Michelle Musburger
773.230.0629
[email protected]

The Zacks Industrial Services industry’s near-term outlook has been clouded by rising operating costs and supply-chain disruptions. A tough labor market also creates concerns for the industry.

Despite the current setback, the recent recovery in the manufacturing sector and rise in e-commerce activities will be key catalysts for the industry. Companies like W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW - Free Report) , MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM - Free Report) , Kion Group (KIGRY - Free Report) , Fastenal (FAST - Free Report) and EquipmentShare.com Inc. (EQPT - Free Report) are positioned for growth by leveraging strategies to capitalize on this demand. They have also been lowering costs, increasing productivity and efficiency, and investing in automation and digitization, which will aid growth.

Industry Description The Zacks Industrial Services industry comprises companies that provide industrial equipment products and MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) services. It includes routine maintenance, emergency maintenance and spare part inventory control, which keep a facility and its equipment in good operating condition. Industry participants serve a wide array of customers, ranging from commercial, government and healthcare to manufacturing. The industry's products (power tools, hand tools, cutting fluids, lubricants, personal protective equipment and consumables) are utilized in production and plant maintenance but are not directly related to customers’ core products or services. These companies reduce MRO supply-chain costs and improve customers' plant floor productivity by offering inventory management and process and procurement solutions.

Trends Shaping the Future of the Industrial Services Industry High Costs and Supply-Chain Issues are Concerning: The industry continues to face elevated inflation across labor, freight, fuel and tariff-related inputs as well as tariff-related impacts. The companies are witnessing labor shortages for some positions and incurring higher costs to meet demand. In addition, disruptions linked to the Iran conflict have further strained supply chains and increased overall cost pressures. The ISM Supplier Deliveries Index indicated slower delivery times for the sixth consecutive month in May, highlighting ongoing logistics bottlenecks. At the same time, the ISM Prices Index remained elevated at 82.1%, marking 20 straight months of rising input costs. This sustained inflation is being driven by higher steel and aluminum prices, tariffs on a range of imported goods and increased petroleum-related costs stemming from Middle East tensions. In response, industry participants are focusing on pricing actions, cost optimization, productivity gains and diversification of supplier networks to offset these pressures. While the recent US–Iran truce and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz may offer some short-term relief to energy and shipping markets, the durability of these improvements and their impact on broader demand visibility remain uncertain.

Manufacturing Activity Expands: The manufacturing sector contributes around 70% to the industry's revenues. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index rebounded with a 52.6% in January 2026 and has remained in expansion territory since, with the latest 54% in May.  Although demand conditions have improved compared with last year, elevated oil and diesel prices, alongside ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, continue to weigh on sentiment, with many customers remaining cautious and adopting a wait-and-watch approach.

E-commerce to be a Growth Driver: MRO demand is significantly impacted by the evolution of e-commerce. Customer demand for highly tailored solutions, with real-time access to information and rapid delivery of products, is rising. Customers want to execute their business activities in the most efficient way possible, which often means online. E-commerce is expected to surge due to rising Internet penetration, widespread smartphone adoption and the convenience of online shopping. Additionally, advancements in digital payments, logistics and personalization are making the online shopping experience faster, safer and more customer-centric. To capitalize on this trend, industrial service companies are heavily investing in improving their digital capabilities and increasing their e-commerce share.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dull Prospects The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bearish prospects in the near term. The Zacks Industrial Services Industry, a 16-stock group within the broader Zacks Industrial Products sector, currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #182, which places it in the bottom 26% of 247 Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Before we present a few Industrial services stocks that investors can add to their portfolio, it is worth taking a look at the industry’s stock-market performance and its valuation picture.

Industry Vs S&P 500 & Sector The Industrial Services industry has underperformed its sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.

Over this period, the industry has grown 0.6% compared with the sector’s gain of 24.8%. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has moved up 26.7%.

One-Year Price Performance
 Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio, a commonly used multiple for valuing Industrial Services companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 35.79X compared with the S&P 500’s 18.44X and the Industrial Products sector’s trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 20.65X. This is shown in the charts below.

Enterprise Value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) TTM Ratio

Enterprise Value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) TTM Ratio

Over the last five years, the industry traded as high as 43.65X and as low as 25.24X, the median being 34.86X.

5 Industrial Services Stocks to Keep an Eye on Grainger: The company continues to benefit from strong volume growth in its High-Touch Solutions segment and expanding customer activity within the Endless Assortment segment. High-Touch Solutions is seeing gains from a more favorable product mix, while repeat customer growth at MonotaRO and Zoro is supporting performance in Endless Assortment. Higher sales volumes and pricing initiatives are expected to contribute to revenue growth in the coming quarters. The company is also enhancing the end-to-end customer experience through investments in e-commerce and digital capabilities, alongside operational improvements across its supply chain. Its Canadian business remains a promising growth opportunity. Grainger’s Canada business is an attractive market and is expected to deliver double-digit operating margin growth over the next five years.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings for the Lake Forest, IL-based company indicates year-over-year growth of 14.8%.  The estimate has moved up 4% over the past 90 days. GWW currently has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.21%, on average. It has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 11.9% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Price: GWW

MSC Industrial: The company delivered the second consecutive quarter of year-over-year operating margin expansion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended March 31, 2026), driven by structural cost reductions. Its core customer daily sales outperformed the total company for the third consecutive quarter. The company expects stronger sales growth and profitability in the second half of the fiscal year, supported by sales optimization initiatives, productivity improvements and momentum from its Mission Critical strategy, which is already contributing to core customer growth. MSM’s strong digital capabilities also provide a competitive advantage, with e-commerce channels—including Electronic Data Interchange systems, VMI, Extensible Markup Language-based ordering systems, vending, hosted systems, and other electronic portals—accounting for around 64.1% of its total sales. Over the long term, MSM remains focused on achieving market growth that exceeds industry growth by more than 400 basis points and expanding operating margins to approximately 15%, while continuing to enhance efficiency through automation, AI and process improvements.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Melville, NY-based MSM’s fiscal 2026 earnings has moved up 0.7% in the past 90 days. It currently indicates year-over-year growth of 15.2%. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.1% on average. It currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

Price: MSM

Kion Group: The company had a positive start in 2026, with order intake and profitability increasing in both operating segments in the first quarter of 2026. The company also recently announced a strategic equity investment of 35% in ZIKOO Robotics, a leading provider of pallet storage robotics based in China. The company offers a range of solutions, including six-way shuttles and omnidirectional stacker robots, as well as an integrated software platform. The investment marks a significant step in KION’s strategy to build an ecosystem of automation technology partners. With their expanded portfolio of automated warehouse solutions, both companies will deliver warehouse offerings that provide higher efficiency, better space utilization and greater flexibility for their customers. Last year, KION announced an efficiency program aimed at strengthening long-term competitiveness. The efficiency program will result in permanent cost savings of around € 150 million per year and is yielding results.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Germany-based Kion Group’s fiscal 2026 earnings has moved up 10% over the past 90 days. The estimate indicates year-over-year growth of 100%. KIGRY currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

Price: KIGRY

Fastenal: The company reported a 12% increase in net sales in the first quarter of 2026, primarily driven by share gains and broad-based demand across core end markets. Sales performance reflects the contribution from improved customer contract signings. The company’s digital initiatives improve customer experience, increase retention and enable scalable growth, which are expected to play key roles in its long-term strategy. Sales through Digital Footprint were 61.5% of total sales in the first quarter, which the company aims to lift to 66% in 2026. Fastenal is also making concerted efforts to control costs and offset cost inflation. The strategies for the same include automating warehouses, increasing delivery efficiency through its trucking network and selling more private-label products with higher margins. This will aid the company to improve its efficiency and also boost margins. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Winona, MN-based company’s fiscal 2026 earnings has moved up 0.8% in the past 90 days. The consensus mark indicates year-over-year growth of 13.8%. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.06% on average. FAST has a long-term estimated earnings growth rate of 12.7% and currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Price: FAST

EquipmentShare: The company is a leader in connected jobsite technology and one of the largest equipment rental providers in the United States. By integrating a large rental fleet with its proprietary T3 operating system, EquipmentShare has created a digital-first model built to provide contractors with real-time data and unified management. It has grown from a local startup into a nationwide construction technology company, which began trading in January 2026. The company continues to expand its footprint to support long-term growth. It recently opened a flagship branch in Jacksonville, FL, its 28th location in the state, to serve major infrastructure and construction projects in the region. The new Florida site advances the long-term growth strategy of EquipmentShare, which has more than 407 locations nationwide and plans to reach more than 700 in the next few years. This expansion extends the company’s T3 smart-fleet technology, safety-driven security features and productivity-boosting service model to more jobsites, accelerating industry transformation one project at a time.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Columbia, Missouri-based EquipmentShare’s 2026 earnings has moved up 22% over the past 90 days. EQPT has a long-term estimated earnings growth of 20%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

Price: EQPT

Fastenal Company remains a hold as strong demand and broad-based revenue growth are offset by persistent pricing and margin pressures. Q1 2026 saw 12.4% y/y revenue growth and double-digit EPS gains, but gross margin declined 47 bps due to unfavorable price/cost dynamics and transportation headwinds. Section 232 tariff changes increase cost pressure risk, likely prolonging margin challenges and complicating price realization efforts.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Apr 25th, 2026

Caprock Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST – Free Report) by 59.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 65,155 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 24,312 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC’s holdings in Fastenal were worth $2,615,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Fastenal by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 151,515,539 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,430,322,000 after purchasing an additional 2,346,045 shares during the last quarter. National Pension Service boosted its stake in Fastenal by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,558,579 shares of the company’s stock valued at $76,433,000 after purchasing an additional 53,888 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its stake in Fastenal by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,713,469 shares of the company’s stock valued at $181,626,000 after purchasing an additional 219,154 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in Fastenal by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,387,472 shares of the company’s stock valued at $362,282,000 after purchasing an additional 90,095 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlueStem Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Fastenal during the 3rd quarter valued at $634,000. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have commented on FAST. Bank of America increased their target price on Fastenal from $48.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “underperform” rating and set a $42.00 price target on shares of Fastenal in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Fastenal from $52.00 to $50.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Barclays increased their price target on Fastenal from $44.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Fastenal in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $49.77.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on FAST

Fastenal Stock Performance Shares of FAST stock opened at $44.69 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $45.81 and its 200-day simple moving average is $43.62. The company has a market cap of $51.31 billion, a PE ratio of 39.20, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a current ratio of 4.39, a quick ratio of 2.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. Fastenal Company has a 12-month low of $38.97 and a 12-month high of $50.63.

Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 13th. The company reported $0.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.30. The business had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.19 billion. Fastenal had a return on equity of 33.25% and a net margin of 15.39%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 12.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.52 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Fastenal Company will post 1.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fastenal Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 28th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Fastenal’s payout ratio is 84.21%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Fastenal In other news, Director Reyne K. Wisecup sold 36,920 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.34, for a total transaction of $1,747,792.80. Following the sale, the director directly owned 40,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,893,600. The trade was a 48.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Fastenal Profile (Free Report)

Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) is a wholesale distributor of industrial and construction supplies, best known for its broad assortment of fasteners such as bolts, nuts, screws and anchors. Founded in Winona, Minnesota, Fastenal has grown from a regional supplier into a national and international distributor serving a wide range of end markets, including manufacturing, construction, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and government customers. The company is publicly traded and operates through a network of locally staffed branches combined with national distribution capabilities.

Product offerings extend beyond fasteners to include tools, safety and personal protective equipment, power transmission components, cutting and welding supplies, janitorial and material handling items, and other industrial consumables.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Fastenal

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On April 29, 2026, we conducted a discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis for Fastenal Co FAST , a company that has shown a price performance of +12.6% year-to-date and +13.9% over the past year. Despite these positive trends, our analysis reveals a different story regarding its valuation.

DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value of $18.75 compared to the current price of $44.68, indicating a margin of safety of -138.3%. DCF Free Cash Flow (FCF)-based intrinsic value of $19.26, which also suggests significant overvaluation. GF Score™ of 97/100, indicating high reliability of the DCF inputs and overall financial health. What Is FAST Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model In our DCF earnings-based model, we utilized a two-stage growth approach. The first stage assumes a robust growth rate of 10.4% for the next ten years, followed by a terminal growth rate of 4% for the subsequent ten years. This model provides a comprehensive view of FAST's potential earnings trajectory.

Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $1.14 10-Year Growth Rate 10.4% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.36% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% Our calculations yield the following summary:

Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 10.4%, discounted at 11% $11.07 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $7.68 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $18.75 With a current price of $44.68 and an intrinsic value of $18.75, Fastenal Co appears to be significantly overvalued, with a margin of safety of -138.3%. It is important to note that GuruFocus uses EPS without non-recurring items in its calculations, as research indicates that stock prices correlate more closely with earnings than with free cash flow. For a detailed breakdown, visit the FAST DCF Calculator.

What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? The free cash flow (FCF)-based intrinsic value for Fastenal Co is calculated at $19.26. This value is slightly higher than the earnings-based intrinsic value of $18.75, suggesting that both models are in agreement regarding the overvaluation of the stock. With a margin of safety of -132.0%, the FCF model also indicates that Fastenal Co is significantly overvalued.

How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? The GF Value™ for Fastenal Co is calculated at $42.10, providing a third perspective on the company's valuation. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure derived from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. All three models—DCF earnings-based, DCF FCF-based, and GF Value™—indicate that Fastenal Co is overvalued. For more insights, visit the GF Value™ page.

What Does FAST's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ for Fastenal Co is an impressive 97/100, indicating strong financial health and performance. The GF Score™ ranks stocks based on five key aspects: Financial Strength, Profitability, Growth, Valuation, and Momentum. Higher GF Score™ values are associated with better long-term returns. Below is a summary of FAST's GF Score™ metrics:

Metric Rating GF Score™ 97/100 Financial Strength 9/10 Profitability 9/10 Growth 10/10 Valuation 7/10 Momentum 10/10 With a predictability rank of 3/5 stars, this indicates that the DCF model is moderately reliable for Fastenal Co. For more details, visit the FAST stock page.

Key Assumptions and Limitations It is crucial to note that DCF models are highly sensitive to the assumptions made regarding growth rates and discount rates. Additionally, stocks with lower predictability ratings tend to produce less reliable DCF estimates. The terminal growth rate of 4% is a simplifying assumption that may not hold true in all market conditions.

What This Means for Investors In summary, all three valuation models—DCF earnings-based, DCF FCF-based, and GF Value™—indicate that Fastenal Co is significantly overvalued at its current price of $44.68. The consensus across these models suggests caution for potential investors. For the full DCF analysis, visit the FAST DCF Calculator. You can also explore the GF Value™ page, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find undervalued predictable companies.

Frequently Asked Questions What is FAST's intrinsic value based on DCF?

According to our analysis, the earnings-based intrinsic value is $18.75, while the FCF-based intrinsic value is $19.26.

Is FAST overvalued or undervalued?

Both the DCF models and GF Value™ consensus indicate that FAST is overvalued.

How reliable is the DCF model for FAST?

The DCF model's reliability is moderate, as indicated by a predictability rank of 3/5 stars.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Posted by Defense World Staff on Apr 29th, 2026

Comerica Bank lessened its position in shares of Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST – Free Report) by 4.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 283,293 shares of the company’s stock after selling 14,674 shares during the period. Comerica Bank’s holdings in Fastenal were worth $11,369,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. boosted its position in shares of Fastenal by 71.6% in the third quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 611 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 255 shares during the period. REAP Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Fastenal in the third quarter worth about $30,000. First Horizon Corp acquired a new position in shares of Fastenal in the third quarter worth about $33,000. Financial Perspectives Inc lifted its stake in shares of Fastenal by 414.0% in the third quarter. Financial Perspectives Inc now owns 699 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 563 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Fastenal in the third quarter worth about $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Fastenal In other news, Director Reyne K. Wisecup sold 36,920 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.34, for a total transaction of $1,747,792.80. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 40,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,893,600. This represents a 48.00% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes FAST has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $46.00 price target on shares of Fastenal in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Fastenal from $52.00 to $50.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. Raymond James Financial set a $48.00 price objective on Fastenal in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Fastenal from $48.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Fastenal in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $49.77.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Fastenal

Fastenal Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ FAST opened at $44.68 on Wednesday. Fastenal Company has a 1 year low of $38.97 and a 1 year high of $50.63. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $45.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $43.54. The firm has a market cap of $51.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.19, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 2.34 and a current ratio of 4.39.

Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 13th. The company reported $0.30 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.30. Fastenal had a return on equity of 33.25% and a net margin of 15.39%.The company had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.19 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.52 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 12.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Fastenal Company will post 1.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Fastenal Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 28th will be given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 28th. Fastenal’s dividend payout ratio is 84.21%.

Fastenal Company Profile (Free Report)

Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) is a wholesale distributor of industrial and construction supplies, best known for its broad assortment of fasteners such as bolts, nuts, screws and anchors. Founded in Winona, Minnesota, Fastenal has grown from a regional supplier into a national and international distributor serving a wide range of end markets, including manufacturing, construction, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and government customers. The company is publicly traded and operates through a network of locally staffed branches combined with national distribution capabilities.

Product offerings extend beyond fasteners to include tools, safety and personal protective equipment, power transmission components, cutting and welding supplies, janitorial and material handling items, and other industrial consumables.

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On a recent episode of The Compound and Friends hosted by Josh Brown, former Janus analyst Matt Ancrum told a story about how he’d made the correct call that Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST | FAST Price Prediction) stock would sell off, but by selling the position, the firm missed out on the stock’s eventual 19x move. This was an epiphany moment that showed the importance of holding for the long term.

The Trade That Looked Genius On the podcast, the guests told the story about how back in the day, Fastenal, a Minnesota-based industrial distributor that sells nuts, bolts, and other fasteners, accounted for about 8% of the firm’s portfolio. Field research with regional VPs flagged that Fastenal would miss its upcoming earnings, so they sold the stock. Looking back, Ancrum said, “I looked like a genius,” because Fastenal went on to drop 55% while the broader market dropped 15%.

Then came the gut punch. From that low point of roughly $0.65 split-adjusted, Fastenal rose 19-fold while the S&P 500 roughly quadrupled over the same time period. Clients praised the firm for being “saved” by the sell call, but they ended up missing a generational compounder.

Why Fastenal Came Back Fastenal has a great business model because its industrial products typically account for less than 3% of total project costs, yet missing a single fastener can stop entire construction crews. Fastenal has pricing power because customers pay for reliable supply rather than saving pennies to find the cheapest products themselves.

Fastenal is still a well-run business today. In Q4 2025, the business posted revenue of $2.027 billion, up 11.1% year over year, with EPS of $0.26. Contract customers reached 73.8% of sales, and the FMI device installed base grew to 136,638 MEUs.

The Hero’s Journey of 100-Baggers Ancrum’s story fits a pattern. Brown framed the universal challenge as “the willingness to endure 50% drawdowns” and described the pattern of 100-baggers as “the hero’s journey,” where companies often have to “come back from the dead” to deliver their biggest gains. Neeraj Khemlani added that over the life of a 100-bagger, “nearly every single one of them experiences an existential event.”

The data shows that most 100-bagger stocks suffer maximum drawdowns of around 70%. The journey is brutal by design.

The Lesson for Finding 100-Bagger Stocks For investors building retirement portfolios, the takeaway is that the willingness to do nothing can often be one of the most important factors for compounding wealth.

On May 13, 2026, we present a discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis for Fastenal Co FAST , a company that has shown a price performance of +10.6% over the past year, despite a recent decline of -4.9% over the last month. The current price stands at $43.32.

DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value: $18.75 vs current price $43.32 (margin of safety: -131.0%) DCF FCF-based intrinsic value: $19.26 vs current price $43.32 (second opinion margin of safety: -124.9%) GF Score™: 100/100 indicates high reliability of the DCF inputs. What Is FAST Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model The DCF earnings-based model utilizes a two-stage approach to estimate the intrinsic value of Fastenal Co. In the first stage, we project earnings growth over the next ten years, followed by a terminal growth phase. The assumptions for this model are outlined in the table below:

Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $1.14 10-Year Growth Rate 10.4% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.33% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% In the first stage, we assume that EPS will grow at a rate of 10.4% per year for the next ten years, discounted at a rate of 11%. The value derived from this growth stage is $11.07 per share. In the second stage, we apply a terminal growth rate of 4% for the following ten years, also discounted at 11%, yielding a terminal stage value of $7.68 per share. The calculation summary is as follows:

Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 10.4%, discounted at 11% $11.07 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $7.68 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $18.75 Comparing the current price of $43.32 with the intrinsic value of $18.75 indicates that Fastenal Co is significantly overvalued, with a margin of safety of -131.0%. It is important to note that GuruFocus uses EPS excluding non-recurring items, as research shows that stock prices correlate more closely with earnings than with free cash flow. For further details, you can access the FAST DCF Calculator.

What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? The free cash flow (FCF)-based intrinsic value for Fastenal Co is calculated at $19.26. When compared to the earnings-based intrinsic value of $18.75, both models indicate a similar conclusion regarding the company's valuation. With a margin of safety of -124.9%, the FCF model also suggests that Fastenal Co is significantly overvalued.

How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? The GF Value™ for Fastenal Co is calculated at $42.64, providing a third perspective on the company's valuation. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure derived from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. All three models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—align in their conclusion that Fastenal Co is significantly overvalued. For more information, visit the GF Value™ page.

What Does FAST's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ ranks stocks from 0 to 100 based on five key aspects: Financial Strength, Profitability, Growth, Valuation, and Momentum. Stocks with higher GF Score™ values have been found to generate higher long-term returns (backtested from 2006 to 2021).

Metric Rating GF Score™ 100/100 Financial Strength 9/10 Profitability 10/10 Growth 10/10 Valuation 9/10 Momentum 9/10 With a predictability rating of 3/5 stars, this indicates that the DCF model is moderately reliable for Fastenal Co. For more details, visit the FAST stock page.

Key Assumptions and Limitations It is important to note that DCF models are highly sensitive to the assumptions made regarding growth rates and discount rates. Stocks with low predictability ratings tend to produce less reliable DCF estimates. The terminal growth rate of 4% used in this analysis is a simplifying assumption that may not reflect actual future performance.

What This Means for Investors In summary, the three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—all indicate that Fastenal Co is significantly overvalued at its current price of $43.32. Investors should exercise caution and consider these valuations before making any investment decisions. For the full DCF analysis, visit the FAST DCF Calculator. You can also explore the GF Value™ page, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find undervalued predictable companies.

Frequently Asked Questions What is FAST's intrinsic value based on DCF?

Answer: earnings-based $18.75, FCF-based $19.26.

Is FAST overvalued or undervalued?

Answer: Based on both DCF and GF Value™, FAST is significantly overvalued.

How reliable is the DCF model for FAST?

Answer: The predictability rank of 3/5 indicates moderate reliability for the DCF model.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Investors interested in Industrial Services stocks are likely familiar with EquipmentShare.com Inc. (EQPT - Free Report) and Fastenal (FAST - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.

Currently, EquipmentShare.com Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Fastenal has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Investors should feel comfortable knowing that EQPT likely has seen a stronger improvement to its earnings outlook than FAST has recently. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.

Value investors also tend to look at a number of traditional, tried-and-true figures to help them find stocks that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.

EQPT currently has a forward P/E ratio of 37.16, while FAST has a forward P/E of 38.21. We also note that EQPT has a PEG ratio of 1.86. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. FAST currently has a PEG ratio of 3.00.

Another notable valuation metric for EQPT is its P/B ratio of 4.31. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, FAST has a P/B of 13.57.

These metrics, and several others, help EQPT earn a Value grade of B, while FAST has been given a Value grade of D.

EQPT stands above FAST thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that EQPT is the superior value option right now.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Fastenal (FAST - Free Report) Based in Winona, MN, Fastenal Company is a national wholesale distributor of industrial and construction supplies. The company distributes its products through a network of about 1,600 branch locations in North America.

FAST is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. FAST has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 13.8% for the current fiscal year.

For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $1.24 per share. FAST boasts an average earnings surprise of +0.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, FAST should be on investors' short list.