Q1 26 EPS
$0.30
BEAT +0.84%
Est. $0.30
Q1 26 Revenue
$2.20B
BEAT +0.24%
Est. $2.20B
vs S&P Since Q1 26
-15.2%
TRAILING MARKET
FAST -6.5% vs S&P +8.7%
Market Reaction
Did FAST Beat Earnings? Q1 2026 Results
Fastenal opened 2026 on solid footing, posting first-quarter revenue of $2.20 billion, a 12.4% increase year-over-year that edged past the $2.20 billion consensus by 0.24%, while diluted EPS of $0.30 topped the $0.30 estimate by 0.84%. The headline d… Read more Fastenal opened 2026 on solid footing, posting first-quarter revenue of $2.20 billion, a 12.4% increase year-over-year that edged past the $2.20 billion consensus by 0.24%, while diluted EPS of $0.30 topped the $0.30 estimate by 0.84%. The headline driver behind that top-line momentum was accelerating contract customer activity, with contract sales growing 14.6% on a daily basis and now accounting for 75.4% of total revenue, as improved signings since early 2024 continued to compound through the business. Gross margin did compress 50 basis points to 44.6%, pressured by price-cost dynamics and a structural mix shift toward larger accounts, but disciplined SG&A management more than compensated, lifting operating margin 20 basis points to 20.3%. Operating cash flow climbed 44.3% to $378.40 million, equal to 111.4% of net income, reflecting focused inventory optimization. Looking ahead, Fastenal guided capital expenditures to $310 million to $330 million for 2026, and investors should note that fastener expansion benefits mitigating gross margin pressure are set to anniversary early in the second quarter.
Key Takeaways
- • Share gains from improved customer contract signings since Q1 2024
- • Broad-based demand across core end markets with slight improvement in industrial production
- • Contract customer sales grew 14.6% DSR, representing 75.4% of total sales
- • Product pricing contributed approximately 350 basis points to sales growth
- • Foreign exchange positively affected sales by approximately 60 basis points
- • SG&A leverage from FTE productivity improvements (approximately 60 basis points)
- • Fastener expansion project benefits provided meaningful gross margin offset
- • Disciplined inventory management released working capital, boosting operating cash flow to 111.4% of net income
- • Heavy manufacturing end market grew 14.1% on a daily sales basis
- • Non-residential construction returned to growth at 17.2% DSR after extended contraction
FAST Forward Guidance & Outlook
Fastenal expects 2026 capital expenditures (net of proceeds from sales) to be in the range of $310 million to $330 million, up from $230.6 million in 2025, driven by Atlanta hub facility replacement, improved picking capacity across the hub network, increased trucking spend, and elevated IT spending from delayed 2025 projects. The company's goal for weighted FASTBin and FASTVend device signings in 2026 remains between 28,000 and 30,000 MEUs. The company expects an ongoing tax rate of approximately 24.6%, absent discrete tax items or broader changes to tax law. Fastener expansion project benefits that have been mitigating gross margin pressure will anniversary early in Q2 2026.
FAST YoY Financials
Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025, source: SEC Filings
FAST Revenue by Segment
With YoY comparisons, source: SEC Filings
FAST Earnings Trends
FAST vs Market 30 Day Price Reactions
30-day stock return vs benchmark after each earnings
FAST EPS Trend
Earnings per share: estimate vs actual
FAST Revenue Trend
Quarterly revenue: estimate vs actual
FAST Quarterly Results
5 quarters of earnings data
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 26 BEAT | $0.30 | $0.30 | +0.84% | $2.20B | +0.24% |
| Q4 25 BEAT FY | $0.26 | $0.26 | +0.54% | $2.03B | -0.70% |
| FY Full Year | $1.10 | $1.09 | -0.78% | $8.20B | -0.01% |
| Q3 25 MISS | $0.30 | $0.29 | -2.19% | $2.13B | +0.09% |
| Q2 25 BEAT | $0.28 | $0.29 | +3.68% | $2.08B | +0.58% |
| Q1 25 BEAT | $0.52 | $0.52 | +0.06% | $1.96B | +0.44% |