Wolfe Research has recently raised Fastenal Co (FAST) stock to Peer Perform rating, as announced on April 3, 2025, according to Finviz. Earlier, on March 10, 2025, William Blair had raised the stock from a Mkt Perform to Outperform. Stifel also reduced Hold rating with a price target of $86. Additionally, HSBC Securities reduced Reduce rating on December 11, 2024, with a target price of $70. UBS analysts, in their report published on November 13, 2024, also resumed Neutral rating for Fastenal Co’s stock. Analyst ratings are significant because they provide insights into stock performance expectations, influencing investor decisions and market sentiment.
Fastenal Co (FAST) Stock Trading Recap
On Thursday, Fastenal Co (FAST) stock saw a modest uptick, ending the day at $79.29 which represents a slight increase of $0.79 or 1.01% from the prior close of $78.50. The stock opened at $79.08 and touched a low of $78.75 during the day, reaching a high of $80.51. The volume of shares traded was 2.98 million falling short of the average volume of 3.74 million.
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FAST Stock Performance and Moving Averages
In recent trading, Fastenal Co (FAST) stock price has shown some volatility, fluctuating -1.76% over the last five trades and 11.36% over the past 30 trades. This represents a notable shift from earlier in the year. Over the last six months, the stock has risen by 1.89%, and it has gained 6.22% in the previous three months. Currently, FAST is trading at -1.45%, 1.88%, and 5.87% relative to its 20-Day, 50-Day, and 200-Day Simple Moving Averages, respectively.
As of the latest trading close, FAST, a Industrials sector stock, is trading -6.59% below its 52-week high but remains 29.22% above its 52-week low. The Average True Range (ATR) (14 days) of 2.13 highlights the stock’s average volatility, providing insight into how much the price typically fluctuates. This measure is crucial for understanding potential price swings and assessing overall market risk.
Fastenal Co’s Profitability and Valuation Ratios
Fastenal Co’s profitability metrics reveal financial health. The company currently boasts an operating margin of 19.89% and a profit margin of 15.13%, with a gross margin of 1.89%. The profit margin, also known as the revenue ratio or gross profit ratio, measures how efficiently a company converts sales into net income; higher margins indicate greater profitability.
In terms of valuation, Fastenal Co’s market capitalization stands at $45.48 billion. Market cap represents the total value of all outstanding shares and is a key indicator of a company’s market value. The stock’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 39.55, assessing the company’s valuation relative to its earnings. The forward P/E ratio, which uses projected earnings for the next financial year, is 33.13. Additionally, the Price-to-Sales Ratio is 5.98, reflecting the market’s valuation of the company’s sales, while the Price-to-Book Ratio is 12.32, comparing the market value to the company’s book value.
Understanding Insider Trading
Investors often prefer to invest in shares held by company insiders, as management is typically more aligned with the company’s success and shareholder interests. Currently, insiders own just 0.20% of Fastenal Co (FAST)’s shares, while financial institutions hold 83.98%.
Notable insider trades include SATTERLEE SCOTT, Director at Fastenal Co (FAST), who sold 9,670 shares on May 06 ’25, at $79.51 each, totaling $0.77 million. On Apr 25 ’25, Broersma Anthony Paul, EVP-Operations, sold 5,568 shares for $81.19 each, amounting to $0.45 million. Additionally, on Apr 24 ’25, FLORNESS DANIEL L sold 50,000 shares at $82.12 each, generating $4.11 million.
