Fastenal Co.

Fastenal celebrates 50 years in business and 30 years on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Sales and earnings presented a rosy picture in Q3.

Winona, Minnesota-based Fastenal Company had good momentum to speak of in its fourth fiscal quarter of 2014. 

Winona, Minn.-based Fastenal Co. reported sales and earnings gains both in excess of 20% in the third quarter ended Sept. 30. The company's net sales increased 20.4% to $726.7 million, while net earnings increased 29.1% to $96.8 million.

Sales for the quarter ended March 31 were $520.7 million, up 6.4% from $489.3 million in the year-ago period....

Winona, Minn.-based Fastenal Co. reported net sales of $876.5 million in the first quarter ended March 31, an increase of 8.7% over the same period last year. 

Net earnings increased 2.6% to $111.9 million. 

Company will focus on adding outside sales personnel this year....

Specialty tools and fastener supplier Fastenal Co. reported fourth-quarter sales of $697.8 million, up 21.6% from $573.8 million in the same quarter last year. 

For the full year ended Dec. 31, net sales increased to $2.767 billion, up 21.9%.

"During 2010 and 2011, sales were strong -- our business has closely followed the trend line since the fall of 2009," the company stated, adding that February was negatively impacted by weather in each of the past two years.