Fastenal reported quarterly earnings of $0.30 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate and up from $0.26 a year earlier, adjusted for non-recurring items. In the prior quarter, it was expected to earn $0.26 per share and reported $0.26, with no surprise, and it has beaten consensus EPS estimates once in the past four quarters.
Revenue for the quarter ended March 2026 was $2.2 billion, 0.04% above the consensus estimate, compared with $1.96 billion a year ago. Over the last four quarters, Fastenal exceeded consensus revenue estimates twice.
Fastenal shares are up about 22.5% year to date, versus a 0.4% fall for the S&P 500. The durability of any near-term share move may depend on management commentary during the earnings call.
Consensus estimates are $0.33 EPS on $2.3 billion of revenue for the next quarter, and $1.24 EPS on $9.02 billion of revenue for the current fiscal year. Fastenal holds a Zacks Rank #2, and the Industrial Services industry ranks in the bottom 7% of more than 250 industries, with the top half outperforming the bottom half by over 2 to 1.
Hudson Technologies has not yet reported, with estimates of $0.05 EPS, a -16.7% year-on-year change, and expected revenue of $57.06 million, up 3.1%.
The recent earnings report shows Fastenal met expectations, which often leads to a “sell the news” reaction after a big stock run-up. With shares already up 22.5% in 2026 while the S&P 500 is down, the big move may already be behind us for now. Implied volatility in the options market has likely collapsed after the report, making it more attractive to be a seller of options rather than a buyer.
We should be cautious because the broader industrial sector is showing signs of weakness. For instance, the most recent ISM Manufacturing PMI reading for March registered at 49.8, indicating a slight contraction in the manufacturing economy. This supports the view that the industrial services industry is struggling, which could create headwinds for Fastenal’s future growth despite their solid quarter.
For those holding the stock, this is a good environment to consider selling covered calls. This strategy allows us to generate income from the options premium while the stock potentially trades sideways in the coming weeks. Looking back at a similar situation in the second quarter of 2025, we saw the stock consolidate for a month after an in-line report, which rewarded those who sold premium.
Given the conflicting signals of a strong company in a weak industry, establishing a range-bound position like an iron condor could also be prudent. This would profit if the stock price remains stable, caught between strong company performance and a weak macroeconomic backdrop. Alternatively, buying protective puts could be a cheap way to hedge long positions, especially if management’s upcoming commentary hints at future softness.
