Fastenal Company Reports 2010 Second Quarter Earnings

WINONA, Minn., July 13, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Fastenal Company of Winona, MN (Nasdaq:FAST) reported the results of the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Except for per share information or as otherwise noted below, dollar amounts are in thousands.

Net sales, net earnings, and earnings per share were as follows for the periods ended June 30:

	Six-month period			Three-month period
	2010	2009	Change	2010	2009	Change
Net sales	$1,091,955	964,241	13.2%	$571,183	474,894	20.3%
Net earnings	$125,201	92,232	35.7%	$69,167	43,538	58.9%
Basic and diluted earnings per share	$0.85	0.62	37.1%	$0.47	0.29	62.1%

During the first six months of 2010, Fastenal opened 45 new stores (Fastenal opened 42 new stores in the same period of 2009). The 45 new stores represent an increase of 1.9% since December 31, 2009. (We had 2,369 stores on December 31, 2009.) There were 12,248 total employees as of June 30, 2010, an increase of 1.7% from the 12,045 total employees on December 31, 2009.