Fastenal Co., Winona, MN, (Nasdaq: FAST) reported sales for 2017 increased 10.8 percent to $4.4 billion. Profit rose 15.8 percent to $578.6 million.
The number of stores open in 2017 was down 4.8 percent to 2,383. FAST Solutions machines were up 13.7 percent to 71,421 vending machines. And employee count was up 4.8 percent to 20,565.
In the fourth quarter, sales were up 14.8 percent from the prior-year period to $1.1 billion. Profit in the fourth quarter increased 32.8 percent to $152.4 million.
Fastenal reported sales for December of $323.3 million, a 9.3 percent increase year-over-year. Daily sales increased 14.7 percent to an average of $16.2 million. During the month, sales to manufacturing customers grew 16.2 percent, while sales to nonresidential construction customers rose 11.9 percent.
