Fastenal shows growth in 3Q 2013 and for the first nine months of 2013 but YTY data disappoints analysts

Fastenal Co., Winona, Minn., showed sales increases over the past three months (+7%) and nine months (+5.7%),  but the decline compared to YTY results for the same  time periods disappointed analysts. 2013 Net sales through Sept. 30 stand at $2.51 billion. However, the company continued to add to its branch totals and installation of industrial vending machines over the first nine months of 2013. During the first nine months of 2013, Fastenal opened 44 new stores and now has 2,686 branches. The company also installed an astonishing 11,153 new vending machines, an increase of 52.9% since December 2012 and now has 32,248 of its FAST Solutions (industrial vending) machines in operation. Details