Fastenal 3rd-Quarter Net Income Rises 9 Percent

WINONA, Minn. (AP) — Fastenal Co. said Wednesday its third-quarter net income rose 9 percent, helped by the installations of more industrial vending machines that sell its products.

But the results fell slightly short of Wall Street predictions and Fastenal shares dropped 5 percent in premarket trading.

The company, which sells and distributes tools and other industrial and construction supplies, earned $119.4 million, or 40 cents per share, up from $109.3 million, or 37 cents per share, in the same quarter the year before.

Total revenue rose 7 percent to $858.4 million from $802.6 million.

Analysts, on average, expected a profit of 41 cents per share on $863.4 million in revenue, according to FactSet.

Fastenal's total number of stores rose 1.4 percent from a year ago to 2,686 as of Sept. 30, while its total number of vending machines jumped 90 percent from a year ago to 32,248.

The company posted sales increases for each of the three months of the quarter.

In premarket trading, shares of Winona, Minn.-based Fastenal fell $2.48, or 5 percent, to $47.50.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)