Fastenal (FAST) Q2 Earnings Preview: What You Should Know Beyond the Headline Estimates

In its upcoming report, Fastenal (FAST) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $0.28 per share, reflecting an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $2.06 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.6%.Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 1.2% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as indicators of quarterly business performance, exploring analysts' projections for specific key metrics can offer valuable insights.In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain Fastenal metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.Analysts expect 'Business days' to come in at 64 days. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 64 days.The consensus estimate for 'Daily sales' stands at $32.12 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $29.90 .Analysts' assessment points toward 'Weighted FASTBin/FASTVend signings (MEUs)' reaching 7,615 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 7,188 in the same quarter of the previous year.The consensus among analysts is that 'Number of branch locations' will reach 1,595 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 1,599 .Analysts forecast 'Weighted FASTBin/FASTVend installations (MEUs; end of period)' to reach 133,889 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 119,306 in the same quarter last year. View all Key Company Metrics for Fastenal here>>> Fastenal shares have witnessed a change of +0.3% in the past month, in contrast to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.9% move. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), FAST is expected closely follow the overall market performance in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .5 Stocks Set to DoubleEach was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%.Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Fastenal Company (FAST): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks