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Illinois Tool Works Inc (NYSE:ITW) has seen a 9.54% increase in short interest, with 8.30 million shares sold short, representing 2.87% of available shares. It would take approximately 7.33 days to cover these short positions. An increase in short interest often indicates bearish sentiment among investors. Compared to its peers, ITW has a lower short interest average of 4.61%.
Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) reported mixed Q4 results with earnings up but revenue slightly below expectations, leading to a 4.82% drop in shares. Net sales rose 11.1% year-over-year to $2.03 billion, missing the $2.044 billion estimate. Net income climbed 12.2% to $294.1 million. The company attributed rising inventory costs to tariffs and inflation, forecasting 2026 capital investments of $310-$330 million. Despite sluggish industrial production, Fastenal saw double-digit sales growth and margin expansion, with operating cash flow of $368.1 million for the quarter.
Fastenal Company reported its 2025 annual and fourth quarter earnings, revealing a net income of $1.258 billion for the year, up 9.4% from 2024. Fourth quarter earnings per share were $0.26, a 12.1% increase year-over-year. Net sales for the quarter reached $2.03 billion, an 11.1% rise compared to the same period last year. The company attributed its sales growth to improved customer contract signings and an increase in unit sales, despite sluggish industrial production. Fastenal's gross profit margin remained stable at around 45%.
Fastenal Company reported a 16.2% increase in December 2025 net sales, totaling $628.9 million compared to $541.0 million in December 2024. Daily sales rose 10.7% year-over-year to $29.95 million. Growth was driven by heavy manufacturing (14.4%) and other manufacturing (13.3%). E-business sales grew by 7.0%, and Fastenal Managed Inventory sales increased by 16.0%. The employee headcount for selling personnel rose by 2.8% to 15,439. The report highlights strong performance across various geographies and product lines, with 66.0% of top national accounts experiencing growth.
Add as your preferred news source on Google Add Now Fastenal Co. (FAST) will host a conference call at 10:00 AM ET on January 20, 2026, to discuss Q4 25 earnings results.To access the live webcast, log on to For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.comBusiness News
