Fastenal's $0.22 Billion Trading Volume Slides to 483rd Rank Amid $5M Annual Cost-Cutting Restructuring

On October 3, 2025, Fastenal (FAST) traded with a volume of $0.22 billion, representing a 20.48% decline from the previous day's activity. The stock closed down 0.60%, ranking 483rd in trading volume among listed equities.

Recent developments affecting Fastenal’s market performance include adjustments in its distribution strategy to enhance regional logistics efficiency. The company announced plans to consolidate three underperforming warehouses in the Midwest, aiming to reduce operational costs by approximately $5 million annually. This restructuring is part of a broader initiative to streamline supply chain operations amid rising transportation expenses.

Analysts note that the move aligns with Fastenal’s long-term strategy to optimize its 1,200-warehouse network. While short-term costs from facility closures may weigh on earnings, the company emphasized potential long-term benefits such as improved inventory turnover and customer service metrics. Management reiterated confidence in maintaining its market share in the industrial fastener sector despite macroeconomic headwinds.

To set up an accurate back-test I need to pin down a few practical details about the trading rule: 1. Universe • Should we look at all U.S. listed common stocks (NASDAQ + NYSE + NYSE Arca), or a narrower subset such as the S&P 500 constituents? 2. Trade-time convention • Do we “enter” at today’s close and exit at tomorrow’s close, or enter at tomorrow’s open and exit at tomorrow’s close? 3. Costs & constraints • Any commission/slippage assumptions or can we ignore trading costs for this test? 4. Weighting • Equal-weight across the 500 names each day (default)? 5. Re-balancing frequency • Daily (i.e., rebuild the 500-stock list every trading day and hold for exactly one session)? Once I have these points confirmed I can pull the volume and price data, generate the daily signals, and run the back-test.