Fastenal Company Reports Third Quarter Earnings WINONA, Minn., Oct.
12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Fastenal Company of Winona, MN
(NASDAQ:FAST) reported the results of the nine months and the
quarter ended September 30, 2004. Dollar amounts are in thousands.
Net sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004
totaled $920,027, an increase of 23.8% over net sales of $743,285
in the first nine months of 2003. Net earnings increased from
$64,230 in the first nine months of 2003 to $97,720 in the first
nine months of 2004, an increase of 52.1%. Earnings per share
increased from $.85 to $1.29 for the comparable periods. Net sales
for the three-month period ended September 30, 2004 totaled
$325,678, an increase of 26.1% over net sales of $258,330 in the
third quarter of 2003. Net earnings increased from $23,262 in the
third quarter of 2003 to $34,741 in the third quarter of 2004, an
increase of 49.3%. Earnings per share increased from $.31 to $.46
for the comparable periods. During the first nine months of 2004,
Fastenal opened 189 new store sites. The 189 new sites represent an
increase of 14.4% since December 31, 2003. There were 5,464 site
employees as of September 30, 2004, an increase of 14.3% from
December 31, 2003 and 16.2% from September 30, 2003. Management's
comments on 2004: Note -- Daily sales are defined as the sales for
the month divided by the number of business days in the month. The
twelve months of 2001, 2002, 2003, and the first nine months of
2004, excluding the DIY Business, had daily sales growth rates of
(compared to the comparable month in the preceding year): Jan. Feb.
Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 2001 20.0% 16.2%
11.4% 9.0% 9.4% 7.6% 7.4% 5.9% 4.8% 1.0% -0.5% 1.4% 2002 2.7% 4.8%
6.0% 9.3% 9.4% 11.0% 8.7% 10.4% 12.5% 13.3% 17.9% 11.6% 2003 13.3%
10.3% 14.5% 9.9% 9.5% 8.5% 11.0% 11.4% 10.8% 13.9% 14.5% 16.9% 2004
16.1% 20.1% 19.1% 22.1% 25.6% 25.7% 27.0% 24.9% 26.2% The twelve
months of 2001, 2002, 2003, and the first nine months of 2004,
including the DIY Business, had daily sales growth rates of
(compared to the comparable month in the preceding year): Jan. Feb.
Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 2001 20.0% 16.2%
11.4% 9.0% 9.4% 7.6% 7.4% 5.9% 8.7% 4.1% 2.5% 5.1% 2002 5.6% 7.1%
8.9% 12.0% 12.3% 13.7% 11.6% 13.1% 11.0% 10.2% 14.3% 7.8% 2003
10.2% 7.9% 11.5% 7.2% 6.7% 6.0% 8.2% 8.8% 8.4% 13.7% 14.5% 16.9%
2004 16.1% 20.1% 19.1% 22.1% 25.6% 25.7% 27.0% 24.9% 26.2% The
first table reflects growth rates of Fastenal excluding $16,974 and
$8,526 of DIY Business net sales from January 1, 2002 to October 3,
2002 and from August 31, 2001 to December 31, 2001, respectively
(the period of time the DIY Business was owned). Management has
included the first table above because we believe it provides a
consistent presentation of the growth rates of the organic
store-based business and ongoing operations before, during, and
after the period in which the DIY Business was owned and operated.
The daily sales growth rates in the first table above represent
several trends. The first being a downward trend in the first
eleven months of 2001, which reflected the overall weakening of the
industrial economy we service in North America. This trend reversed
itself from December 2001 to June 2002; this was partly due to
changing comparisons in the prior year and partly due to stronger
month-to-month (i.e. April to May and May to June) growth rates
compared to 2001. During July 2002, the daily sales growth rate
decreased, began to improve again in August 2002 through November
2002, and slipped in December 2002, the final month of the year.
The first six months of 2003 continued the choppy trend in net
sales growth experienced in the second half of 2002, while the July
2003 to September 2004 time frame represents initial stabilization
and then continued improvement in the growth rates. The choppy
trend, which the Company experienced from July 2002 until June
2003, reflects the alternating strengthening and weakening in the
industrial economy during that period, while the July 2003 to
September 2004 improvement reflects continued strengthening in the
economy as it relates to the customers we sell to in North America
and the impact of the CSP initiative (as discussed below). See also
the impact of price increases included in the gross profit
discussion below. Gross profit margins in the first nine months of
2004 and 2003 were 50.4% and 49.3%, respectively. The largest
impact to Fastenal's gross profit margin relates to the impact of
rising steel prices. As a reseller of industrial products,
primarily steel-based industrial products, Fastenal has been forced
to increase its selling prices. These increases resulted in
approximately 2.5% of additional sales dollars in the first nine
months of 2004. To date, the increases relate primarily to CSP
(defined below) products, to changes in our wholesale (or list)
pricing, and, to a lesser degree, increases in the selling prices
to our key account customers. The latter being less immediate. The
short-term gross profit margin benefited from these changes as the
increased cost of new inventory, still on the shelf, is included in
ending inventory, and will be relieved through cost of goods over
the three to six month 'turn' period between purchase and sale of
the product. This 'turn' period impact resulted in gross profit
margins of 50.3%, 50.7%, and 50.2% in the first, second, and third
quarters of 2004, respectively. The comparable percentages in 2003
were 49.5%, 49.5%, and 49.0%, respectively. Some of this short-term
benefit has been eliminated during the third quarter; however,
Fastenal's ability to continue raising its prices in reaction to
inbound product cost increases should allow us to retain some of
the increased gross profit margin. The second factor impacting
gross profit margins relates to the strength in our fastener
product line in the current economy. This product line enjoys the
highest gross profit margin percentage. The third impact is related
to vendor incentive programs, including vendor freight allowances
and rebates. The fourth impact is related to improvements in
freight costs, primarily inbound. The strengthening economy and the
related increase in selling activity has continued to positively
impact these last two items. We expect the impact of the current
economic activity to continue impacting our growth rates and the
strength in our fastener business. This should allow us to maintain
a portion of the improvements related to the first two factors, and
should allow us to maintain most of the improvements related to
vendor incentives and freight costs. Operating and administrative
expenses in the first nine months grew at a rate of 16.5%, a rate
less than the net sales growth rate of 23.8% discussed above. This
was primarily due to the tight management of employee numbers
throughout the organization in all of 2003 and in the first nine
months of 2004. As discussed in our 2003 annual report, payroll and
related expenses have historically represented approximately 70% of
operating and administrative expenses. Effective management of this
expense allows us to leverage the sales growth more effectively. We
will continue to manage headcount in a similar fashion and expect
to maintain most of the labor efficiency. As discussed in previous
public statements, the Company's long-term goal has been to
continue opening approximately 10% to 15% new stores each year
(calculated on the ending number of stores in the previous year).
In July 2004, the Company increased the 2004 range to 13% to 18%
(calculated on the same base as above) in response to the current
economic strength we are experiencing. On December 31, 2003, the
Company operated 1,314 stores; therefore, the July range would be
approximately 170 to 240 new stores in 2004. The Company opened 189
stores in the first nine months of 2004. The Company opened 151 new
stores in 2003 (or an increase over December 31, 2002 of 12.9%) and
144 new store sites in 2002 (or an increase over December 31, 2001
of 14.0%). While the new stores continue to build the
infrastructure for future growth, the first year sales are low, and
the added expenses related to payroll, occupancy, and
transportation costs do impact the Company's ability to leverage
earnings. As disclosed in the past, it has been the Company's
experience that new stores take approximately ten to twelve months
to achieve profitability. The planned openings can be altered in a
short time span, usually less than 60 to 90 days. In addition to
the planned store expansion, we continued our 'customer service
project' (or CSP) in 2004. The goals of this project include the
expansion of the products stocked at each store site as well as a
more consistent display theme at each of these store sites. On
September 30, 2004, 1,289 (or approximately 86%) of Fastenal's
stores were operating with the CSP layout and product selection.
The Company's inventory grew approximately $57 million in the first
nine months of 2004 (or 24.5% above the $232,884 of inventory on
December 31, 2003). The growth was primarily driven by four
factors. The first factor relates to the growth of the Company's
sales, and the inventory necessary to support the business. The
second factor relates to the aforementioned price inflation on
inbound product; this resulted in approximately $10.0 million of
additional inventory. The third factor relates to the combined
impact of the number of store locations opened (new stores) and the
number of existing stores converted to the CSP format or the
expanded CSP format (converted stores). Combined, the new stores
and converted stores resulted in approximately $16.0 million of
additional inventory. The final factor relates to expansion of our
manufacturer direct purchasing, this resulted in approximately $5.0
million of additional inventory. Additional information regarding
certain Fastenal Company statistics for the current quarter is
available on the Fastenal Company World Wide Web site at
http://www.fastenal.com/ . The Company discloses sales and store
information on a monthly basis. This information is posted at
http://www.fastenal.com/ on the third business day following the
end of each month. This press release contains statements that are
not historical in nature and that are intended to be, and are
hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements" as defined in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including
statements regarding retaining a portion of the gross profit margin
improvements, continuation of the improvements in vendor incentives
and inbound freight costs, increases in selling locations, the time
it typically takes a new store to achieve profitability, and the
timeline for altering planned store openings. A change in the
inbound inventory costs, from that currently being experienced, or
the inability to increase selling prices, could cause gross profit
margins to decline, a change from expected buying patterns could
cause vendor incentives and inbound freight to be negatively
impacted, and a change in the economy, from that currently being
experienced, could cause inbound inventory costs, vendor
incentives, inbound freight, and the store openings to change from
that expected. A discussion of other risks and uncertainties is
included in the Company's 2003 annual and quarterly reports under
the section captioned "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations". FASTENAL COMPANY
AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets (Amounts in thousands
except share information) (Unaudited) September 30, December 31,
Assets 2004 2003 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $26,032
49,750 Marketable securities 7,583 21,142 Trade accounts
receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,183 and
$4,070, respectively 170,265 128,756 Inventories 289,910 232,884
Deferred income tax asset 4,154 4,154 Other current assets 22,073
17,446 Refundable income taxes - 64 Total current assets 520,017
454,196 Marketable securities 36,219 24,725 Property and equipment,
less accumulated depreciation 185,715 169,553 Other assets, less
accumulated amortization 3,202 3,069 Total assets $745,153 651,543
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts
payable $47,242 40,124 Accrued expenses 29,439 20,817 Income taxes
payable 9,566 - Total current liabilities 86,247 60,941 Deferred
income tax liability 13,862 13,862 Stockholders' equity: Preferred
stock - - Common stock, 100,000,000 shares authorized 75,877,376
shares issued and outstanding 759 759 Additional paid-in capital
9,445 9,445 Retained earnings 629,247 561,878 Accumulated other
comprehensive income 5,593 4,658 Total stockholders' equity 645,044
576,740 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $745,153 651,543
FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of
Earnings (Amounts in thousands except earnings per share)
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) Nine months ended Three months ended
September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 2004 2003 Net sales $920,027
743,285 325,678 258,330 Cost of sales 456,281 376,707 162,118
131,823 Gross profit 463,746 366,578 163,560 126,507 Operating and
administrative expenses 306,461 263,157 107,815 89,082 Loss on sale
of property and equipment 564 192 52 38 Operating income 156,721
103,229 55,693 37,387 Interest income 892 870 361 314 Earnings
before income taxes 157,613 104,099 56,054 37,701 Income tax
expense 59,893 39,869 21,313 14,439 Net earnings 97,720 64,230
34,741 23,262 Basic and diluted net earnings per share $1.29 0.85
0.46 0.31 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 75,877 75,877
75,877 75,877 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 75,981
75,877 76,009 75,877 FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Nine
months ended September 30, 2004 2003 Cash flows from operating
activities: Net earnings $97,720 64,230 Adjustments to reconcile
net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment 17,304 15,107 Loss on sale
of property and equipment 564 192 Bad debt expense 5,022 4,449
Amortization of non-compete agreement 50 50 Changes in operating
assets and liabilities: Trade accounts receivable (46,531) (36,760)
Inventories (57,026) (2,548) Other current assets (4,627) (1,384)
Accounts payable 7,118 3,848 Accrued expenses 8,622 931 Income
taxes, net 9,630 8,964 Other 878 4,804 Net cash provided by
operating activities 38,724 61,883 Cash flows from investing
activities: Purchase of property and equipment (37,994) (34,010)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 3,964 3,081 Net
decrease in marketable securities 2,065 14,215 Increase in other
assets (183) (165) Net cash used in investing activities (32,148)
(16,879) Cash flows from financing activities: Payment of dividends
(30,351) (4,553) Net cash used in financing activities (30,351)
(4,553) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 57 380 Net
(decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (23,718) 40,831
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 49,750 14,296 Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period $26,032 55,127 Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid during each period
for: Income taxes $50,263 30,905 DATASOURCE: Fastenal Company
CONTACT: Dan Florness, EVP-CFO of Fastenal Company, +1-507-453-8211
Web site: http://www.fastenal.com/
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