Document
Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
(Mark One)
ý
Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018, or
¨
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________                   
Commission file number 0-16125
 
 
FASTENAL COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Minnesota
 
41-0948415
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
2001 Theurer Boulevard
Winona, Minnesota
 
55987-1500
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(507) 454-5374
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.)    Yes  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company", and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
 
ý
  
Accelerated Filer
 
¨
Non-accelerated Filer
 
¨
  
Smaller Reporting Company
 
¨
 
 
 
 
Emerging Growth Company
 
¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  ý
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the last practicable date.
 
Class
 
Outstanding at July 10, 2018
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
 
286,948,535
 
 
 
 
 

Table of Contents

FASTENAL COMPANY
INDEX
 
 
Page No.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Table of Contents

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in millions except share information)
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Assets
June 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
135.5

 
116.9

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $11.4 and $11.9, respectively
733.7

 
607.8

Inventories
1,163.4

 
1,092.9

Other current assets
108.1

 
118.1

Total current assets
2,140.7

 
1,935.7

 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net
880.1

 
893.6

Other assets
79.3

 
81.2

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
3,100.1

 
2,910.5

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Current portion of debt
$
2.5

 
3.0

Accounts payable
172.1

 
147.5

Accrued expenses
204.4

 
194.0

Income taxes payable
2.0

 
6.5

Total current liabilities
381.0

 
351.0

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
422.5

 
412.0

Deferred income taxes
70.0

 
50.6

 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock: $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding
—

 
—

Common stock: $0.01 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized, 286,948,535 and 287,591,536 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
2.9

 
2.9

Additional paid-in capital
0.4

 
8.5

Retained earnings
2,259.2

 
2,110.6

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(35.9
)
 
(25.1
)
Total stockholders' equity
2,226.6

 
2,096.9

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
3,100.1

 
2,910.5

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


1
Table of Contents

FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(Amounts in millions except earnings per share)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net sales
$
2,453.7

 
2,169.2

 
$
1,267.9

 
1,121.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
1,258.4

 
1,092.7

 
650.2

 
563.0

Gross profit
1,195.3

 
1,076.5

 
617.7

 
558.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating and administrative expenses
692.0

 
627.5

 
349.3

 
321.6

Gain on sale of property and equipment
(0.2
)
 
(1.0
)
 
(0.6
)
 
(0.6
)
Operating income
503.5

 
450.0

 
269.0

 
237.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
0.2

 
0.2

 
0.1

 
0.1

Interest expense
(5.9
)
 
(3.9
)
 
(3.2
)
 
(2.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
497.8

 
446.3

 
265.9

 
235.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense
112.3

 
163.2

 
54.7

 
86.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
385.5

 
283.1

 
$
211.2

 
148.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net earnings per share
$
1.34

 
0.98

 
$
0.74

 
0.52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted net earnings per share
$
1.34

 
0.98

 
$
0.74

 
0.52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
287.4

 
288.9

 
287.1

 
288.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
287.6

 
289.1

 
287.3

 
288.8

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Table of Contents

FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Amounts in millions)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net earnings
$
385.5

 
283.1

 
$
211.2

 
148.9

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of tax of $0.0 in 2018 and 2017)
(10.8
)
 
11.0

 
(12.8
)
 
8.1

Comprehensive income
$
374.7

 
294.1

 
$
198.4

 
157.0

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


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FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in millions)
 
(Unaudited)
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
385.5

 
283.1

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities, net of acquisition:
 
 
 
Depreciation of property and equipment
65.5

 
60.8

Gain on sale of property and equipment
(0.2
)
 
(1.0
)
Bad debt expense
2.7

 
4.0

Deferred income taxes
19.4

 
0.8

Stock-based compensation
2.5

 
2.8

Amortization of intangible assets
2.0

 
1.8

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
 
 
 
Trade accounts receivable
(132.0
)
 
(108.0
)
Inventories
(75.0
)
 
(32.1
)
Other current assets
10.0

 
2.5

Accounts payable
24.6

 
30.0

Accrued expenses
10.4

 
24.0

Income taxes
(4.5
)
 
24.8

Other
0.7

 
(0.2
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
311.6

 
293.3

 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(60.6
)
 
(57.4
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
6.8

 
4.6

Cash paid for acquisition
—

 
(58.7
)
Other
(0.1
)
 
1.8

Net cash used in investing activities
(53.9
)
 
(109.7
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from debt obligations
415.0

 
550.0

Payments against debt obligations
(405.0
)
 
(495.0
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
5.6

 
3.3

Purchases of common stock
(40.4
)
 
(56.7
)
Payments of dividends
(212.7
)
 
(185.1
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(237.5
)
 
(183.5
)
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(1.6
)
 
2.3

 
 
 
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
18.6

 
2.4

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
116.9

 
112.7

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
135.5

 
115.1

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
5.9

 
3.5

Net cash paid for income taxes
$
96.8

 
137.1

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Table of Contents
FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in millions except share and per share information and where otherwise noted)
June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)

 
(1) Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Fastenal Company and subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the company, Fastenal, or by terms such as we, our, or us) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ('GAAP') for interim financial information. They do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. However, except as described herein, there has been no material change in the information disclosed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board ('FASB') Accounting Standards Update ('ASU') 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), and ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, and is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue, cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The adoption of ASU 2014-09, using the modified retrospective approach, had no significant impact on our results of operations, cash flows, or financial position. Revenue continues to be recognized at a point in time for our product sales when products are delivered to or picked up by the customer and revenue for shipping and handling charges continues to be recognized when products are delivered to or picked up by the customer. We continue to reduce revenue for estimates of sales incentives based on probability estimates and for product returns based on historical return rates. Additional information and disclosures required by this new standard are contained in Note 2, 'Revenue'.
In March 2018, we adopted FASB ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which updates the income tax accounting in U.S. GAAP to reflect the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') interpretive guidance released on December 22, 2017, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the 'Tax Act') was signed into law. Additional information regarding the adoption of this standard is contained in Note 4, 'Income Taxes'.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which introduces the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous guidance. The update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those reporting periods, with early adoption permitted. The original guidance requires application on a modified retrospective basis with the earliest period presented. During March 2018, the FASB approved amendments to create an optional transition method that will provide an option to use the effective date of ASC 842, Leases, as the date of initial application of transition. We plan to elect this option. Based on the effective date, this guidance will apply and we will adopt this ASU beginning on January 1, 2019. While we are still in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption on our consolidated financial statements and are currently assessing our leases, we expect the adoption will lead to a material increase in the assets and liabilities recorded on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Table of Contents
FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in millions except share and per share information and where otherwise noted)
June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)

(2) Revenue
Revenue Recognition
Net sales include products and shipping and handling charges, net of estimates for product returns and any related sales incentives. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring products. All revenue is recognized when we satisfy our performance obligations under the contract. We recognize revenue by transferring the promised products to the customer, with the majority of revenue recognized at the point in time the customer obtains control of the products. We recognize revenue for shipping and handling charges at the time the products are delivered to or picked up by the customer. We estimate product returns based on historical return rates. Using probability assessments, we estimate sales incentives expected to be paid over the term of the contract. The majority of our contracts have a single performance obligation and are short term in nature. Sales taxes and value added taxes in foreign jurisdictions that are collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and therefore are excluded from net sales.
Accounts Receivable
Credit is extended based upon an evaluation of the customer's financial condition. Accounts receivable are stated at their estimated net realizable value. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on an analysis of customer accounts and our historical experience with accounts receivable write-offs.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Our revenues related to the following geographic areas were as follows for the periods ended June 30:
 
Six-month Period
 
Three-month Period
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
United States
$
2,121.1

 
$
1,908.4

 
$
1,092.6

 
986.1

Canada
151.8

 
123.3

 
79.2

 
63.7

Other foreign countries
180.8

 
137.5

 
96.1

 
71.7

Total revenues
$
2,453.7

 
$
2,169.2

 
$
1,267.9

 
1,121.5


The percentages of our sales by end market were as follows for the periods ended June 30:
 
Six-month Period
 
Three-month Period
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Manufacturing
66.8
%
 
66.5
%
 
66.6
%
 
66.5
%
Non-Residential construction
12.9
%
 
13.0
%
 
13.2
%
 
13.0
%
Other
20.3
%
 
20.5
%
 
20.2
%
 
20.5
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%


6
Table of Contents
FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in millions except share and per share information and where otherwise noted)
June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)

The percentages of our sales by product line were as follows for the periods ended June 30(1):
 
 
Six-month Period
Three-month Period
Type
Introduced
2018
2017
2018
2017
Fasteners(2)
1967
35.2
%
35.9
%
35.4
%
36.1
%
Tools
1993
10.0
%
10.1
%
9.9
%
9.9
%
Cutting tools
1996
5.7
%
5.8
%
5.6
%
5.8
%
Hydraulics & pneumatics
1996
6.9
%
6.9
%
6.9
%
6.8
%
Material handling
1996
5.8
%
6.0
%
5.9
%
6.0
%
Janitorial supplies
1996
7.5
%
7.2
%
7.6
%
7.2
%
Electrical supplies
1997
4.7
%
4.9
%
4.6
%
5.0
%
Welding supplies
1997
4.2
%
4.2
%
4.1
%
4.2
%
Safety supplies(3)
1999
16.9
%
16.0
%
16.9
%
16.0
%
Other
 
3.1
%
3.0
%
3.1
%
3.0
%
 
 
100
%
100
%
100.0
%
100.0
%
(1) In 2018, we reclassified certain product category designations and have conformed the prior period percentages to the current year presentation.
(2) Fastener product line represents fasteners and miscellaneous supplies.
(3) The safety supplies product line has expanded as a percentage of sales in the last several years due to our industrial vending program.
(3) Stockholders' Equity
Dividends
On July 10, 2018, our board of directors declared a dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock to be paid in cash on August 22, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 25, 2018. Since 2011, we have paid quarterly dividends. Our board of directors intends to continue paying quarterly dividends, provided that any future determination as to payment of dividends will depend on the financial condition and results of operations of the company and such other factors as are deemed relevant by the board of directors.
The following table presents the dividends either paid previously or declared by our board of directors for future payment on a per share basis:
 
2018
 
2017
First quarter
$
0.37

 
0.32

Second quarter
0.37

 
0.32

Third quarter
0.40

 
0.32

Fourth quarter
 
 
0.32

Total
$
1.14

 
1.28



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Table of Contents
FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in millions except share and per share information and where otherwise noted)
June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)

Stock Options
The following tables summarize the details of options granted under our stock option plan that were still outstanding as of June 30, 2018, and the assumptions used to value these grants. All such grants were effective at the close of business on the date of grant.
 
Options
Granted
 
Option Exercise
(Strike) Price
 
Closing Stock Price on Date
of Grant
 
June 30, 2018
Date of Grant
 
 
 
Options
Outstanding
 
Options
Exercisable
January 2, 2018
541,786

 
$
55.00

 
$
54.54

 
528,250

 
21,185

January 3, 2017
764,789

 
$
47.00

 
$
46.95

 
690,762

 
—

April 19, 2016
845,440

 
$
46.00

 
$
45.74

 
710,137

 
—

April 21, 2015
893,220

 
$
42.00

 
$
41.26

 
640,306

 
136,150

April 22, 2014
955,000

 
$
56.00

 
$
50.53

 
539,500

 
331,250

April 16, 2013
205,000

 
$
54.00

 
$
49.25

 
98,000

 
64,257

April 17, 2012
1,235,000

 
$
54.00

 
$
49.01

 
903,313

 
790,813

April 19, 2011
410,000

 
$
35.00

 
$
31.78

 
54,850

 
42,350

April 20, 2010
530,000

 
$
30.00

 
$
27.13

 
36,400

 
36,400

Total
6,380,235

 
 
 
 
 
4,201,518

 
1,422,405

Date of Grant
Risk-free
Interest Rate
 
Expected Life of
Option in Years
 
Expected
Dividend
Yield
 
Expected
Stock
Volatility
 
Estimated Fair
Value of Stock
Option
January 2, 2018
2.2
%
 
5.00
 
2.3
%
 
23.45
%
 
$
10.03

January 3, 2017
1.9
%
 
5.00
 
2.6
%
 
24.49
%
 
$
8.40

April 19, 2016
1.3
%
 
5.00
 
2.6
%
 
26.34
%
 
$
8.18

April 21, 2015
1.3
%
 
5.00
 
2.7
%
 
26.84
%
 
$
7.35

April 22, 2014
1.8
%
 
5.00
 
2.0
%
 
28.55
%
 
$
9.57

April 16, 2013
0.7
%
 
5.00
 
1.6
%
 
37.42
%
 
$
12.66

April 17, 2012
0.9
%
 
5.00
 
1.4
%
 
39.25
%
 
$
13.69

April 19, 2011
2.1
%
 
5.00
 
1.6
%
 
39.33
%
 
$
11.20

April 20, 2010
2.6
%
 
5.00
 
1.5
%
 
39.10
%
 
$
8.14

All of the options in the tables above vest and become exercisable over a period of up to eight years. Generally, each option will terminate approximately nine years after the grant date.
The fair value of each share-based option is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes valuation method that uses the assumptions listed above. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rate over the expected life of the option at the time of grant. The expected life is the average length of time over which we expect the employee groups will exercise their options, which is based on historical experience with similar grants. The dividend yield is estimated over the expected life of the option based on our current dividend payout, historical dividends paid, and expected future cash dividends. Expected stock volatilities are based on the movement of our stock price over the most recent historical period equivalent to the expected life of the option.
Compensation expense equal to the grant date fair value is recognized for all of these awards over the vesting period. The stock-based compensation expense for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $2.5 and $2.8, respectively. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding unvested stock options as of June 30, 2018 was $16.0 and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 4.27 years. Any future changes in estimated forfeitures will impact this amount.


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Table of Contents
FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in millions except share and per share information and where otherwise noted)
June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)

Earnings Per Share
The following tables present a reconciliation of the denominators used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share and a summary of the options to purchase shares of common stock which were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation because they were anti-dilutive:
 
Six-month Period
 
Three-month Period
Reconciliation
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
287,391,614

 
288,948,734

 
287,140,426

 
288,655,020

Weighted shares assumed upon exercise of stock options
167,854

 
150,582

 
117,061

 
133,943

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
287,559,468

 
289,099,316

 
287,257,487

 
288,788,963

 
Six-month Period
 
Three-month Period
Summary of Anti-dilutive Options Excluded
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Options to purchase shares of common stock
2,790,630

 
3,603,850

 
3,056,822

 
3,897,177

Weighted average exercise price of options
$
52.86

 
49.81

 
$
52.18

 
49.18

Any dilutive impact summarized above related to periods when the average market price of our stock exceeded the exercise price of the potentially dilutive stock options then outstanding.
(4) Income Taxes
Fastenal files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction, all states, and various local and foreign jurisdictions. With limited exceptions, we are no longer subject to income tax examinations by taxing authorities for taxable years before 2015 in the case of United States federal examinations, and 2013 in the case of foreign, state, and local examinations. During the first six months of 2018, there were no material changes in unrecognized tax benefits.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law. The Tax Act made broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code which include: a lowering of the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, accelerated expensing of qualified capital investments for a specific period, and a transition from a worldwide to a territorial tax system which will require companies to pay a one-time transition tax on certain unrepatriated earnings from foreign subsidiaries.
ASC 740, Income Taxes, requires a company to record the effects of a tax law change in the period of enactment. ASU 2018-05 allows a company to record a provisional amount when it does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the change in the tax law. The measurement period ends when the company has obtained, prepared, and analyzed the information necessary to finalize its accounting, but cannot extend beyond one year.
We recorded income tax expense of $112.3 in the first six months of 2018, or 22.6% of earnings before income taxes. This amount reflects primarily two items: (1) The Tax Act resulted in a lower tax rate beginning in the first quarter of 2018. This includes the estimated impacts of requiring a current inclusion in U.S. federal income of certain earnings of controlled foreign corporations, allowing a domestic corporation an immediate deduction in the U.S. taxable income for a portion of its foreign derived intangible income, and the base erosion anti-abuse tax. These estimates had an immaterial impact on our effective income tax rate. (2) During the first quarter of 2018, we recorded a discrete income tax expense item which increased our estimated transition tax liability. During the second quarter of 2018, we recorded a discrete income tax benefit item related to the estimated impacts of accelerating depreciation for certain physical assets. These discrete items resulted in approximately $8.4 of income tax benefit during the first half of 2018. We will continue to monitor and evaluate guidance and clarifications from the Internal Revenue Service ('IRS') as it relates to the Tax Act and will refine these estimates as necessary.
In general, it is our practice and intention to permanently reinvest the earnings of our foreign subsidiaries and repatriate earnings only when the tax impact is zero or very minimal and that position has not changed following incurring the transition tax under the Tax Act. No deferred taxes have been provided for withholding taxes or other taxes that would result upon repatriation of our foreign investments to the United States. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of deferred income tax liabilities related to investments in these foreign subsidiaries.


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FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in millions except share and per share information and where otherwise noted)
June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)

(5) Operating Leases
Certain operating leases for pick-up trucks contain residual value guarantee provisions which would generally become due at the expiration of the operating lease agreement if the fair value of the leased vehicles is less than the guaranteed residual value. The aggregate residual value guarantee related to these leases is approximately $86.2. We believe the likelihood of funding the guarantee obligation under any provision of the operating lease agreements is remote other than where we have established an accrual for estimated losses, which is immaterial at June 30, 2018. To the extent our fleet contains vehicles we estimate will settle at a gain, such gains on these vehicles will be recognized when we sell the vehicle.

(6) Debt Commitments
Credit Facility, Notes Payable, and Commitments
Debt obligations and letters of credit outstanding at the end of each period consisted of the following:
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Outstanding loans under unsecured revolving credit facility
$
290.0

 
280.0

2.00% Senior unsecured promissory note payable
40.0

 
40.0

2.45% Senior unsecured promissory note payable
35.0

 
35.0

3.22% Senior unsecured promissory note payable
60.0

 
60.0

Total debt
425.0

 
415.0

   Less: Current portion of debt
(2.5
)
 
(3.0
)
Long-term debt
$
422.5

 
412.0

 
 
 
 
Outstanding letters of credit under unsecured revolving credit facility - contingent obligation
$
36.3

 
36.3

Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility
We have a $700.0 committed unsecured revolving credit facility ('Credit Facility'). The Credit Facility includes a committed letter of credit subfacility of $55.0. The commitments under the Credit Facility will expire (and any borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility will become due and payable) on March 10, 2020. In the next twelve months, we have the ability and intent to repay a portion of the outstanding loans using cash; therefore, we have classified this portion as a current liability. The Credit Facility contains certain financial and other covenants, and our right to borrow under the Credit Facility is conditioned upon, among other things, our compliance with these covenants. We are currently in compliance with these covenants.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility generally bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate ('LIBOR') for interest periods of various lengths selected by us, plus 0.95%. Based on the interest periods we have chosen, our weighted per annum interest rate at June 30, 2018 was approximately 3.0%. We pay a commitment fee for the unused portion of the Credit Facility. This fee is either 0.10% or 0.125% per annum based on our usage of the Credit Facility.
Senior Unsecured Promissory Notes Payable
On July 20, 2016 (the 'Effective Date'), we entered into a master note agreement (the 'Master Note Agreement') with certain institutional lenders, pursuant to which, during the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending three years thereafter, we may issue at our discretion in private placements, and the institutional lenders may purchase at their discretion, senior unsecured promissory notes of the company (the 'Notes') in the aggregate principal amount outstanding from time to time of up to $200.0. The Notes will bear interest at either a fixed rate, or a floating rate based on LIBOR for an interest period of one, three, or six months. The Notes will mature no later than 12 years after the date of issuance thereof, in the case of fixed rate Notes, or 10 years after the date of issuance thereof, in the case of floating rate Notes. All of the Notes will be prepayable at our option in whole or in part. The Master Note Agreement contains certain financial and other covenants. We are currently in compliance with these covenants.
Three series of Notes are currently outstanding under the Master Note Agreement. The first series of Notes ('Series A'), was issued on the Effective Date, is in an aggregate principal amount of $40.0, is due and payable in full on July 20, 2021, and bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.00% per annum. The second series of Notes ('Series B'), was issued on the Effective Date, is in an aggregate principal amount of $35.0, is due and payable in full on July 20, 2022, and bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.45% per

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FASTENAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in millions except share and per share information and where otherwise noted)
June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)

annum. The third series of Notes ('Series C'), was issued on March 1, 2017, is in an aggregate principal amount of $60.0, is due and payable in full on March 1, 2024, and bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.22% per annum. There is no amortization of these Notes prior to their maturity dates. Interest on the Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on January 20, April 20, July 20, and October 20 of each year. The carrying value of the Notes approximates fair value. The fair value was based on available external pricing data and current market rates for similar debt instruments, among other factors, which are classified as a Level 2 measurement under the fair value hierarchy.
(7) Legal Contingencies
The nature of our potential exposure to legal contingencies is described in our 2017 annual report on Form 10-K in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. As of June 30, 2018, there were no litigation matters that we consider to be probable or reasonably possible to have a material adverse outcome.
(8) Subsequent Events
We evaluated all subsequent event activity and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, with the exception of the dividend declaration disclosed in Note 3 'Stockholders' Equity'.


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ITEM 2 — MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following is management's discussion and analysis of certain significant factors which have affected our financial position and operating results during the periods included in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Dollar amounts are stated in millions except for share and per share amounts and where otherwise noted. Throughout this document, percentage and dollar change calculations, which are based on non-rounded dollar values, may not be able to be recalculated using the dollar values in this document due to the rounding of those dollar values.
Business
Fastenal is a North American leader in the wholesale distribution of industrial and construction supplies. We distribute these supplies through a network of approximately 3,000 in-market locations. Most of our customers are in the manufacturing and non-residential construction markets. The manufacturing market includes both original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO). The non-residential construction market includes general, electrical, plumbing, sheet metal, and road contractors. Other users of our products include farmers, truckers, railroads, oil exploration, production, and refinement companies, mining companies, federal, state, and local governmental entities, schools, and certain retail trades. Geographically, our branches and customers are primarily located in North America.
Our motto is Growth through Customer Service®. We are a growth-centric organization focused on identifying 'drivers' that will allow us to get closer to our customers and gain market share in what we believe remains a fragmented industrial distribution market. Our growth drivers have evolved, and can be expected to continue to evolve, over time.
Executive Overview
Net sales increased $146.4, or 13.1%, in the second quarter of 2018 relative to the second quarter of 2017. Our gross profit as a percentage of net sales declined to 48.7% in the second quarter of 2018 from 49.8% in the second quarter of 2017. Our operating income, as a percentage of net sales, was 21.2% in both the second quarter of 2018 and the second quarter of 2017. Our net earnings during the second quarter of 2018 were $211.2, an increase of 41.9% when compared to the second quarter of 2017. Our diluted net earnings per share were $0.74 during the second quarter of 2018 compared to $0.52 during the second quarter of 2017. Approximately $0.04 of the growth in diluted net earnings per share in the second quarter of 2018 was related to discrete tax events and the lower tax rate that we began to realize in the first quarter of 2018 as a result of the Tax Act generated an additional $0.11 of diluted net earnings per share relative to the second quarter of 2017.
We continue to focus on our growth drivers. During the second quarter of 2018, we signed 43 new national account contracts (defined as new customer accounts with a multi-site contract). Additionally, we signed 81 new Onsite customer locations (defined as dedicated sales and service provided from within, or in close proximity to, the customer's facility) and 5,537 new industrial vending devices in the second quarter of 2018.

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The table below summarizes our in-market location employee count and our total employee count at the end of the periods presented, and changes in that count from the end of the prior periods to the end of the most recent period. The final items below summarize our cumulative investments in branch locations, Onsite locations, total in-market locations, and industrial vending devices.
 
 
 
 
 
Change Since:
 
 
 
Change Since:
 
Q2
2018
 
Q4
2017
 
Q4
2017
 
Q2
2017
 
Q2
2017
End of period total in-market locations (1) - employee count
13,688

 
13,424

 
2.0
 %
 
13,335

 
2.6
 %
End of period total employee count
20,855

 
20,565

 
1.4
 %
 
20,174

 
3.4
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of public branch locations
2,290

 
2,383

 
-3.9
 %
 
2,451

 
-6.6
 %
Number of active Onsite locations
761

 
605

 
25.8
 %
 
486

 
56.6
 %
Number of in-market locations (1)
3,051

 
2,988

 
2.1
 %
 
2,937

 
3.9
 %
Industrial vending devices (installed count) (2)
76,069

 
71,421

 
6.5
 %
 
66,577

 
14.3
 %
Ratio of industrial vending devices to in-market locations
25:1

 
24:1

 
 
 
23:1

 
 
(1) 'In-market locations' is defined as the sum of the total number of public branch locations and the total number of active Onsite locations.
(2) This number represents devices which principally dispense product and produce product revenues, and excludes approximately 15,000 devices which are principally used for the check-in/check-out of equipment.
During the last twelve months, we increased our absolute employee headcount by 353 people in our in-market locations and 681 people in total. The increase is mostly a function of additions we have made to support customer growth in the field as well as investments in our growth drivers.
We opened five branches in the second quarter of 2018 and closed 43 branches. Additionally, one branch was converted from a public branch to a non-public location. Our branch network forms the foundation of our business strategy, and we will continue to open or close branches as is deemed necessary to sustain and improve our network and support our growth drivers.
Results of Operations

The following sets forth condensed consolidated statement of earnings information (as a percentage of net sales) for the periods ended June 30:
 
Six-month Period
 
Three-month Period
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net sales
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
Gross profit
48.7
 %
 
49.6
 %
 
48.7
 %
 
49.8
 %
Operating and administrative expenses
28.2
 %
 
28.9
 %
 
27.6
 %
 
28.7
 %
Gain on sale of property and equipment
0.0
 %
 
0.0
 %
 
-0.1
 %
 
-0.1
 %
Operating income
20.5
 %
 
20.7
 %
 
21.2
 %
 
21.2
 %
Net interest expense
-0.2
 %
 
-0.2
 %
 
-0.2
 %
 
-0.2
 %
Earnings before income taxes
20.3
 %
 
20.6
 %
 
21.0
 %
 
21.0
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note – Amounts may not foot due to rounding difference.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Net Sales
Note – Daily sales are defined as the total net sales for the period divided by the number of business days (in the United States) in the period. 
The table below sets forth net sales and daily sales for the periods ended June 30, and changes in such sales from the prior period to the more recent period:
 
Six-month Period
 
Three-month Period
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net sales
$
2,453.7

 
2,169.2

 
$
1,267.9

 
1,121.5

Percentage change
13.1
%
 
8.4
 %
 
13.1
%
 
10.6
 %
Business days
128

 
128

 
64

 
64

Daily sales
$
19.2

 
16.9

 
$
19.8

 
17.5

Percentage change
13.1
%
 
8.4
 %
 
13.1
%
 
10.6
 %
Daily sales impact of currency fluctuations
0.5
%
 
-0.1
 %
 
0.5
%
 
-0.3
 %
Daily sales impact of acquisition
0.6
%
 
0.7
 %
 
0.0
%
 
1.3
 %
The increase in net sales noted above for 2018 was driven primarily by higher unit sales and, to a lesser degree, higher prices to mitigate marketplace inflation. The increase in net sales noted above for 2017 was driven primarily by higher unit sales. In both periods, the higher unit sales resulted primarily from two sources. The first source is continued strength in underlying market demand. We believe the strength in general business activity is reflected in a number of metrics. For instance, the Purchasing Managers Index, published by the Institute for Supply Chain Management, averaged 59.7 and 58.7 in the first and second quarters of 2018, respectively, and 57.0 and 55.8 in the first and second quarters of 2017, respectively. Readings above 50 are indicative of growing demand, and we believe this favorably influenced our unit sales. Daily sales of fasteners, our most cyclical product line, grew 11.1% in the second quarter of 2018 and grew 11.4% in the first six months of 2018. We also experienced growth in sales to 80 of our top 100 customers in the second quarter of 2018, and 78 of our top 100 customers in the first quarter of 2018, which represents broader growth than in the third and fourth quarters of 2017, when sales to 72 of our top 100 customers grew, or the first and second quarters of 2017, when sales to 64 and 68 of our top 100 customers grew, respectively. As business conditions strengthen, they tend to lift our net sales growth rates as well.
The second source is success within our growth initiatives. We signed 11,216 industrial vending devices during the first six months of 2018, an increase of 8.7% over the first six months of 2017. We signed 5,537 industrial vending devices during the second quarter of 2018, an increase of 13.4% over the second quarter of 2017. In addition to an increase in our installed base, we were also more efficient with the existing base, as indicated by both a modest increase in average sales per device and a reduction in the number of device removals relative to the size of our installed base. Combined sales through our vending devices continued to grow at a strong double-digit pace in the first six months and second quarter of 2018. We signed 181 new Onsite locations during the first six months of 2018 and had 761 active sites on June 30, 2018, an increase of 56.6% over June 30, 2017. We signed 81 new Onsite locations during the second quarter of 2018, an increase of 19.1% over the second quarter of 2017. We signed 79 new national account contracts during the first six months of 2018; 43 of these were signed during the second quarter of 2018. Daily sales from our national account customers grew 18.2% in the first six months of 2018 over the first six months of 2017, and grew 19.1% in the second quarter of 2018 over the second quarter of 2017.
We instituted product price increases at the end of the fourth quarter of 2017 aimed at mitigating the impact of product inflation in the marketplace. These price increases represent a lesser contributor to our sales growth thus far in 2018 relative to the market and growth driver impacts described above. We estimate the contribution in both the first six months and the second quarter of 2018 to have been 50 to 100 basis points. We will continue to evaluate marketplace conditions and implement incremental pricing actions or strategies as the need arises.
Sales by Product Line
The approximate mix of sales from our fastener product line and from our other product lines was as follows for the periods ended June 30:
 
Six-month Period
 
Three-month Period
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Fastener product line
35.2
%
 
35.9
%
 
35.4
%
 
36.1
%
Other product lines
64.8
%
 
64.1
%
 
64.6
%
 
63.9
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%

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Table of Contents

Gross Profit
Our gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 48.7% in the first half of 2018 and 49.6% in the first half of 2017. We believe the decline in gross profit during this period is primarily due to two items. First, relatively slower growth in the first half of 2018 in our fastener line (product mix) with relatively faster growth in sales to our largest customers (customer mix) pushed our gross profit margin lower. Fasteners are our largest product line at approximately 35.2% of sales and our highest gross profit margin product line due to the high transaction cost surrounding the sourcing and supply of the product for our customers. Any reduction in the mix of our sales attributable to fasteners may negatively impact gross profit. Larger customers, for which national accounts are a good proxy and whose more focused buying patterns allow us to offer them better pricing, also influence gross profit. Branches typically achieve higher average net sales disproportionately by growth in the non-fastener product lines and with large customers, causing gross profit margin to decline as average net sales grow. From the first half of 2017 to the first half of 2018, our daily sales of fasteners products grew 11.4% while our daily sales of non-fastener products grew 14.7%. Second, rising costs related to transporting products, particularly shipping fees, driver wages, and fuel, caused our freight expense to rise faster than sales, hurting our gross profit margin. Since we operate our own fleet of trucks for moving product between suppliers, our distribution centers, and our in-market locations, rising transportation costs adversely impact our gross profit margin and have the effect of reducing our gross profit, particularly if we are unable to pass these costs to our customers. While we believe pricing instituted to mitigate the effects of inflation in the marketplace contributed 50 to 100 basis points to our sales growth in the first half of 2018, pricing increases did not materially impact gross profit margin in the period.
In the second quarter of 2018, our gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, declined to 48.7%, or 110 basis points, from 49.8%, in the second quarter of 2017. This is heavily a result of a difficult comparison. We instituted a modest price increase in the second quarter of 2017 ahead of inflationary pressures that we were seeing in our supply chain, which produced an unseasonably strong gross profit margin in the three-month period. As inflation in the marketplace began to move through our income statement, it began to reduce the gross profit margin benefit we saw in the second quarter of 2017. Our gross profit over the period was also adversely affected, although to a lesser extent than in recent quarters, by higher freight expenses and the same elements of product and customer mix that affected the first half of 2018. Relative to the first quarter of 2018, our second quarter of 2018 gross profit was flat. Challenges from product inflation and mix were offset by improvements in our freight management and leverage related to growth.
Operating and Administrative Expenses
Our operating and administrative expenses (including a gain on the sale of property and equipment), as a percentage of net sales, improved to 28.2% in the first half of 2018 from 28.9% in the first half of 2017, and improved to 27.5% in the second quarter of 2018 from 28.6% in the second quarter of 2017. The primary contributors to this improvement in both periods were relatively lower growth in employee-related, occupancy-related, and general corporate expenses.
The growth in employee-related, occupancy-related, and selling transportation expenses (the three largest components of our operating and administrative expenses) compared to the same periods in the preceding year, is outlined in the table below.
 
Approximate Percentage of Total Operating and Administrative Expenses
Six-month Period
 
Three-month Period
 
2018
 
2018
Employee-related expenses
65% to 70%
12.2
%
 
10.0
%
Occupancy-related expenses
15% to 20%
5.3
%
 
3.0
%
Selling transportation expenses
5%
14.9
%
 
17.6
%
Employee-related expenses include: (1) payroll (which includes cash compensation, stock option expense, and profit sharing), (2) health care, (3) personnel development, and (4) social taxes. Our employee-related expenses increased in both periods. This was primarily related to: (1) an increase in our full-time equivalent ('FTE') headcount, (2) inflation in base wages, and (3) higher bonuses and commissions due to growth in net sales and net earnings.

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The table below summarizes our FTE headcount at the end of the periods presented and the percentage change compared to the end of the prior periods:
 
 
 
 
 
Change Since:
 
 
 
Change Since:
 
Q2
 
Q4
 
Q4
 
Q2
 
Q2
 
2018
 
2017
 
2017
 
2017
 
2017
In-market locations
12,214

 
11,549

 
5.8
%
 
11,760

 
3.9
%
Total selling (includes in-market locations)
13,926

 
13,225

 
5.3
%
 
13,395

 
4.0
%
Distribution
2,672

 
2,525

 
5.8
%
 
2,549

 
4.8
%
Manufacturing
652

 
619

 
5.3
%
 
600

 
8.7
%
Administrative
1,194

 
1,150

 
3.8
%
 
1,068

 
11.8
%
Total
18,444

 
17,519

 
5.3
%
 
17,612

 
4.7
%
Occupancy-related expenses include: (1) building rent, depreciation, and utility costs, (2) equipment related to our branches and distribution locations, and (3) industrial vending equipment (we consider the vending equipment, excluding leased locker equipment, to be an extension of our branch operations and classify the depreciation and repair costs as occupancy expense). The increase in occupancy-related expenses in the first half of 2018, when compared to the first half of 2017, was mainly driven by an increase in expenses related to industrial vending equipment, non-branch occupancy costs, and utility costs. The increase in the second quarter of 2018, when compared to the second quarter of 2017, was primarily due to an increase in expenses related to industrial vending equipment which was only partly offset by lower expenses in our branch occupancy costs related to a reduction in our public branch count.
Our selling transportation expenses consist primarily of expenses for our field-based fleet of vehicles, including the related fuel expense, as most of the distribution fleet costs are included in cost of sales. Selling transportation expenses for the first half of 2018 increased when compared to the first half of 2017. This was due to an increase in fuel expense due to higher average fuel prices and consumption during the period, timing associated with vehicle sales, and an increase in the size of our field-based vehicle fleet which resulted in higher expenses. The increase in the second quarter of 2018, when compared to the second quarter of 2017, was driven by higher average fuel prices and consumption during the period, and timing associated with vehicle sales.
Net Interest Expense
Our net interest expense was $5.7 in the first half of 2018 and $3.1 in the second quarter of 2018, compared to $3.7 in the first half of 2017 and $2.1 in the second quarter of 2017. These increases were mainly caused by higher average interest rates and a slightly higher average debt balance during the period.
Income Taxes
We recorded income tax expense of $112.3 in the first half of 2018, or 22.6% of earnings before income taxes, and $54.7 in the second quarter of 2018, or 20.6% of earnings before income taxes. This reflects primarily two items: (1) The estimated impacts of the Tax Act resulted in a lower tax rate beginning in the first quarter of 2018, and (2) the estimated impact of one-time benefits of approximately $8.4 related to our application in the first quarter of 2018 of guideline clarifications issued by the IRS on certain aspects of the transition tax calculation as well as accelerating depreciation for certain physical assets during the second quarter of 2018. We will continue to monitor and evaluate guidance and clarifications from the IRS as it relates to the Tax Act and will refine these estimates as necessary. We continue to believe our ongoing tax rate will be in the 24.5% to 25.0% range.
Net Earnings
Our net earnings during the first half of 2018 were $385.5, an increase of 36.2% when compared to the first half of 2017. Our net earnings during the second quarter of 2018 were $211.2, an increase of 41.9% when compared to the second quarter of 2017. Our diluted net earnings per share were $1.34 during the first half of 2018 compared to $0.98 during the first half of 2017, and $0.74 during the second quarter of 2018 compared to $0.52 during the second quarter of 2017.
We believe the combined effects of discrete tax items and the lower tax rate resulting from the impact of the Tax Act benefited our basic and diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.24 in the first half of 2018, and $0.15 in the second quarter of 2018.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash flow activity was as follows for the periods ended June 30:
 
Six-month Period
 
2018
 
2017
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
311.6

 
293.3

Percentage of net earnings
80.8
%
 
103.6
%
Net cash used in investing activities
$
53.9

 
109.7

Net cash used in financing activities
$
237.5

 
183.5

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities increased in the first six months of 2018 relative to the six months of 2017, primarily due to growth in net earnings which was partially offset by working capital trends as described further below.
The dollar and percentage change in accounts receivable, net and inventories from June 30, 2017 to June 30, 2018 were as follows:
 
 
June 30:
Twelve-month Dollar Change
Twelve-month Percentage Change
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2018
Accounts receivable, net
 
$
733.7

 
613.5

 
$
120.2

 
19.6
%
Inventories
 
1,163.4

 
1,044.3

 
119.1

 
11.4
%
Total
 
$
1,897.1

 
1,657.8

 
$
239.3

 
14.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales in last two months
 
$
858.6

 
777.8

 
$
80.8

 
10.4
%
Note - Amounts may not foot due to rounding difference.
The growth in our net accounts receivable from June 30, 2017 to June 30, 2018 reflects accelerating growth in sales combined with relatively stronger growth in the first six months of 2018 of our national accounts and our international business, each of which tend to have longer payment terms than our business as a whole. In any given period and over time, the strong growth of our international business and of our large customer accounts can result in faster growth in receivables relative to net sales growth. Growth in net accounts receivable in the period was also impacted by the timing of these customers' payments.
The increase in inventory from June 30, 2017 to June 30, 2018 was primarily to support healthy business activity and sales growth.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities decreased from the first six months of 2017 to the first six months of 2018 primarily due to the cash paid for the Mansco acquisition in the first quarter of 2017.
During the first six months of 2018, our net capital expenditures were $53.8 (or 14.0% of net earnings), which is an increase of 1.9% from the first six months of 2017. This slight increase resulted from higher spending in 2018 to date related to distribution center expansion and equipment, and corporate real estate improvements. Capital expenditures in the first six months of 2018 and 2017 consisted of: (1) the purchase of software and hardware for our information processing systems, (2) the addition of fleet vehicles, (3) the purchase of signage, shelving, and other fixed assets related to branch openings and Onsite activations, (4) the addition of manufacturing and warehouse property and equipment, including automation systems equipment, (5) the expansion or improvement of certain owned or leased branch properties, and (6) purchases related to industrial vending. Of these factors, items (1), (4), (5), and (6) had the greatest impact on our capital expenditures in the first half of 2018. Disposals of property and equipment consisted of the planned disposition of certain pick-up trucks, as well as distribution vehicles and trailers, in the normal course of business.
Cash requirements for capital expenditures were satisfied from cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents, our borrowing capacity, and the proceeds of disposals. Our strong vending demand has increased our expected capital spending for 2018; we now expect our net spending on property and equipment in 2018 to increase by $9.0 to $158.0. Our new expected spend amount represents an increase of $45.5, or 40.4% from 2017.

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Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities in the first six months of 2018 consisted of payments of dividends, purchases of our common stock, and payments against debt obligations, which were partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options and proceeds from debt obligations. Net cash used in financing activities in the first six months of 2017 consisted of payments of dividends, purchases of our common stock, and payments against debt obligations, which were partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options and proceeds from debt obligations, including the issuance of a new series of senior unsecured promissory notes under our master note agreement in the aggregate principal amount of $60.0. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.22% per annum, are due and payable in full on March 1, 2024, and were issued to fund the purchase price of the Mansco acquisition. During the first six months of 2018, we purchased 800,000 shares of our common stock at an average price of approximately $50.51 per share. During the first six months of 2017, we purchased 1,300,000 shares of our common stock at an average price of approximately $43.62 per share. We currently have authority to purchase up to 3,600,000 additional shares of our common stock. An overview of our dividends paid or declared in 2018 and 2017 is contained in Note 3 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – A discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates is contained in our 2017 annual report on Form 10-K.
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements – A description of recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements is contained in Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Certain Contractual Obligations – A discussion of the nature and amount of certain of our contractual obligations is contained in our 2017 annual report on Form 10-K. That portion of total debt outstanding under our Credit Facility and notes payable classified as long-term, and the maturity of that debt, is described earlier in Note 6 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Certain Risks and Uncertainties – Certain statements contained in this document do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. As such, they are considered 'forward-looking statements' that provide current expectations or forecasts of future events. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as anticipate, believe, should, estimate, expect, intend, may, will, plan, goal, project, hope, trend, target, opportunity, and similar words or expressions, or by references to typical outcomes. Any statement that is not a purely historical fact, including estimates, projections, trends, and the outcome of events that have not yet occurred, is a forward-looking statement. Our forward-looking statements generally relate to our expectations regarding the business environment in which we operate, our projections of future performance, our perceived marketplace opportunities, our strategies, goals, mission and vision, and our expectations related to future capital expenditures and the impact of tax reform. You should understand that forward-looking statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, and may be affected by inaccurate assumptions. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, economic downturns, weakness in the manufacturing or commercial construction industries, competitive pressure on selling prices, changes in our current mix of products, customers, or geographic locations, changes in our average branch size, changes in our purchasing patterns, changes in customer needs, changes in fuel or commodity prices, inclement weather, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, difficulty in adapting our business model to different foreign business environments, failure to accurately predict the market potential of our business strategies, the introduction or expansion of new business strategies, weak acceptance or adoption of our vending or Onsite business models, increased competition in industrial vending or Onsite, difficulty in maintaining installation quality as our industrial vending business expands, the leasing to customers of a significant number of additional industrial vending devices, the failure to meet our goals and expectations regarding branch openings, branch closings, or expansion of our industrial vending or Onsite operations, changes in the implementation objectives of our business strategies, difficulty in hiring, relocating, training, or retaining qualified personnel, difficulty in controlling operating expenses, difficulty in collecting receivables or accurately predicting future inventory needs, dramatic changes in sales trends, changes in supplier production lead times, changes in our cash position or our need to make capital expenditures, credit market volatility, changes in tax law or the impact of any such changes on future tax rates, changes in the availability or price of commercial real estate, changes in the nature, price, or availability of distribution, supply chain, or other technology (including software licensed from third parties) and services related to that technology, cyber-security incidents, potential liability and reputational damage that can arise if our products are defective, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual and quarterly reports. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date.

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ITEM 3 — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS
We are exposed to certain market risks from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity steel pricing, commodity energy prices, and interest rates. Changes in these factors cause fluctuations in our earnings and cash flows. We evaluate and manage exposure to these market risks as follows:
Foreign currency exchange rates – Foreign currency fluctuations can affect our net investments and earnings denominated in foreign currencies. Historically, our primary exchange rate exposure has been with the Canadian dollar against the United States dollar. Our estimated net earnings exposure for foreign currency exchange rates was not material at the end of the period.
Commodity steel pricing – We buy and sell various types of steel products; these products consist primarily of different types of threaded fasteners. In the first six months of 2018, we have seen some inflation in overall steel pricing. We are exposed to the impacts of commodity steel pricing and our related ability to pass through the impacts to our end customers.
Commodity energy prices – We have market risk for changes in prices of gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity. Rising costs for these commodities in recent months are creating increases in fuel costs for our hub and field-based vehicles and utility costs for our in-market locations, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. Fossil fuels are also often a key feedstock for chemicals and plastics that comprise a key raw material for many products that we sell. As a result, rising costs for these commodities in recent months are resulting in higher costs for many of these products. We do believe that over time these risks are mitigated in part by our ability to pass freight costs to our customers, the efficiency of our trucking distribution network, and the ability, over time, to manage our occupancy costs related to the heating and cooling of our facilities through better efficiency.
Interest rates - Loans under our Credit Facility bear interest at floating rates tied to LIBOR. As a result, changes in LIBOR can affect our operating results and liquidity to the extent we do not have effective interest rate swap arrangements in place. We have not historically used interest rate swap arrangements to hedge the variable interest rates under our Credit Facility. A one percentage point increase in LIBOR in the first six months of 2018 would have resulted in approximately $1.5 of additional interest expense. A description of our Credit Facility is contained in Note 6 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
ITEM 4 — CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures – As of the end of the period covered by this report, we conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 'Securities Exchange Act')). Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow for timely decisions regarding disclosure. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
A description of our legal proceedings, if any, is contained in Note 7 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The description of legal proceedings, if any, in Note 7 is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 1A — RISK FACTORS
The significant factors known to us that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or operating results are described in Item 2 of Part I above and in our most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K under Forward-Looking Statements and Item 1A – Risk Factors. There has been no material change in those risk factors.

ITEM 2 — UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The table below sets forth information regarding purchases of our common stock during the second quarter of 2018:
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Period
Total Number of
Shares
Purchased
Average Price
Paid per Share
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (1)
Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs (1)
April 1-30, 2018
 
600,000
 
 
$50.12
 
 
0
 
 
3,800,000
 
May 1-31, 2018
 
200,000
 
 
$51.68
 
 
0
 
 
3,600,000
 
June 1-30, 2018
 
0
 
 
$0.00
 
 
0
 
 
3,600,000
 
Total
 
800,000
 
 
$50.51
 
 
0
 
 
3,600,000
 
(1)
On July 11, 2017, our board of directors established a new authorization for us to repurchase up to 5,000,000 shares of our common stock. As of June 30, 2018, we had remaining authority to repurchase 3,600,000 shares under this authorization.
ITEM 6 — EXHIBITS
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number
 
Description of Document
 
 
 
3.1
 
 
 
 
3.2
 
 
 
 
31
 
 
 
 
32
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
FASTENAL COMPANY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: July 16, 2018
By:
 
/s/ Holden Lewis
 
 
 
Holden Lewis
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: July 16, 2018
By:
 
/s/ Sheryl A. Lisowski
 
 
 
Sheryl A. Lisowski
 
 
 
Controller, Chief Accounting Officer, and
 
 
 
Treasurer (Duly Authorized Officer)

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