Fastenal Company Announces Cash Dividend

Fastenal Company (Nasdaq:FAST) reported its board of directors declared a dividend of $0.43 per share to be paid in cash on February 27, 2019 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 31, 2019. Except for share and per share information, dollar amounts are stated in millions.

Fastenal began paying annual dividends in 1991, semi-annual dividends in 2003, and then expanded to quarterly dividends in 2011. Our board of directors intends to continue paying quarterly dividends, provided that any future determination as to payment of dividends will depend upon the financial condition and results of operations of the company and such other factors as are deemed relevant by the board of directors, such as income tax rates related to dividends.

In 2019, 2018, and 2017, we paid (or declared) dividends as follows:

Year		FirstQuarter				SecondQuarter				ThirdQuarter				FourthQuarter
2019		$	0.43
2018		$	0.37			$	0.37			$	0.40			$	0.40
2017		$	0.32			$	0.32			$	0.32			$	0.32

Dividend and common stock purchase activity during the last ten years:

																										Average Per
		Total					Dividends per Share										Total Value of					Total Number				Share Price of
	Dividend	Dividends					Regular					Total					Common Stock					of Shares				Common Stock
Year	Payments	Paid					Dividend					Dividend					Purchased					Purchased				Purchased
2019	One (1)		$	122.9				$	0.43				$	0.43				$	—				—				$	—
2018	Four		$	441.9				$	1.54				$	1.54				$	103.0				2,000,000				$	51.50
2017	Four		$	369.1				$	1.28				$	1.28				$	82.6				1,900,000				$	43.43
2016	Four		$	346.6				$	1.20				$	1.20				$	59.5				1,600,000				$	37.15
2015	Four		$	327.1				$	1.12				$	1.12				$	293.0				7,100,000				$	41.26
2014	Four		$	296.6				$	1.00				$	1.00				$	52.9				1,200,000				$	44.12
2013	Four		$	237.5				$	0.80				$	0.80				$	9.1				200,000				$	45.40
2012	Five(2)		$	367.3				$	0.74				$	1.24				$	—				—				$	—
2011	Four		$	191.7				$	0.65				$	0.65				$	—				—				$	—
2010	Three(2)		$	182.8				$	0.41				$	0.62				$	—				—				$	—
Ten Year Total			$	2,883.5				$	9.17				$	9.88				$	600.1				14,000,000				$	42.86

(1) The total dividends paid amount includes the estimated impact from this announcement. The estimate is calculated using the 285.9 million shares outstanding at December 31, 2018.(2) There was a supplemental dividend paid in December 2012 and 2010.

All share and per share information reflects the two-for-one stock split in 2011.

About Fastenal

Fastenal helps customers simplify and realize product and process savings across their supply chain. We sell a broad offering of products spanning more than nine major product categories, including fasteners, safety equipment and services, tools, and general maintenance supplies. These products are efficiently distributed to manufacturing facilities, job sites, and other customer locations through local service teams and point-of-use inventory solutions, including industrial vending technology and bin stock programs (Fastenal Managed Inventory, or FMI®). Our distribution system centers on approximately 3,100 in-market locations (a combination of public branches and customer-specific Onsite locations), primarily in North America but also in Asia, Europe, and Central and South America, each providing tailored inventory, flexible service, and custom solutions to drive the unique goals of local customers. These in-market servicing locations are supported by 14 regional distribution centers, a captive logistics fleet, robust sourcing, quality and manufacturing resources, and multiple teams of industry specialists and support personnel - all working toward Fastenal’s common goal of Growth Through Customer Service®.

Additional information regarding Fastenal is available on the Fastenal Company website at www.fastenal.com.

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 a statement regarding expectations as to payment of a quarterly cash dividend in the foreseeable future. Any future determination as to payment of dividends will depend upon the financial condition and results of operations of the company and such other factors as are deemed relevant by the board of directors. For example, a change in business needs including working capital and funding for acquisitions, or a change in income tax law relating to dividends, could cause the company to decide not to pay a dividend in the future. A discussion of other risks and uncertainties is included in the company's filings with the SEC, including our most recent annual and quarterly reports. FAST-D

CONTACT:	Ellen Stolts
	Financial Reporting & Regulatory Compliance Manager
	507.313.7282