FAST insider Jeff Watts exercises options at $13, sells at ~$48 on 08/08/2025

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Fastenal Company officer Jeffery Michael Watts, listed as President and Chief Sales Officer, reported option exercises and share sales on 08/08/2025. The filing shows acquisitions of 32,724 shares at an exercise price of $13.75 and 16,000 shares at $13.00, and contemporaneous sales of 32,724 and 16,000 shares at $48.0507 and $48.0494, respectively.

The derivative schedule identifies the underlying employee stock options with expiration dates of 12/31/2027 and 12/31/2028 and states the options "will fully vest and become exercisable over a period of five years, with 40% vesting two years following the date of grant and the remainder vesting proportionately (20%) each year thereafter." The filing notes adjustments for two 2-for-1 stock splits and is signed by an attorney-in-fact on 08/12/2025.

Positive

• Filing discloses specific transaction details: number of shares and per-share prices for both exercises and sales (32,724 and 16,000 shares; exercises at $13.75 and $13.00; sales at $48.0507 and $48.0494).
• Derivative schedule provides vesting terms and expiration dates (five-year vesting with 40% at two years; expirations 12/31/2027 and 12/31/2028).
• Form is signed and dated by an attorney-in-fact (08/12/2025), indicating formal submission.

Negative

• Officer reported significant sales totaling 48,724 shares on the filing date, reducing his direct holdings as reflected in the table.
• The filing does not include explicit narrative on the purpose of the sales (for example, tax withholding or a Rule 10b5-1 plan), beyond check-box options.

Insights

Financial Analyst

TL;DR: Officer exercised options and sold 48,724 shares on 08/08/2025; exercise prices were $13.00 and $13.75 while sale prices were about $48.05.

The Form 4 documents two option-related acquisitions (32,724 shares at $13.75 and 16,000 shares at $13.00) and matching sales of those same lot sizes at $48.0507 and $48.0494. The derivative section lists the corresponding employee stock options with expirations of 12/31/2027 and 12/31/2028 and a five-year vesting schedule (40% at two years, then 20% annually). The filing includes adjusted figures for two historical 2-for-1 splits. From a financial perspective, the filing records option exercises followed by sales at substantially higher per-share prices, which is a realized liquidity event for the reporting officer but the document does not quantify proceeds or tax withholding details.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: The disclosure appears complete for the transactions reported and includes vesting, expiration dates, split adjustments, and an attorney-in-fact signature.

The Form 4 is filed by a single reporting person and lists the officer role explicitly. It provides transaction dates, exercise and sale prices, the number of shares acquired and sold, vesting terms for the options, and option expirations. The form is signed by an attorney-in-fact on 08/12/2025. These elements meet typical Section 16 reporting content requirements in that material details of the option exercises and subsequent dispositions are disclosed; the filing does not show additional context such as whether sales satisfied tax obligations or were part of a pre-arranged plan beyond the check-box language present.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Watts Jeffery Michael

(Last) (First) (Middle)

48 LAUREL CR.

(Street)

INGERSOLL A6 N5C-3S4

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FASTENAL CO [ FAST ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	President and Chief Sales Off.

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/08/2025

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	08/08/2025		M		32,724(1)	A	$13.75(1)	44,604	D
Common Stock	08/08/2025		S		32,724	D	$48.0507	11,880	D
Common Stock	08/08/2025		M		16,000(1)	A	$13(1)	27,880	D
Common Stock	08/08/2025		S		16,000	D	$48.0494	11,880	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$13.75(1)	08/08/2025		M			32,724(1)	(2)	12/31/2027	Common Stock	32,724(1)	$0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$13(1)	08/08/2025		M			16,000(1)	(2)	12/31/2028	Common Stock	16,000(1)	$0	18,612	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. On May 22, 2019 and May 21, 2024, the Common Stock of Fastenal Company spilt 2-for-1 and the amounts reported have been adjusted to reflect these two stock splits.

2. The option will fully vest and become exercisable over a period of five years, with 40% vesting and becoming exercisable two years following the date of grant, and the remainder vesting and becoming exercisable proportionately (20%) each year thereafter.

Remarks:

	/s/ John J. Milek, Attorney-in-Fact	08/12/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What did FAST insider Jeffery Michael Watts report on 08/08/2025?

The Form 4 reports option exercises and sales: acquisition of 32,724 and 16,000 shares and sales of the same amounts on 08/08/2025.

At what exercise prices were the Fastenal options reported?

The filing shows exercises at $13.75 for 32,724 shares and $13.00 for 16,000 shares.

At what prices were the shares sold in the Form 4 for FAST?

Sales were reported at $48.0507 for 32,724 shares and $48.0494 for 16,000 shares.

What are the option expirations and vesting terms disclosed?

The underlying employee stock options expire on 12/31/2027 and 12/31/2028. The note states options "will fully vest and become exercisable over a period of five years, with 40% vesting two years after grant and the remainder vesting proportionately (20%) each year thereafter."

Who signed the Form 4 and when?

The form is signed by John J. Milek, Attorney-in-Fact on 08/12/2025.