(RTTNews) - Industrial and construction supplies provider Fastenal Co. (FAST: News ) is slated to release its results for third-quarter earnings as well as September monthly sales before the market's open Monday. On average, 10 analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect the company to post earnings of $0.33 per share for the quarter, with estimates ranging between $0.29 and $0.35 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. Sales for the quarter are estimated to be $489.32 million, representing a 21.7% decline from last year.

In the same quarter a year ago, the Winona, Minnesota-based company had recorded net earnings of $72.91 million or $0.49 per share, which included a legal settlement that reduced earnings per share by just over $0.03. Net sales for the prior-year quarter were $625.04 million.

The company's net sales for the month of August 2009 fell 21.4% to $161.70 million from last year's $205.81 million, while July monthly net sales dropped 22.9% to $160.54 million from $208.17 million a year ago. Daily sales in August were $7.70 million, and in July were $7.30 million.

Founded in 1967, Fastenal operates as a wholesaler and retailer of industrial and construction supplies, and offers various product categories including threaded fasteners and miscellaneous supplies, tools, metal cutting tool blades and abrasives, fluid transfer components and accessories for hydraulic and pneumatic power, and storage and packaging products, among other things.
As of August 31, 2009, Fastenal operated 2,350 stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Singapore, Netherlands, Hungary, Malaysia and China. The company also operates 14 distribution centers in U.S., Canada and Mexico.

In the preceding second quarter, Fastenal had reported a 42.8% year-over-year drop in net earnings to $43.54 million or $0.29 per share, hurt by a 21.4% fall in quarterly net sales to $474.89 million as well as lower margins. The sluggish economy drove down sales by double digits, impacting particularly the company's industrial production business.

Among peers, MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM: News ), a marketer of industrial products, is slated to release its fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday, October 21. The company expects earnings to range between $0.33 and $0.37 per share for the quarter on net sales of between $336.0 million and $348.0 million. Street analysts currently expect the company to earn $0.36 per share on sales of $343.42 million, in comparison to last year's earnings and sales of $0.80 per share and $448.56 million, respectively.

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