FASTENAL CO (NASDAQ:FAST) has been identified as a high-quality breakout candidate by our technical screening process. The stock currently holds strong technical ratings and presents a well-defined setup pattern, making it worth a closer look for traders focused on momentum and consolidation breakouts.
Technical Strength
FASTENAL CO earns a Technical Rating of 9 out of 10, reflecting its strong trend across multiple timeframes. Key factors contributing to this score include:
Positive Trends: Both short-term and long-term trends are upward, reinforcing the stock’s bullish momentum.
Relative Strength: The stock outperforms 88% of all market stocks and 85% of its industry peers in the Trading Companies & Distributors sector.
Moving Averages: The stock trades above its 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, all of which are rising—a sign of sustained buying interest.
52-Week Performance: FAST is trading near the upper end of its 52-week range, aligning with the broader market’s strength.
Setup Quality
With a Setup Rating of 9, FASTENAL CO shows a well-formed consolidation pattern, suggesting a potential breakout opportunity:
Consolidation Zone: The stock has been trading between $78.09 and $83.08 over the past month, forming a base.
Resistance Breakout Point: A clear resistance zone exists between $83.56 and $84.35. A move above this level could signal a new upward leg.
Support Levels: Multiple support zones are identified below, including a key area at $80.19 to $81.65, providing a logical stop-loss level.
Pocket Pivot Signal: Recent price action has shown a bullish accumulation pattern, where upward moves were accompanied by higher volume—a positive sign for continuation.
Trade Considerations
The technical report suggests a possible entry above $84.36, with a stop-loss below $80.18, representing a risk of about 4.95% on the trade. Traders should monitor volume and price action around the resistance level for confirmation before entering.