Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (Form 4)

FORM 4 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 that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen 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) EVP-Strategy and Communication (Last) (First) (Middle) 2001 THEURER BOULEVARD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 08/13/2026 (Street) WINONA, MN 55987 4. If Amendment, Date 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 (City) (State) (Zip) 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 08/13/2026 M 1,364 A $13.75 1,364 D Common Stock 08/13/2026 S 1,364 D $51.4165 0 D Common Stock 08/13/2026 M 7,894 A $19 7,894 D Common Stock 08/13/2026 S 7,894 D $51.3841 0 D Common Stock 811(1) I Held in 401(K) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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 Underlying Securities (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 of Derivative Security: 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

08/13/2026

M

1,364

(2)

12/31/2027

Common Stock

1,364

$ 0

0

D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$19(3)

08/13/2026

M

7,894(3)

(4)

12/31/2029

Common Stcck

7,894(3)

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen 2001 THEURER BOULEVARD WINONA, MN 55987			EVP-Strategy and Communication

Signatures

/s/ John J. Milek, Attorney-in-Fact		08/17/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(1)	Shares attributed to reporting person's account within issuer's 401(K) Plan and includes an additional 345 shares acquired in the account since the last report on 6/9/2025.
(2)	The option will vest and become exercisable over a period of eight years, with 25% of the option vesting and becoming exercisable two years after the relevant vesting period, and the remainder vesting and becoming exercisable proportionately each year thereafter.
(3)	The option was previously reported in a Form 3 filing on 11/6/2024 and the amounts reported on this Form 4 are adjusted to reflect a 2-for-1 stock split on May 21, 2025.
(4)	The option will vest and become exercisable over a period of five years, with 40% of the option vesting and becoming exercisable two years following the date of grant, and the remainder vesting and becoming exercisable proportionately on each anniversary of the grant date.

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