Jan 17 (Reuters) - Fastenal ( FAST ) posted

fourth-quarter profit below analysts' estimates on Friday, as a

sustained slowdown in construction sector dented demand for its

fasteners and other safety products.

Shares of the Winona, Minnesota-based company fell 5.7% in

premarket trading.

U.S. construction activity has slowed due to increased

financing costs for big projects amid higher interest rates,

hurting demand for industrial supplies.

"Slow rate of growth was exacerbated by many of our largest

customers enacting unusually sharp production cuts in the last

two weeks of December during holiday-related plant shutdowns,"

Fastenal ( FAST ) said.

Sales of fasteners, one of the core segments of the

wholesale distributor, fell to 29.9% of the company's total

sales, compared with 31.1% a year earlier.

Fastenal ( FAST ) posted a profit of 46 cents per share in the fourth

quarter, while analysts on average had expected 48 cents, as per

data compiled by LSEG.

Its total revenue for the quarter rose 3.7% from a year

earlier to about $1.82 billion, but missed estimates of $1.84

billion.