Fastenal (FAST) Stock Analysis

June 28, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Fastenal (FAST): its performance, risk, profitability, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Capital Goods peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Fastenal (FAST)
Profile Item	FAST
Name	Fastenal Co.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	54.07 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq
Listing Date	August 20, 1987
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FAST

GSPC

Fastenal (FAST) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Fastenal (FAST) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	16.43%	27.81%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FAST

GSPC

Fastenal (FAST) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	25.12%	41.80%
Beta (5Y)	0.71	1.18

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. FAST is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) posts ROE of 33.84%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

33.84%

Group distribution

Max: 45.43%
FAST: 33.84%
Q3: 20.07%
Median: 11.35%
Q1: 3.04%
Min: -19.79%

Largest peers

BA: 169.95%
GEV: 75.71%
CAT: 51.33%
GE: 45.43%
FAST: 33.84%
DE: 18.35%
RTX: 11.57%

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on ROE within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) keeps 15.39% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

15.39%

Group distribution

Max: 24.69%
FAST: 15.39%
Q3: 11.56%
Median: 5.93%
Q1: 0.85%
Min: -13.94%

Largest peers

GEV: 23.81%
GE: 17.86%
FAST: 15.39%
CAT: 13.33%
DE: 10.10%
RTX: 8.03%
BA: 2.46%

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on net margin within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) turns 20.33% of revenue into operating profit, putting operating margin in the upper peer quartile. Before financing and taxes enter the picture, the day-to-day business keeps more of each sales dollar than most industry peers.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

20.33%

Group distribution

Max: 29.84%
FAST: 20.33%
Q3: 15.92%
Median: 8.27%
Q1: 1.86%
Min: -17.50%

Largest peers

FAST: 20.33%
GE: 20.21%
CAT: 18.18%
DE: 17.48%
RTX: 13.18%
GEV: 5.46%
BA: 1.72%

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on operating margin within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	33.84%	11.35%
ROA (TTM)	21.20%	5.15%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.39%	5.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.33%	8.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.89%	29.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) has current ratio of 4.39, above the industry’s typical middle range. Liquidity looks ample versus peers, though an unusually high cushion can also mean idle current assets or inefficient working capital.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

4.39

Group distribution

Max: 5.24
FAST: 4.39
Q3: 2.97
Median: 2.11
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.71

Largest peers

FAST: 4.39
DE: 2.21
CAT: 1.35
BA: 1.18
RTX: 1.02
GE: 1.01
GEV: 0.89

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on current ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, in the lower-leverage quartile for its industry. Borrowing is modest relative to equity compared with most peers, which can leave more flexibility through a cycle.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

0.11

Group distribution

Max: 2.29
Q3: 1.08
Median: 0.62
Q1: 0.28
FAST: 0.11
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

BA: 8.29
DE: 3.76
CAT: 2.31
GE: 1.17
RTX: 0.57
GEV: 0.25
FAST: 0.11

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	4.39	2.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.11	0.62
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.07	2.03

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) has dividend yield of 1.92%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

1.92%

Group distribution

Max: 2.34%
FAST: 1.92%
Q3: 1.00%
Median: 0.15%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

FAST: 1.92%
RTX: 1.46%
DE: 1.03%
CAT: 0.57%
GE: 0.42%
GEV: 0.14%
BA: 0.00%

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on dividend yield within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) has payout ratio of 79.65%, above the peer distribution for its industry. The dividend consumes more reported earnings than peers normally do, leaving unusually thin earnings cover.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

79.65%

Group distribution

FAST: 79.65%
Max: 72.02%
Q3: 29.56%
Median: 6.41%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

FAST: 79.65%
RTX: 51.03%
DE: 36.71%
CAT: 29.58%
GE: 19.25%
GEV: 5.11%
BA: 0.00%

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on payout ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.92%	0.15%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	79.65%	6.41%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) trades at P/E ratio of 41.68, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

41.68

Group distribution

Max: 89.28
Q3: 51.81
FAST: 41.68
Median: 33.98
Q1: 23.50
Min: 6.12

Largest peers

BA: 86.21
CAT: 49.75
GE: 45.90
FAST: 41.68
RTX: 35.20
DE: 34.72
GEV: 30.58

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on P/E ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) trades at 6.40 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

6.40

Group distribution

Max: 9.89
FAST: 6.40
Q3: 4.89
Median: 2.76
Q1: 1.29
Min: 0.04

Largest peers

GE: 7.98
GEV: 7.13
CAT: 6.49
FAST: 6.40
DE: 3.50
RTX: 2.80
BA: 1.86

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on P/S ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) trades at 13.55 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

13.55

Group distribution

FAST: 13.55
Max: 13.55
Q3: 6.81
Median: 3.86
Q1: 2.14
Min: -2.32

Largest peers

BA: 28.62
CAT: 24.62
GE: 21.32
GEV: 20.17
FAST: 13.55
DE: 6.04
RTX: 3.82

Where Fastenal (FAST) stands on P/B ratio within its Capital Goods peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	41.68	33.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.40	2.76
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	13.55	3.86
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.67%	1.99%