Fastenal (FAST) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Fastenal (FAST): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, 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	60.80 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.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Fastenal (FAST) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	36.82%	6.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	25.71%	17.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	15.98%	9.09%

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.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Fastenal (FAST) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.55%	44.38%
Beta (5Y)	0.64	1.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-30.71%	-49.95%

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.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.33	0.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.00	0.09

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) posts ROE of 35.26%, 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

35.26%

Group distribution

Max: 40.55%
FAST: 35.26%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Largest peers

GEV: 93.04%
CAT: 56.14%
GE: 50.17%
FAST: 35.26%
DE: 18.24%
RTX: 12.85%
BA: --

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 15.62% 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

15.62%

Group distribution

Max: 27.47%
FAST: 15.62%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Largest peers

GEV: 23.54%
GE: 17.31%
FAST: 15.62%
CAT: 15.21%
DE: 10.17%
RTX: 8.75%
BA: 8.07%

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 21.55% 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

21.55%

Group distribution

Max: 36.60%
FAST: 21.55%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Largest peers

FAST: 21.55%
CAT: 20.19%
GE: 18.49%
RTX: 15.54%
DE: 13.37%
GEV: 12.77%
BA: 0.30%

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)	35.26%	12.12%
ROA (TTM)	21.97%	5.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.62%	6.30%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.55%	11.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.61%	29.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Fastenal (FAST) grew revenue 8.67%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Fastenal (FAST): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Capital Goods industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Fastenal (FAST) grew earnings per share 9.00%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Fastenal (FAST): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Capital Goods industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) metric values compared with Capital Goods industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: FAST	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.67%	8.11%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.52%	6.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.00%	5.45%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.87%	7.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) has current ratio of 3.93, 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

3.93

Group distribution

Max: 5.22
FAST: 3.93
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Largest peers

FAST: 3.93
DE: 2.13
CAT: 1.42
BA: 1.13
RTX: 1.05
GE: 0.98
GEV: 0.83

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: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
FAST: 0.11
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

BA: 7.39
DE: 2.30
CAT: 2.10
GE: 1.16
RTX: 0.55
GEV: 0.30
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)	3.93	2.08
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.11	0.60
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.12	1.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) has dividend yield of 1.81%, 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

1.81%

Group distribution

Max: 2.66%
FAST: 1.81%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

FAST: 1.81%
RTX: 1.47%
CAT: 1.13%
DE: 0.98%
GE: 0.56%
GEV: 0.26%
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 78.05%, 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

78.05%

Group distribution

FAST: 78.05%
Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

FAST: 78.05%
RTX: 45.85%
DE: 36.02%
CAT: 24.18%
GE: 20.23%
GEV: 4.59%
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)	1.81%	0.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	78.05%	6.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) trades at P/E ratio of 43.08, in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. That premium needs support from growth, durable earnings, or stronger business quality.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

43.08

Group distribution

Max: 59.38
FAST: 43.08
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Largest peers

FAST: 43.08
DE: 37.33
GE: 36.94
RTX: 30.82
CAT: 21.92
GEV: 20.32
BA: 17.89

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 6.70 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

6.70

Group distribution

Max: 7.54
FAST: 6.70
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Largest peers

FAST: 6.70
GE: 6.38
GEV: 4.65
DE: 3.78
CAT: 3.29
RTX: 2.66
BA: 1.45

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 14.65 on P/B ratio, above the industry benchmark range. Investors are putting an unusually rich price on each dollar of book equity relative to peers.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

14.65

Group distribution

FAST: 14.65
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Largest peers

BA: 20.99
GE: 19.06
GEV: 18.00
FAST: 14.65
CAT: 11.90
DE: 6.47
RTX: 3.69

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)	43.08	25.41
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.70	2.15
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	14.65	3.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.51%	3.03%