BLDR vs. FAST: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at BLDR and FAST, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | BLDR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Builders FirstSource, Inc. | Fastenal Company |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Building Products | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| Market Capitalization | 14.68 billion USD | 56.85 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | June 28, 2005 | August 20, 1987 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of BLDR and FAST by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | BLDR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -4.33% | 1.75% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 14.51% | 19.14% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -8.36% | 32.46% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -14.26% | 48.90% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 8.67% | 7.39% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -3.34% | 37.80% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.94M | 5.72M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 2.14M | 6.27M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 48.27% | 18.77% |
| Beta | 1.67 | 0.95 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
BLDR
17.49%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 48.58%
- Q3
- 27.65%
- Median
- 16.01%
- Q1
- 8.81%
- Min
- -6.66%
BLDR’s Return on Equity of 17.49% is on par with the norm for the Building Products industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
FAST
32.33%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 32.33%
- Q3
- 19.92%
- Median
- 14.05%
- Q1
- 11.46%
- Min
- 0.91%
In the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, FAST’s Return on Equity of 32.33% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
BLDR
4.74%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 26.11%
- Q3
- 15.09%
- Median
- 9.48%
- Q1
- 5.16%
- Min
- -3.43%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Building Products industry, BLDR’s Net Profit Margin of 4.74% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
FAST
15.30%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 17.73%
- Q3
- 10.81%
- Median
- 6.13%
- Q1
- 4.33%
- Min
- 2.09%
A Net Profit Margin of 15.30% places FAST in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
BLDR
7.70%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 26.67%
- Q3
- 18.75%
- Median
- 14.89%
- Q1
- 8.70%
- Min
- -1.00%
BLDR’s Operating Profit Margin of 7.70% is in the lower quartile for the Building Products industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
FAST
20.10%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 25.50%
- Q3
- 15.13%
- Median
- 7.46%
- Q1
- 5.44%
- Min
- 3.55%
An Operating Profit Margin of 20.10% places FAST in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | BLDR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 17.49% | 32.33% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 6.82% | 24.62% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 4.74% | 15.30% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 7.70% | 20.10% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 31.58% | 45.06% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
BLDR
1.79
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 2.87
- Q3
- 2.03
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 1.32
- Min
- 0.88
BLDR’s Current Ratio of 1.79 aligns with the median group of the Building Products industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
FAST
4.22
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 2.82
- Q3
- 2.13
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.46
FAST’s Current Ratio of 4.22 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
BLDR
1.12
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 1.64
- Q3
- 1.02
- Median
- 0.66
- Q1
- 0.32
- Min
- 0.00
BLDR’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Building Products industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.12. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
FAST
0.06
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 1.18
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.54
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, FAST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.06 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
BLDR
7.68
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 72.12
- Q3
- 34.39
- Median
- 15.31
- Q1
- 6.06
- Min
- 0.85
BLDR’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.68 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Building Products industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
FAST
794.74
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 15.13
- Q3
- 7.93
- Median
- 5.75
- Q1
- 2.70
- Min
- -1.67
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 794.74, FAST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | BLDR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.79 | 4.22 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.08 | 2.10 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.12 | 0.06 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.68 | 794.74 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
BLDR
0.00%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 2.56%
- Q3
- 1.94%
- Median
- 1.04%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
BLDR currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
FAST
1.66%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 4.99%
- Q3
- 3.04%
- Median
- 1.94%
- Q1
- 1.22%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST’s Dividend Yield of 1.66% is consistent with its peers in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
BLDR
0.00%
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 157.36%
- Q3
- 77.74%
- Median
- 29.49%
- Q1
- 16.25%
- Min
- 0.00%
BLDR has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
FAST
79.54%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 95.14%
- Q3
- 62.08%
- Median
- 51.17%
- Q1
- 26.24%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 79.54% is in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | BLDR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.66% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 79.54% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
BLDR
20.15
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 66.79
- Q3
- 37.37
- Median
- 21.86
- Q1
- 17.57
- Min
- 9.70
BLDR’s P/E Ratio of 20.15 is within the middle range for the Building Products industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
FAST
47.90
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 48.55
- Q3
- 26.73
- Median
- 17.17
- Q1
- 10.78
- Min
- 1.62
A P/E Ratio of 47.90 places FAST in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
BLDR
0.96
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 6.40
- Q3
- 3.25
- Median
- 1.65
- Q1
- 1.11
- Min
- 0.34
In the lower quartile for the Building Products industry, BLDR’s P/S Ratio of 0.96 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
FAST
7.33
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 4.88
- Q3
- 2.56
- Median
- 1.02
- Q1
- 0.60
- Min
- 0.29
With a P/S Ratio of 7.33, FAST trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
BLDR
3.09
Building Products Industry
- Max
- 13.31
- Q3
- 6.85
- Median
- 3.20
- Q1
- 1.71
- Min
- 0.73
BLDR’s P/B Ratio of 3.09 is within the conventional range for the Building Products industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
FAST
12.66
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 8.77
- Q3
- 4.33
- Median
- 2.00
- Q1
- 1.11
- Min
- 0.35
At 12.66, FAST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | BLDR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 20.15 | 47.90 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.96 | 7.33 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 3.09 | 12.66 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 12.82 | 65.03 |