BWXT vs. FAST: BWX Technologies vs. Fastenal Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but BWXT is classified in Aerospace & Defense while FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Profile Item	BWXT	FAST
Name	BWX Technologies, Inc.	Fastenal Co.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	10.95 billion USD	60.80 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	August 2, 2010	August 20, 1987
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BWXT

FAST

GSPC

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	BWXT	FAST
Total Return (1Y)	-33.33%	36.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.43%	25.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	20.57%	15.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BWXT

FAST

GSPC

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	BWXT	FAST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	45.97%	24.55%
Beta (5Y)	0.73	0.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.64%	-30.71%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.19M	7.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BWXT and FAST are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	BWXT	FAST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.82	1.33
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.11	2.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 28.27% and Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

28.27%

Max: 40.55%
BWXT: 28.27%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

35.26%

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 15.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 10.41%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

10.41%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
BWXT: 10.41%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

15.62%

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 21.55% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 11.55%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

11.55%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
BWXT: 11.55%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

21.55%

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	BWXT	FAST
ROE (TTM)	28.27%	35.26%
ROA (TTM)	5.49%	21.97%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.41%	15.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.55%	21.55%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.61%	44.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 18.30% and Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 16.61% and Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	BWXT	FAST
Revenue Growth (YoY)	18.30%	8.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	12.73%	5.52%
EPS Growth (YoY)	16.61%	9.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.25%	4.87%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 1.88 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Fastenal (FAST) at 3.93 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.88

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
BWXT: 1.88
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

3.93

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) at 0.11 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 1.43 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.43

Max: 2.33
BWXT: 1.43
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

0.11

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	BWXT	FAST
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.88	3.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.43	0.11
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.92	0.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 0.92% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FAST the richer one.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.92%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
BWXT: 0.92%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

1.81%

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 26.04% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Fastenal (FAST) at 78.05% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

26.04%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
BWXT: 26.04%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

78.05%

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	BWXT	FAST
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.92%	1.81%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	26.04%	78.05%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 29.37 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Fastenal (FAST) at 43.08 sits in the richer quartile — FAST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

29.37

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
BWXT: 29.37
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

43.08

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 3.04 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Fastenal (FAST) at 6.70 sits in the pricier quartile — FAST costs more per dollar of sales.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

3.04

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
BWXT: 3.04
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

6.70

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 7.72 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Fastenal (FAST) at 14.65 prices even higher, above its industry range.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

7.72

Max: 9.66
BWXT: 7.72
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

14.65

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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	BWXT	FAST
P/E Ratio (TTM)	29.37	43.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.04	6.70
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.72	14.65
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.64%	1.51%