CMI vs. FAST: Cummins vs. Fastenal Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Cummins (CMI) 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

Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CMI is classified in Machinery while FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Profile Item	CMI	FAST
Name	Cummins Inc.	Fastenal Co.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	61.69 billion USD	60.80 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	August 20, 1987
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMI

FAST

GSPC

Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	CMI	FAST
Total Return (1Y)	-0.52%	36.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	31.79%	25.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.12%	15.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMI

FAST

GSPC

Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	CMI	FAST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.83%	24.55%
Beta (5Y)	1.26	0.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-38.12%	-30.71%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.14M	7.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CMI 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 Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	CMI	FAST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.13	1.33
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.18	2.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 25.05% 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.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

25.05%

Max: 40.55%
CMI: 25.05%
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%

Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) at 9.26%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

9.26%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
CMI: 9.26%
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%

Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) at 13.95%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

13.95%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
CMI: 13.95%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	CMI	FAST
ROE (TTM)	25.05%	35.26%
ROA (TTM)	7.60%	21.97%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.26%	15.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.95%	21.55%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.32%	44.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Cummins (CMI) at -1.27% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Cummins (CMI) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Cummins (CMI) at -27.74% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Cummins (CMI) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	CMI	FAST
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-1.27%	8.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.25%	5.52%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-27.74%	9.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.68%	4.87%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cummins (CMI) at 1.74 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.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.74

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
CMI: 1.74
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

Cummins (CMI) 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 industry quartile, while Cummins (CMI) at 0.52 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

0.52

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
CMI: 0.52
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

Cummins (CMI) 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 Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	CMI	FAST
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.74	3.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.52	0.11
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.62	0.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 1.83% and Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.83%

Max: 2.66%
CMI: 1.83%
Q3: 1.14%
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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and FAST more so: Cummins (CMI) at 34.21% sits above the band, while Fastenal (FAST) at 78.05% exceeds every peer in its group.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

34.21%

Max: 67.39%
CMI: 34.21%
Q3: 28.02%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	CMI	FAST
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.83%	1.81%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	34.21%	78.05%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 18.78 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Fastenal (FAST) at 43.08 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

18.78

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
CMI: 18.78
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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 1.72 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.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.72

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
CMI: 1.72
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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cummins (CMI) at 4.63 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Fastenal (FAST) at 14.65 prices above its benchmark range — FAST looks rich relative to book.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

4.63

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
CMI: 4.63
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	CMI	FAST
P/E Ratio (TTM)	18.78	43.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.72	6.70
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.63	14.65
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.06%	1.51%