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CSL vs. FAST: Carlisle vs. Fastenal Stock Comparison

How do Carlisle (CSL) 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

Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CSL is classified in Building Products while FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
Profile ItemCSLFAST
NameCarlisle Companies IncorporatedFastenal Co.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryBuilding ProductsTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryBuilding ProductsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization14.52 billion USD60.80 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973August 20, 1987
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSL
FAST
GSPC
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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricCSLFAST
Total Return (1Y)24.99%36.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.85%25.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.02%15.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricCSLFAST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.46%24.55%
Beta (5Y)0.760.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.72%-30.71%
Avg. Volume (3M)509.16K7.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSL 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 Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricCSLFAST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.541.33
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.872.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Carlisle (CSL) at 42.34% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% also sits in the top quartile.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

42.34%

CSL
42.34%
Max
40.55%
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%
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Carlisle (CSL) at 13.78% and Fastenal (FAST) at 15.62% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

13.78%

Max
27.47%
CSL
13.78%
Q3
12.10%
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%
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Carlisle (CSL) at 20.21% and Fastenal (FAST) at 21.55% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

20.21%

Max
36.60%
CSL
20.21%
Q3
18.33%
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%
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricCSLFAST
ROE (TTM)42.34%35.26%
ROA (TTM)10.20%21.97%
Net Margin (TTM)13.78%15.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.21%21.55%
Gross Margin (TTM)34.66%44.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Carlisle (CSL) at 0.33% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) at -38.46% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricCSLFAST
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.33%8.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.70%5.52%
EPS Growth (YoY)-38.46%9.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.84%4.87%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Carlisle (CSL) at 2.41 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.41

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
CSL
2.41
Median
2.08
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
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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) at 2.01 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.01

Max
2.33
CSL
2.01
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
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Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricCSLFAST
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.413.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.010.11
Net Debt / EBITDA1.930.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Carlisle (CSL) at 1.20% and Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

1.20%

Max
2.66%
CSL
1.20%
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%
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 25.50% 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

25.50%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
CSL
25.50%
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%
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricCSLFAST
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.20%1.81%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.50%78.05%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 21.06 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

21.06

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
CSL
21.06
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
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 2.79 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.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.79

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
CSL
2.79
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
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Carlisle (CSL) at 10.11 and Fastenal (FAST) at 14.65 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

10.11

CSL
10.11
Max
9.66
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
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Carlisle (CSL) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricCSLFAST
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.0643.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.796.70
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.1114.65
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.01%1.51%