DE vs. FAST: Deere vs. Fastenal Stock Comparison
How do Deere (DE) 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
Deere (DE) and Fastenal (FAST) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but DE is classified in Machinery while FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.
| Profile Item | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Deere & Company | 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 | Agricultural & Farm Machinery | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| Market Capitalization | 165.54 billion USD | 54.07 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | August 20, 1987 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 22.17% | 16.43% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.50% | 25.12% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.87 | 0.71 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.29M | 7.16M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Fastenal (FAST) at 33.84% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Deere (DE) at 18.35% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FAST.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
18.35%
- Max
- 45.43%
- Q3
- 20.07%
- DE
- 18.35%
- Median
- 11.35%
- Q1
- 3.04%
- Min
- -19.79%
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
33.84%
- Max
- 45.43%
- FAST
- 33.84%
- Q3
- 20.07%
- Median
- 11.35%
- Q1
- 3.04%
- Min
- -19.79%
Net Margin (TTM)
Fastenal (FAST) at 15.39% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Deere (DE) at 10.10%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
10.10%
- Max
- 24.69%
- Q3
- 11.56%
- DE
- 10.10%
- Median
- 5.93%
- Q1
- 0.85%
- Min
- -13.94%
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
15.39%
- Max
- 24.69%
- FAST
- 15.39%
- Q3
- 11.56%
- Median
- 5.93%
- Q1
- 0.85%
- Min
- -13.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Deere (DE) at 17.48% and Fastenal (FAST) at 20.33% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
17.48%
- Max
- 29.84%
- DE
- 17.48%
- Q3
- 15.92%
- Median
- 8.27%
- Q1
- 1.86%
- Min
- -17.50%
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
20.33%
- Max
- 29.84%
- FAST
- 20.33%
- Q3
- 15.92%
- Median
- 8.27%
- Q1
- 1.86%
- Min
- -17.50%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.35% | 33.84% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.83% | 21.20% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.10% | 15.39% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.48% | 20.33% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 25.97% | 44.89% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -11.59% | 8.67% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.50% | 5.52% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -27.79% | 9.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.37% | 4.87% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Deere (DE) at 2.21 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Fastenal (FAST) at 4.39 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
2.21
- Max
- 5.24
- Q3
- 2.97
- DE
- 2.21
- Median
- 2.11
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.71
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
4.39
- Max
- 5.24
- FAST
- 4.39
- Q3
- 2.97
- Median
- 2.11
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Fastenal (FAST) at 0.11 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Deere (DE) at 3.76 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
3.76
- DE
- 3.76
- Max
- 2.29
- Q3
- 1.08
- Median
- 0.62
- Q1
- 0.28
- Min
- 0.00
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
0.11
- Max
- 2.29
- Q3
- 1.08
- Median
- 0.62
- Q1
- 0.28
- FAST
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.21 | 4.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 3.76 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 4.60 | 0.07 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Deere (DE) at 1.03% and Fastenal (FAST) at 1.92% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
1.03%
- Max
- 2.34%
- DE
- 1.03%
- Q3
- 1.00%
- Median
- 0.15%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
1.92%
- Max
- 2.34%
- FAST
- 1.92%
- Q3
- 1.00%
- Median
- 0.15%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and FAST more so: Deere (DE) at 36.71% sits above the band, while Fastenal (FAST) at 79.65% exceeds every peer in its group.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
36.71%
- Max
- 72.02%
- DE
- 36.71%
- Q3
- 29.56%
- Median
- 6.41%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
79.65%
- FAST
- 79.65%
- Max
- 72.02%
- Q3
- 29.56%
- Median
- 6.41%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.03% | 1.92% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.71% | 79.65% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Deere (DE) at 34.72 and Fastenal (FAST) at 41.68 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
34.72
- Max
- 89.28
- Q3
- 51.81
- DE
- 34.72
- Median
- 33.98
- Q1
- 23.50
- Min
- 6.12
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
41.68
- Max
- 89.28
- Q3
- 51.81
- FAST
- 41.68
- Median
- 33.98
- Q1
- 23.50
- Min
- 6.12
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Deere (DE) at 3.50 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Fastenal (FAST) at 6.40 sits in the pricier quartile — FAST costs more per dollar of sales.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
3.50
- Max
- 9.89
- Q3
- 4.89
- DE
- 3.50
- Median
- 2.76
- Q1
- 1.29
- Min
- 0.04
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
6.40
- Max
- 9.89
- FAST
- 6.40
- Q3
- 4.89
- Median
- 2.76
- Q1
- 1.29
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Deere (DE) at 6.04 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Fastenal (FAST) at 13.55 carries an above-peer premium to book — FAST is pricier on assets.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
6.04
- Max
- 13.55
- Q3
- 6.81
- DE
- 6.04
- Median
- 3.86
- Q1
- 2.14
- Min
- -2.32
FAST
Capital Goods industry group
13.55
- FAST
- 13.55
- Max
- 13.55
- Q3
- 6.81
- Median
- 3.86
- Q1
- 2.14
- Min
- -2.32
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 34.72 | 41.68 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.50 | 6.40 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.04 | 13.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.66% | 1.67% |