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 | 181.09 billion USD | 60.80 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
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 49.27% | 36.82% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 24.81% | 25.71% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 15.67% | 15.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.18% | 24.55% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.88 | 0.64 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -33.81% | -30.71% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.23M | 7.21M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.36 | 1.33 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.26 | 2.00 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Deere (DE) at 18.24% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FAST.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
18.24%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- DE
- 18.24%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Fastenal (FAST) at 15.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Deere (DE) at 10.17%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
10.17%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- DE
- 10.17%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Fastenal (FAST) at 21.55% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Deere (DE) at 13.37%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
13.37%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- DE
- 13.37%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.24% | 35.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.76% | 21.97% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.17% | 15.62% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 13.37% | 21.55% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 25.18% | 44.61% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Deere (DE) at -11.59% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Deere (DE) at -27.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -11.59% | 8.67% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.50% | 5.52% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -27.79% | 9.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.37% | 4.87% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Deere (DE) at 2.13 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.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
2.13
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- DE
- 2.13
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Fastenal (FAST) at 0.11 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Deere (DE) at 2.30 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
2.30
- Max
- 2.33
- DE
- 2.30
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.13 | 3.93 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.30 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 6.70 | 0.12 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Deere (DE) at 0.98% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FAST the richer one.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
0.98%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- DE
- 0.98%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and FAST more so: Deere (DE) at 36.02% sits above the band, while Fastenal (FAST) at 78.05% exceeds every peer in its group.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
36.02%
- Max
- 67.39%
- DE
- 36.02%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.98% | 1.81% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.02% | 78.05% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Deere (DE) at 37.33 and Fastenal (FAST) at 43.08 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
37.33
- Max
- 59.38
- DE
- 37.33
- Q3
- 35.92
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Deere (DE) at 3.78 and Fastenal (FAST) at 6.70 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
3.78
- Max
- 7.54
- DE
- 3.78
- Q3
- 3.76
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Deere (DE) at 6.47 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Fastenal (FAST) at 14.65 prices even higher, above its industry range.
DE
Capital Goods industry group
6.47
- Max
- 9.66
- DE
- 6.47
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DE | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 37.33 | 43.08 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.78 | 6.70 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.47 | 14.65 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.49% | 1.51% |