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DOV vs. FAST: Dover vs. Fastenal Stock Comparison

How do Dover (DOV) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
Profile ItemDOVFAST
NameDover CorporationFastenal Co.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization27.11 billion USD60.80 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980August 20, 1987
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DOV
FAST
GSPC
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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricDOVFAST
Total Return (1Y)18.59%36.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.73%25.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.12%15.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricDOVFAST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.76%24.55%
Beta (5Y)1.080.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.56%-30.71%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.21M7.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DOV 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 Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricDOVFAST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.561.33
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.812.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Dover (DOV) at 15.20% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FAST.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

15.20%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
DOV
15.20%
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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Dover (DOV) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Dover (DOV) at 13.60% and Fastenal (FAST) at 15.62% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

13.60%

Max
27.47%
DOV
13.60%
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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Dover (DOV) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Dover (DOV) at 19.66% 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.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

19.66%

Max
36.60%
DOV
19.66%
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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Dover (DOV) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricDOVFAST
ROE (TTM)15.20%35.26%
ROA (TTM)7.23%21.97%
Net Margin (TTM)13.60%15.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.66%21.55%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.23%44.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Dover (DOV) at 4.48% 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.

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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) at -59.18% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricDOVFAST
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.48%8.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.04%5.52%
EPS Growth (YoY)-59.18%9.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.28%4.87%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Dover (DOV) at 1.95 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.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

1.95

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
DOV
1.95
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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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) at 0.43 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

0.43

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
DOV
0.43
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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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricDOVFAST
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.953.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.430.11
Net Debt / EBITDA0.800.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Dover (DOV) at 1.03% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FAST the richer one.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

1.03%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
DOV
1.03%
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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Dover (DOV) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Dover (DOV) at 24.33% 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.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

24.33%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
DOV
24.33%
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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Dover (DOV) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricDOVFAST
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.03%1.81%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)24.33%78.05%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Dover (DOV) at 23.79 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.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

23.79

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
DOV
23.79
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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Dover (DOV) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dover (DOV) at 3.16 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.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

3.16

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
DOV
3.16
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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Dover (DOV) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Dover (DOV) at 3.55 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.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

3.55

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
DOV
3.55
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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Dover (DOV) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Dover (DOV) and Fastenal (FAST)
MetricDOVFAST
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.7943.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.166.70
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.5514.65
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.18%1.51%