EMR vs. FAST: Emerson Electric vs. Fastenal Stock Comparison
How do Emerson Electric (EMR) 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
Emerson Electric (EMR) and Fastenal (FAST) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but EMR is classified in Electrical Equipment while FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.
| Profile Item | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Emerson Electric Co. | Fastenal Co. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Electrical Equipment | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electrical Components & Equipment | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| Market Capitalization | 90.56 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 | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 34.39% | 36.82% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 28.46% | 25.71% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.17% | 15.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.47% | 24.55% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.20 | 0.64 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.61% | -30.71% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.61M | 7.21M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.93 | 1.33 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.37 | 2.00 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Emerson Electric (EMR) at 13.12% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FAST.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
13.12%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- EMR
- 13.12%
- 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)
For every dollar of sales, both Emerson Electric (EMR) at 14.18% and Fastenal (FAST) at 15.62% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
14.18%
- Max
- 27.47%
- EMR
- 14.18%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Emerson Electric (EMR) at 25.90% 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.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
25.90%
- Max
- 36.60%
- EMR
- 25.90%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 13.12% | 35.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.98% | 21.97% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.18% | 15.62% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 25.90% | 21.55% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 53.36% | 44.61% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: Fastenal (FAST) reports revenue growth of 8.67%, ranked against its industry; Emerson Electric (EMR) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Both Emerson Electric (EMR) at 18.56% and Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -- | 8.67% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 5.52% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 18.56% | 9.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -40.62% | 4.87% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Fastenal (FAST) at 3.93 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Emerson Electric (EMR) at 0.94 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
0.94
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- EMR
- 0.94
- 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 industry quartile, while Emerson Electric (EMR) at 0.59 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
0.59
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- EMR
- 0.59
- 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 | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.94 | 3.93 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.59 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.89 | 0.12 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Emerson Electric (EMR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Fastenal (FAST) reports a yield of 1.81%, ranking against industry peers normally.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- EMR
- 0.00%
- 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: Emerson Electric (EMR) at 48.51% sits above the band, while Fastenal (FAST) at 78.05% exceeds every peer in its group.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
48.51%
- Max
- 67.39%
- EMR
- 48.51%
- 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 | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.81% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 48.51% | 78.05% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Emerson Electric (EMR) at 33.89 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.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
33.89
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- EMR
- 33.89
- 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 Emerson Electric (EMR) at 4.77 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.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
4.77
- Max
- 7.54
- EMR
- 4.77
- 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)
Emerson Electric (EMR) at 4.38 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.
EMR
Capital Goods industry group
4.38
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- EMR
- 4.38
- 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 | EMR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 33.89 | 43.08 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.77 | 6.70 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.38 | 14.65 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.85% | 1.51% |