ESLT vs. FAST: Elbit Systems vs. Fastenal Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but ESLT is classified in Aerospace & Defense while FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Profile Item	ESLT	FAST
Name	Elbit Systems Ltd.	Fastenal Co.
Country/Region	Israel	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	32.00 billion USD	60.80 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 27, 1996	August 20, 1987
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ESLT

FAST

GSPC

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	ESLT	FAST
Total Return (1Y)	55.34%	36.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	57.29%	25.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	37.24%	15.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ESLT

FAST

GSPC

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Fastenal (FAST) trades around 7.21M shares per day on average, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) sees only 88.09K — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.

Risk profile metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	ESLT	FAST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	47.34%	24.55%
Beta (5Y)	0.10	0.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-35.54%	-30.71%
Avg. Volume (3M)	88.09K	7.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ESLT 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	ESLT	FAST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.08	1.33
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.76	2.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 15.24% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FAST.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

15.24%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
ESLT: 15.24%
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%

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 15.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 7.44%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

7.44%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
ESLT: 7.44%
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%

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 21.55% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 9.57%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

9.57%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
ESLT: 9.57%
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%

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	ESLT	FAST
ROE (TTM)	15.24%	35.26%
ROA (TTM)	3.87%	21.97%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.44%	15.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.57%	21.55%
Gross Margin (TTM)	25.03%	44.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 16.27% 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.

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 58.64% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for ESLT.

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	ESLT	FAST
Revenue Growth (YoY)	16.27%	8.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	12.93%	5.52%
EPS Growth (YoY)	58.64%	9.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	22.61%	4.87%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) at 3.93 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 1.40 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

1.40

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
ESLT: 1.40
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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 0.19 and Fastenal (FAST) at 0.11 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

0.19

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
ESLT: 0.19
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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	ESLT	FAST
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.40	3.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.19	0.11
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.11	0.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 0.58% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FAST the richer one.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

0.58%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
ESLT: 0.58%
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%

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 23.33% 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.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

23.33%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
ESLT: 23.33%
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%

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	ESLT	FAST
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.58%	1.81%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	23.33%	78.05%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 51.36 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.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

51.36

Max: 59.38
ESLT: 51.36
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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 3.74 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.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

3.74

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
ESLT: 3.74
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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 7.24 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Fastenal (FAST) at 14.65 prices even higher, above its industry range.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

7.24

Max: 9.66
ESLT: 7.24
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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Fastenal (FAST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Fastenal (FAST)
Metric	ESLT	FAST
P/E Ratio (TTM)	51.36	43.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.74	6.70
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.24	14.65
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-0.12%	1.51%