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FAST vs. FLS: Fastenal vs. Flowserve Stock Comparison

How do Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
Profile ItemFASTFLS
NameFastenal Co.Flowserve Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization60.80 billion USD10.19 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 20, 1987March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FAST
FLS
GSPC
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS), 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 Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
MetricFASTFLS
Total Return (1Y)36.82%24.11%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.71%33.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.98%22.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FAST
FLS
GSPC
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS), 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 Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
MetricFASTFLS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.55%42.18%
Beta (5Y)0.641.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.71%-38.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.21M1.61M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FAST and FLS 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 Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
MetricFASTFLS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.330.47
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.000.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Flowserve (FLS) at 11.61% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FAST.

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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

11.61%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
FLS
11.61%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): 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 Flowserve (FLS) at 5.42%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

5.42%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
FLS
5.42%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): 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 Flowserve (FLS) at 13.45%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

13.45%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
FLS
13.45%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
MetricFASTFLS
ROE (TTM)35.26%11.61%
ROA (TTM)21.97%6.36%
Net Margin (TTM)15.62%5.42%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.55%13.45%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.61%35.30%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% and Flowserve (FLS) at 3.76% 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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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% and Flowserve (FLS) at 23.36% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
MetricFASTFLS
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.67%3.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.52%9.37%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.00%23.36%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.87%22.39%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Flowserve (FLS) at 2.10 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.

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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

2.10

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
FLS
2.10
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): 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 Flowserve (FLS) at 0.95 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

0.95

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
FLS
0.95
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
MetricFASTFLS
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.932.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.110.95
Net Debt / EBITDA0.122.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Flowserve (FLS) at 1.11% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FAST the richer one.

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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

1.11%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
FLS
1.11%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and FAST more so: Flowserve (FLS) at 43.50% sits above the band, while Fastenal (FAST) at 78.05% exceeds every peer in its group.

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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

43.50%

Max
67.39%
FLS
43.50%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
MetricFASTFLS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.81%1.11%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)78.05%43.50%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 43.08 and Flowserve (FLS) at 40.19 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.

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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

40.19

Max
59.38
FLS
40.19
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Flowserve (FLS) at 2.17 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.

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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

2.17

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
FLS
2.17
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Flowserve (FLS) at 4.40 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.

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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

4.40

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
FLS
4.40
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Flowserve (FLS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Flowserve (FLS)
MetricFASTFLS
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.0840.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.702.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)14.654.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.51%3.62%