FAST vs. GE: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at FAST and GE, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | FAST | GE |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Fastenal Company | GE Aerospace |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Trading Companies & Distributors | Industrial Conglomerates |
| Market Capitalization | 54.95 billion USD | 314.95 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 20, 1987 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of FAST and GE by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | GE |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -2.03% | 1.15% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 11.01% | 20.30% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 23.50% | 48.39% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 34.16% | 59.30% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -2.37% | -1.27% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 33.19% | 78.07% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 5.54M | 3.87M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 6.03M | 5.68M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 21.13% | 21.08% |
| Beta | 0.91 | 1.44 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
FAST
32.33%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 32.99%
- Q3
- 19.66%
- Median
- 13.72%
- Q1
- 9.74%
- Min
- -0.34%
In the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, FAST’s Return on Equity of 32.33% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
GE
40.51%
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 21.93%
- Q3
- 13.64%
- Median
- 9.41%
- Q1
- 5.80%
- Min
- -3.73%
GE’s Return on Equity of 40.51% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
FAST
15.30%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 16.11%
- Q3
- 9.48%
- Median
- 5.89%
- Q1
- 3.68%
- Min
- -1.09%
A Net Profit Margin of 15.30% places FAST in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
GE
18.64%
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 26.43%
- Q3
- 13.08%
- Median
- 9.39%
- Q1
- 3.21%
- Min
- -2.43%
A Net Profit Margin of 18.64% places GE in the upper quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
FAST
20.10%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 26.26%
- Q3
- 14.59%
- Median
- 7.05%
- Q1
- 4.94%
- Min
- -8.06%
An Operating Profit Margin of 20.10% places FAST in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
GE
15.53%
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 27.02%
- Q3
- 17.23%
- Median
- 12.90%
- Q1
- 8.32%
- Min
- -3.91%
GE’s Operating Profit Margin of 15.53% is around the midpoint for the Industrial Conglomerates industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | GE |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 32.33% | 40.51% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 24.62% | 6.22% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.30% | 18.64% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 20.10% | 15.53% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 45.06% | 35.97% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
FAST
4.22
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 3.32
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 1.41
- Min
- 0.26
FAST’s Current Ratio of 4.22 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
GE
1.04
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 2.40
- Q3
- 1.69
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 1.14
- Min
- 0.56
GE’s Current Ratio of 1.04 falls into the lower quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
FAST
0.06
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.93
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.61
- Min
- 0.01
Falling into the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, FAST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.06 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
GE
0.99
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 2.27
- Q3
- 1.49
- Median
- 0.91
- Q1
- 0.63
- Min
- 0.24
GE’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.99 is typical for the Industrial Conglomerates industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
FAST
794.74
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 15.13
- Q3
- 7.93
- Median
- 5.67
- Q1
- 2.04
- Min
- -1.67
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 794.74, FAST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
GE
5.01
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 19.80
- Q3
- 10.68
- Median
- 4.59
- Q1
- 2.73
- Min
- -2.15
GE’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.01 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Industrial Conglomerates industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | GE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 4.22 | 1.04 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 2.10 | 0.73 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.06 | 0.99 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 794.74 | 5.01 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
FAST
1.71%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 5.25%
- Q3
- 2.95%
- Median
- 2.06%
- Q1
- 1.11%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST’s Dividend Yield of 1.71% is consistent with its peers in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
GE
0.41%
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 9.82%
- Q3
- 5.04%
- Median
- 3.09%
- Q1
- 1.67%
- Min
- 0.00%
GE’s Dividend Yield of 0.41% is in the lower quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
FAST
79.54%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 136.12%
- Q3
- 71.34%
- Median
- 47.49%
- Q1
- 22.56%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 79.54% is in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
GE
16.78%
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 182.48%
- Q3
- 97.89%
- Median
- 55.48%
- Q1
- 31.63%
- Min
- 1.76%
GE’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 16.78% is in the lower quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | GE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.71% | 0.41% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 79.54% | 16.78% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
FAST
46.54
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 42.69
- Q3
- 25.21
- Median
- 16.99
- Q1
- 13.13
- Min
- 5.35
At 46.54, FAST’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
GE
40.84
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 45.17
- Q3
- 25.68
- Median
- 15.16
- Q1
- 8.58
- Min
- 0.79
A P/E Ratio of 40.84 places GE in the upper quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
FAST
7.12
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 4.90
- Q3
- 2.71
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.30
With a P/S Ratio of 7.12, FAST trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
GE
7.61
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 4.18
- Q3
- 2.15
- Median
- 0.69
- Q1
- 0.41
- Min
- 0.09
With a P/S Ratio of 7.61, GE trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
FAST
12.66
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 7.55
- Q3
- 4.63
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.31
At 12.66, FAST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
GE
14.26
Industrial Conglomerates Industry
- Max
- 5.44
- Q3
- 2.68
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.04
At 14.26, GE’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | GE |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 46.54 | 40.84 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 7.12 | 7.61 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 12.66 | 14.26 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 63.19 | 57.67 |