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FAST vs. GEV: Fastenal vs. GE Vernova Stock Comparison

How do Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV) 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 GE Vernova (GEV) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while GEV is classified in Electrical Equipment.

Fastenal (FAST) carries decades of public-market history since August 20, 1987, while GE Vernova (GEV) listed on March 27, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the FAST side.

Company profile comparison for Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV)
Profile ItemFASTGEV
NameFastenal Co.GE Vernova Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsElectrical Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsHeavy Electrical Equipment
Market Capitalization54.07 billion USD280.86 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 20, 1987March 27, 2024
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FAST
GEV
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): 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 GE Vernova (GEV). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricFASTGEV
Total Return (1Y)16.43%106.78%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FAST
GEV
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricFASTGEV
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.12%50.84%
Beta (5Y)0.710.99
Avg. Volume (3M)7.16M2.71M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FAST and GEV 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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but GE Vernova (GEV) at 75.71% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Fastenal (FAST) at 33.84% also sits in the top quartile.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

33.84%

Max
45.43%
FAST
33.84%
Q3
20.07%
Median
11.35%
Q1
3.04%
Min
-19.79%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

75.71%

GEV
75.71%
Max
45.43%
Q3
20.07%
Median
11.35%
Q1
3.04%
Min
-19.79%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Fastenal (FAST) at 15.39% and GE Vernova (GEV) at 23.81% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

15.39%

Max
24.69%
FAST
15.39%
Q3
11.56%
Median
5.93%
Q1
0.85%
Min
-13.94%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

23.81%

Max
24.69%
GEV
23.81%
Q3
11.56%
Median
5.93%
Q1
0.85%
Min
-13.94%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 20.33% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of GE Vernova (GEV) at 5.46%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

20.33%

Max
29.84%
FAST
20.33%
Q3
15.92%
Median
8.27%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-17.50%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

5.46%

Max
29.84%
Q3
15.92%
Median
8.27%
GEV
5.46%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-17.50%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricFASTGEV
ROE (TTM)33.84%75.71%
ROA (TTM)21.20%2.38%
Net Margin (TTM)15.39%23.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.33%5.46%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.89%20.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricFASTGEV
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.67%8.97%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.52%8.68%

EPS Growth

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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricFASTGEV
EPS Growth (YoY)9.00%217.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.87%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) at 4.39 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.89 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

4.39

Max
5.24
FAST
4.39
Q3
2.97
Median
2.11
Q1
1.45
Min
0.71

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

0.89

Max
5.24
Q3
2.97
Median
2.11
Q1
1.45
GEV
0.89
Min
0.71
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 0.11 and GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.25 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

0.11

Max
2.29
Q3
1.08
Median
0.62
Q1
0.28
FAST
0.11
Min
0.00

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

0.25

Max
2.29
Q3
1.08
Median
0.62
Q1
0.28
GEV
0.25
Min
0.00
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): 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 GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricFASTGEV
Current Ratio (MRQ)4.390.89
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.110.25
Net Debt / EBITDA0.07-1.76

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 1.92% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.14% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FAST the richer one.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

1.92%

Max
2.34%
FAST
1.92%
Q3
1.00%
Median
0.15%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

0.14%

Max
2.34%
Q3
1.00%
Median
0.15%
GEV
0.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GE Vernova (GEV) at 5.11% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Fastenal (FAST) at 79.65% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

79.65%

FAST
79.65%
Max
72.02%
Q3
29.56%
Median
6.41%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

5.11%

Max
72.02%
Q3
29.56%
Median
6.41%
GEV
5.11%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricFASTGEV
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.92%0.14%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)79.65%5.11%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 41.68 and GE Vernova (GEV) at 30.58 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

41.68

Max
89.28
Q3
51.81
FAST
41.68
Median
33.98
Q1
23.50
Min
6.12

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

30.58

Max
89.28
Q3
51.81
Median
33.98
GEV
30.58
Q1
23.50
Min
6.12
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 6.40 and GE Vernova (GEV) at 7.13 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

6.40

Max
9.89
FAST
6.40
Q3
4.89
Median
2.76
Q1
1.29
Min
0.04

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

7.13

Max
9.89
GEV
7.13
Q3
4.89
Median
2.76
Q1
1.29
Min
0.04
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Fastenal (FAST) at 13.55 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and GE Vernova (GEV) at 20.17 prices even higher, above its industry range.

FAST

Capital Goods industry group

13.55

FAST
13.55
Max
13.55
Q3
6.81
Median
3.86
Q1
2.14
Min
-2.32

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

20.17

GEV
20.17
Max
13.55
Q3
6.81
Median
3.86
Q1
2.14
Min
-2.32
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricFASTGEV
P/E Ratio (TTM)41.6830.58
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.407.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)13.5520.17
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.67%3.32%