FAST vs. HON: Fastenal vs. Honeywell Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Fastenal (FAST) and Honeywell (HON) 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 Honeywell (HON) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while HON is classified in Industrial Conglomerates.

Company profile comparison for Fastenal (FAST) and Honeywell (HON)
Profile Item	FAST	HON
Name	Fastenal Co.	Honeywell International Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Industrial Conglomerates
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Industrial Conglomerates
Market Capitalization	60.80 billion USD	69.74 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	August 20, 1987	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FAST

HON

GSPC

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Honeywell (HON), 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 Honeywell (HON). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Honeywell (HON)
Metric	FAST	HON
Total Return (1Y)	36.82%	14.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	25.71%	9.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	15.98%	2.32%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FAST

HON

GSPC

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Honeywell (HON), 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 Honeywell (HON). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Honeywell (HON)
Metric	FAST	HON
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.55%	27.11%
Beta (5Y)	0.64	0.80
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-30.71%	-25.21%
Avg. Volume (3M)	7.21M	2.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FAST and HON 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 Honeywell (HON)
Metric	FAST	HON
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.33	0.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.00	0.52

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Honeywell (HON) at 44.39% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

44.39%

HON: 44.39%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Fastenal (FAST) at 15.62% and Honeywell (HON) at 18.68% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

18.68%

Max: 27.47%
HON: 18.68%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Honeywell (HON): 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 Honeywell (HON) at 16.92%, 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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

16.92%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
HON: 16.92%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Honeywell (HON)
Metric	FAST	HON
ROE (TTM)	35.26%	44.39%
ROA (TTM)	21.97%	7.13%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.62%	18.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.55%	16.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.61%	37.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% and Honeywell (HON) at 7.85% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Honeywell (HON): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% and Honeywell (HON) at -8.27% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Honeywell (HON)
Metric	FAST	HON
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.67%	7.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.52%	1.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.00%	-8.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.87%	3.20%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) at 3.93 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Honeywell (HON) at 0.96 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

0.96

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
HON: 0.96
Min: 0.36

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Honeywell (HON): 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 Honeywell (HON) at 0.76 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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

0.76

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
HON: 0.76
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Honeywell (HON): 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 Honeywell (HON)
Metric	FAST	HON
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.93	0.96
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.11	0.76
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.12	1.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Honeywell (HON) at 3.63% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

3.63%

HON: 3.63%
Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Honeywell (HON): 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: Honeywell (HON) at 38.87% 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%

HON

Capital Goods industry group

38.87%

Max: 67.39%
HON: 38.87%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Honeywell (HON)
Metric	FAST	HON
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.81%	3.63%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	78.05%	38.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Honeywell (HON) at 10.91 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Fastenal (FAST) at 43.08 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

10.91

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
HON: 10.91
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Honeywell (HON) at 1.85 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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

1.85

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
HON: 1.85
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Honeywell (HON) at 3.12 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

HON

Capital Goods industry group

3.12

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
HON: 3.12
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Honeywell (HON)
Metric	FAST	HON
P/E Ratio (TTM)	43.08	10.91
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.70	1.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	14.65	3.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.51%	10.07%