FAST vs. IR: Fastenal vs. Ingersoll Rand Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Fastenal (FAST) and Ingersoll Rand (IR) 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 Ingersoll Rand (IR) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while IR is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Fastenal (FAST) and Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Profile Item	FAST	IR
Name	Fastenal Co.	Ingersoll Rand Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	60.80 billion USD	31.87 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	August 20, 1987	May 12, 2017
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FAST

GSPC

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Ingersoll Rand (IR), 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 Ingersoll Rand (IR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Metric	FAST	IR
Total Return (1Y)	36.82%	12.39%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	25.71%	9.19%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	15.98%	8.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FAST

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Metric	FAST	IR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.55%	34.08%
Beta (5Y)	0.64	1.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-30.71%	-36.62%
Avg. Volume (3M)	7.21M	4.27M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FAST and IR 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 Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Metric	FAST	IR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.33	0.24
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.00	0.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 13.41% 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%

IR

Capital Goods industry group

13.41%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
IR: 13.41%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Ingersoll Rand (IR): 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 Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 17.20% 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%

IR

Capital Goods industry group

17.20%

Max: 27.47%
IR: 17.20%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Ingersoll Rand (IR): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 21.55% and Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 18.79% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

IR

Capital Goods industry group

18.79%

Max: 36.60%
IR: 18.79%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Metric	FAST	IR
ROE (TTM)	35.26%	13.41%
ROA (TTM)	21.97%	4.98%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.62%	17.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.55%	18.79%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.61%	42.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% and Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 5.75% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Ingersoll Rand (IR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Ingersoll Rand (IR) at -29.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Ingersoll Rand (IR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Metric	FAST	IR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.67%	5.75%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.52%	8.95%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.00%	-29.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.87%	-0.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 1.69 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

IR

Capital Goods industry group

1.69

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
IR: 1.69
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Ingersoll Rand (IR): 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 Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 0.46 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

IR

Capital Goods industry group

0.46

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
IR: 0.46
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Ingersoll Rand (IR): 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 Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Metric	FAST	IR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.93	1.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.11	0.46
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.12	1.76

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 0.10% 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%

IR

Capital Goods industry group

0.10%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
IR: 0.10%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Fastenal (FAST) vs. Ingersoll Rand (IR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 2.27% 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.

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%

IR

Capital Goods industry group

2.27%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
IR: 2.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Metric	FAST	IR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.81%	0.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	78.05%	2.27%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 23.51 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Fastenal (FAST) at 43.08 sits in the richer quartile — FAST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

IR

Capital Goods industry group

23.51

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
IR: 23.51
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 6.70 and Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 3.96 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

6.70

Max: 7.54
FAST: 6.70
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

IR

Capital Goods industry group

3.96

Max: 7.54
IR: 3.96
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ingersoll Rand (IR) at 3.03 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

IR

Capital Goods industry group

3.03

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
IR: 3.03
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Ingersoll Rand (IR)
Metric	FAST	IR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	43.08	23.51
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.70	3.96
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	14.65	3.03
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.51%	3.19%