FAST vs. ITW: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at FAST and ITW, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
ITW’s market capitalization of 75.74 billion USD is significantly greater than FAST’s 49.48 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
With betas of 0.97 for FAST and 1.12 for ITW, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | FAST | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Fastenal Company | Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Industrial - Distribution | Industrial - Machinery |
| CEO | Daniel L. Florness | Christopher A. O'Herlihy |
| Price | 43.13 USD | 258.5 USD |
| Market Cap | 49.48 billion USD | 75.74 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.97 | 1.12 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | August 20, 1987 | March 13, 1973 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of FAST and ITW 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.
Profitability
Return on Equity
FAST
31.99%
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 31.99%
- Q3
- 26.73%
- Median
- 19.92%
- Q1
- 10.89%
- Min
- -9.35%
In the upper quartile for the Industrial - Distribution industry, FAST’s Return on Equity of 31.99% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
ITW
104.39%
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 36.51%
- Q3
- 18.65%
- Median
- 12.08%
- Q1
- 4.75%
- Min
- -15.57%
ITW’s Return on Equity of 104.39% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Industrial - Machinery industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Return on Invested Capital
FAST
27.06%
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 30.61%
- Q3
- 16.52%
- Median
- 12.03%
- Q1
- 6.68%
- Min
- -1.11%
In the upper quartile for the Industrial - Distribution industry, FAST’s Return on Invested Capital of 27.06% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
ITW
25.61%
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 22.35%
- Q3
- 12.64%
- Median
- 9.33%
- Q1
- 5.32%
- Min
- -5.42%
ITW’s Return on Invested Capital of 25.61% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Industrial - Machinery industry. This demonstrates an outstanding ability to deploy capital efficiently and create significant value.
Net Profit Margin
FAST
15.13%
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 11.08%
- Q3
- 7.38%
- Median
- 5.32%
- Q1
- 3.79%
- Min
- 0.06%
FAST’s Net Profit Margin of 15.13% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Industrial - Distribution industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
ITW
21.37%
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 28.85%
- Q3
- 15.25%
- Median
- 10.02%
- Q1
- 5.33%
- Min
- -8.75%
A Net Profit Margin of 21.37% places ITW in the upper quartile for the Industrial - Machinery industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin
FAST
19.89%
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 15.31%
- Q3
- 10.56%
- Median
- 8.43%
- Q1
- 5.85%
- Min
- -0.91%
FAST’s Operating Profit Margin of 19.89% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Industrial - Distribution industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.
ITW
25.93%
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 28.19%
- Q3
- 19.04%
- Median
- 14.62%
- Q1
- 8.13%
- Min
- -5.76%
An Operating Profit Margin of 25.93% places ITW in the upper quartile for the Industrial - Machinery industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 31.99% | 104.39% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 23.64% | 21.78% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 27.06% | 25.61% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.13% | 21.37% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 19.89% | 25.93% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 44.99% | 43.55% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
FAST
4.28
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 3.57
- Q3
- 2.74
- Median
- 2.29
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- 1.33
FAST’s Current Ratio of 4.28 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Industrial - Distribution 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.
ITW
1.60
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 4.18
- Q3
- 2.75
- Median
- 2.07
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.46
ITW’s Current Ratio of 1.60 aligns with the median group of the Industrial - Machinery industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
FAST
0.13
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.26
- Median
- 0.77
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.13
Falling into the lower quartile for the Industrial - Distribution industry, FAST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.13 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
ITW
2.55
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 1.46
- Q3
- 0.73
- Median
- 0.48
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.55, ITW operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Industrial - Machinery industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio
FAST
216.24
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 34.29
- Q3
- 28.91
- Median
- 12.63
- Q1
- 3.84
- Min
- -0.41
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 216.24, FAST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Industrial - Distribution industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
ITW
14.60
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 28.91
- Q3
- 14.99
- Median
- 9.11
- Q1
- 3.95
- Min
- -11.30
ITW’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 14.60 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Industrial - Machinery industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 4.28 | 1.60 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 2.14 | 1.16 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.13 | 2.55 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.10 | 0.53 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 0.16 | 1.51 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 216.24 | 14.60 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for FAST and ITW. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
FAST
2.88%
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 3.95%
- Q3
- 2.10%
- Median
- 0.82%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.88%, FAST offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Industrial - Distribution industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
ITW
2.32%
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 4.40%
- Q3
- 1.47%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.32%, ITW offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Industrial - Machinery industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio
FAST
79.61%
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 88.24%
- Q3
- 56.62%
- Median
- 19.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 79.61% is in the upper quartile for the Industrial - Distribution 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.
ITW
50.96%
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 78.48%
- Q3
- 36.22%
- Median
- 20.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ITW’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 50.96% is in the upper quartile for the Industrial - Machinery 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.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 2.32% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 79.61% | 50.96% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
FAST
42.96
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 53.67
- Q3
- 39.13
- Median
- 26.86
- Q1
- 22.49
- Min
- 12.77
A P/E Ratio of 42.96 places FAST in the upper quartile for the Industrial - Distribution industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
ITW
22.53
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 47.62
- Q3
- 34.41
- Median
- 27.36
- Q1
- 21.62
- Min
- 10.96
ITW’s P/E Ratio of 22.53 is within the middle range for the Industrial - Machinery industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
FAST
5.01
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 4.88
- Q3
- 3.36
- Median
- 2.85
- Q1
- 1.53
- Min
- 0.12
FAST’s Forward PEG Ratio of 5.01 is exceptionally high for the Industrial - Distribution industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.
ITW
3.97
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 6.15
- Q3
- 3.53
- Median
- 2.82
- Q1
- 1.71
- Min
- 0.09
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Industrial - Machinery industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
FAST
6.50
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 2.87
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.42
- Q1
- 0.77
- Min
- 0.17
With a P/S Ratio of 6.50, FAST trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Industrial - Distribution industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
ITW
4.80
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 8.37
- Q3
- 4.59
- Median
- 3.34
- Q1
- 1.83
- Min
- 0.32
ITW’s P/S Ratio of 4.80 is in the upper echelon for the Industrial - Machinery industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio
FAST
13.41
Industrial - Distribution Industry
- Max
- 13.04
- Q3
- 7.19
- Median
- 3.64
- Q1
- 2.91
- Min
- 0.74
At 13.41, FAST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Industrial - Distribution 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.
ITW
23.42
Industrial - Machinery Industry
- Max
- 7.49
- Q3
- 5.01
- Median
- 3.41
- Q1
- 2.45
- Min
- 0.01
At 23.42, ITW’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Industrial - Machinery 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 | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 42.96 | 22.53 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 5.01 | 3.97 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 6.50 | 4.80 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 13.41 | 23.42 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 56.97 | 26.61 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 29.36 | 16.94 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 6.54 | 5.27 |