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FAST vs. QXO: Fastenal vs. QXO Stock Comparison

How do Fastenal (FAST) and QXO (QXO) 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 QXO (QXO) are both classified in the Trading Companies & Distributors sub-industry within the broader Trading Companies & Distributors industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Fastenal (FAST) and QXO (QXO)
Profile ItemFASTQXO
NameFastenal Co.QXO Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization60.80 billion USD11.99 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 20, 1987April 17, 2012
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FAST
QXO
GSPC
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO), 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 QXO (QXO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and QXO (QXO)
MetricFASTQXO
Total Return (1Y)36.82%-19.11%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.71%-16.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.98%-17.91%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

QXO (QXO) has a highly aggressive beta of 2.28, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Fastenal (FAST) is defensive at 0.64 and tends to be less market-sensitive — a wide gap in beta profiles.

Risk profile metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and QXO (QXO)
MetricFASTQXO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.55%68.10%
Beta (5Y)0.642.28
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.71%-95.70%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.21M19.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FAST and QXO 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 QXO (QXO)
MetricFASTQXO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.33-0.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.00-0.55

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

QXO (QXO) reports a negative ROE of -4.60%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Fastenal (FAST) reports 35.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

-4.60%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
QXO
-4.60%
Min
-17.12%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

QXO (QXO) reports a negative net margin of -5.17%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Fastenal (FAST) reports 15.62%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

-5.17%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
QXO
-5.17%
Min
-12.89%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 21.55% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while QXO (QXO) at 1.29% operates in the bottom quartile.

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%

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

1.29%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
QXO
1.29%
Min
-12.63%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and QXO (QXO)
MetricFASTQXO
ROE (TTM)35.26%-4.60%
ROA (TTM)21.97%-0.27%
Net Margin (TTM)15.62%-5.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.55%1.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.61%24.54%

Growth

Revenue Growth

QXO (QXO) at 11,924.96% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): 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 QXO (QXO) at -672.73% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and QXO (QXO)
MetricFASTQXO
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.67%11,924.96%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.52%433.80%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.00%-672.73%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.87%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 3.93 and QXO (QXO) at 4.12 post current ratio above their industries’ typical mid-ranges — short-term liquidity appears comfortable, though unusually high readings can point to idle current assets.

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

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

4.12

Max
5.22
QXO
4.12
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): 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 QXO (QXO) at 0.57 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

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

0.57

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
QXO
0.57
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): 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 QXO (QXO)
MetricFASTQXO
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.934.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.110.57
Net Debt / EBITDA0.127.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

QXO (QXO) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Fastenal (FAST) reports a yield of 1.81%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
QXO
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

QXO (QXO) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Fastenal (FAST) reports a payout of 78.05%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
QXO
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and QXO (QXO)
MetricFASTQXO
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.81%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)78.05%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Fastenal (FAST) trades at 43.08 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while QXO (QXO) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

--

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
QXO
--
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): QXO does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; FAST is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

QXO (QXO) at 1.21 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

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

1.21

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
QXO
1.21
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

QXO (QXO) at 0.90 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Fastenal (FAST) at 14.65 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

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

QXO

Capital Goods industry group

0.90

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
QXO
0.90
Min
-1.08
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. QXO (QXO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and QXO (QXO)
MetricFASTQXO
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.08--
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.701.21
P/B Ratio (MRQ)14.650.90
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.51%-21.23%