FAST vs. RKLB: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at FAST and RKLB, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | FAST | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Fastenal Company | Rocket Lab Corporation |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Trading Companies & Distributors | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Capitalization | 55.89 billion USD | 23.22 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NasdaqCM |
| Listing Date | August 20, 1987 | November 24, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of FAST and RKLB 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.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -0.27% | 2.87% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 11.34% | 39.73% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 22.77% | 160.42% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 33.63% | 393.01% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -2.69% | 0.13% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 32.74% | 88.34% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 6.43M | 23.20M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 6.01M | 22.98M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 21.38% | 73.87% |
| Beta | 0.91 | 2.18 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
FAST
32.33%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 32.99%
- Q3
- 19.66%
- Median
- 13.72%
- Q1
- 9.74%
- Min
- -0.34%
In the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, FAST’s Return on Equity of 32.33% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
RKLB
-48.14%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 37.11%
- Q3
- 20.14%
- Median
- 11.72%
- Q1
- 6.30%
- Min
- -6.24%
RKLB has a negative Return on Equity of -48.14%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
FAST
15.30%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 16.11%
- Q3
- 9.48%
- Median
- 5.89%
- Q1
- 3.68%
- Min
- -1.09%
A Net Profit Margin of 15.30% places FAST in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
RKLB
-45.87%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 13.66%
- Q3
- 8.61%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- 4.92%
- Min
- 1.01%
RKLB has a negative Net Profit Margin of -45.87%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
FAST
20.10%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 26.26%
- Q3
- 14.59%
- Median
- 7.05%
- Q1
- 4.94%
- Min
- -8.06%
An Operating Profit Margin of 20.10% places FAST in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
RKLB
-44.08%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 22.35%
- Q3
- 12.83%
- Median
- 9.29%
- Q1
- 6.38%
- Min
- -2.15%
RKLB has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -44.08%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 32.33% | -48.14% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 24.62% | -17.98% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.30% | -45.87% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 20.10% | -44.08% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 45.06% | 29.04% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
FAST
4.22
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 3.32
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 1.41
- Min
- 0.26
FAST’s Current Ratio of 4.22 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors 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.
RKLB
2.67
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 3.35
- Q3
- 2.03
- Median
- 1.24
- Q1
- 1.04
- Min
- 0.77
RKLB’s Current Ratio of 2.67 is in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
FAST
0.06
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.93
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.61
- Min
- 0.01
Falling into the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, FAST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.06 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
RKLB
0.63
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 1.72
- Q3
- 0.96
- Median
- 0.63
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.03
RKLB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.63 is typical for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
FAST
794.74
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 15.13
- Q3
- 7.93
- Median
- 5.67
- Q1
- 2.04
- Min
- -1.67
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 794.74, FAST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
RKLB
-45.87
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 36.57
- Q3
- 19.08
- Median
- 7.25
- Q1
- 2.65
- Min
- -7.63
RKLB has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -45.87. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 4.22 | 2.67 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 2.10 | 2.21 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.06 | 0.63 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 794.74 | -45.87 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
FAST
1.71%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 5.25%
- Q3
- 2.95%
- Median
- 2.06%
- Q1
- 1.11%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST’s Dividend Yield of 1.71% is consistent with its peers in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
RKLB
0.00%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 2.72%
- Q3
- 1.45%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.08%
- Min
- 0.00%
RKLB currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
FAST
79.54%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 136.12%
- Q3
- 71.34%
- Median
- 47.49%
- Q1
- 22.56%
- Min
- 0.00%
FAST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 79.54% is in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors 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.
RKLB
0.00%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 110.40%
- Q3
- 50.43%
- Median
- 17.11%
- Q1
- 0.46%
- Min
- 0.00%
RKLB has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | FAST | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.71% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 79.54% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
FAST
46.40
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 42.69
- Q3
- 25.21
- Median
- 16.99
- Q1
- 13.13
- Min
- 5.35
At 46.40, FAST’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
RKLB
--
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 67.20
- Q3
- 55.74
- Median
- 33.28
- Q1
- 27.49
- Min
- 15.02
P/E Ratio data for RKLB is currently unavailable.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
FAST
7.10
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 4.90
- Q3
- 2.71
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.30
With a P/S Ratio of 7.10, FAST trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
RKLB
46.04
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 9.06
- Q3
- 4.87
- Median
- 2.47
- Q1
- 1.61
- Min
- 0.33
With a P/S Ratio of 46.04, RKLB trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Aerospace & Defense industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
FAST
12.66
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 7.55
- Q3
- 4.63
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.31
At 12.66, FAST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Trading Companies & Distributors 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.
RKLB
23.97
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 14.90
- Q3
- 8.93
- Median
- 4.70
- Q1
- 3.03
- Min
- 0.83
At 23.97, RKLB’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Aerospace & Defense 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 | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 46.40 | -- |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 7.10 | 46.04 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 12.66 | 23.97 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 63.00 | -- |