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FAST vs. RTX: Fastenal vs. RTX Stock Comparison

How do Fastenal (FAST) and RTX (RTX) 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 RTX (RTX) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FAST is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while RTX is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Fastenal (FAST) and RTX (RTX)
Profile ItemFASTRTX
NameFastenal Co.RTX Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization60.80 billion USD255.76 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 20, 1987April 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and RTX (RTX)
MetricFASTRTX
Total Return (1Y)36.82%12.51%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.71%36.20%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.98%19.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and RTX (RTX)
MetricFASTRTX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.55%25.84%
Beta (5Y)0.640.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.71%-32.84%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.21M4.59M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FAST and RTX 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 RTX (RTX)
MetricFASTRTX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.330.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.000.48

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while RTX (RTX) at 12.85% 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%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

12.85%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
RTX
12.85%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 15.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of RTX (RTX) at 8.75%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

8.75%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
RTX
8.75%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): 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 RTX (RTX) at 15.54%, 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%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

15.54%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
RTX
15.54%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and RTX (RTX)
MetricFASTRTX
ROE (TTM)35.26%12.85%
ROA (TTM)21.97%4.56%
Net Margin (TTM)15.62%8.75%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.55%15.54%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.61%21.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% and RTX (RTX) at 9.74% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

RTX (RTX) at 39.72% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for RTX.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and RTX (RTX)
MetricFASTRTX
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.67%9.74%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.52%9.72%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.00%39.72%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.87%12.32%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) at 3.93 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while RTX (RTX) at 1.05 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

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

1.05

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
RTX
1.05
Min
0.36
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): 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 RTX (RTX) at 0.55 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

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

0.55

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
RTX
0.55
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): 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 RTX (RTX)
MetricFASTRTX
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.931.05
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.110.55
Net Debt / EBITDA0.121.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% and RTX (RTX) at 1.47% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

1.47%

Max
2.66%
RTX
1.47%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): 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: RTX (RTX) at 45.85% 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%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

45.85%

Max
67.39%
RTX
45.85%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and RTX (RTX)
MetricFASTRTX
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.81%1.47%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)78.05%45.85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

RTX (RTX) at 30.82 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

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

30.82

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
RTX
30.82
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

RTX (RTX) at 2.66 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

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

2.66

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
RTX
2.66
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

RTX (RTX) at 3.69 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

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

3.69

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
RTX
3.69
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and RTX (RTX)
MetricFASTRTX
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.0830.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.702.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)14.653.69
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.51%3.25%