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FAST vs. SUNB: Fastenal vs. Sunbelt Rentals Stock Comparison

How do Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) 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 Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) 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.

Fastenal (FAST) has been public since August 20, 1987, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) listed only on March 2, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.

Company profile comparison for Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
Profile ItemFASTSUNB
NameFastenal Co.Sunbelt Rentals Holdings, 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 USD31.57 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 20, 1987March 2, 2026
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FAST
SUNB
GSPC
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB), 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 Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
MetricFASTSUNB
Total Return (1Y)36.82%--
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.71%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.98%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
MetricFASTSUNB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.55%45.72%
Beta (5Y)0.641.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.71%-22.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.21M4.96M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Both FAST and SUNB need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
MetricFASTSUNB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.33--
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.00--

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fastenal (FAST) at 35.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 18.37% 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%

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

18.37%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
SUNB
18.37%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): 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 Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 12.12% 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%

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

12.12%

Max
27.47%
SUNB
12.12%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 21.55% and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 22.38% 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%

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

22.38%

Max
36.60%
SUNB
22.38%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
MetricFASTSUNB
ROE (TTM)35.26%18.37%
ROA (TTM)21.97%6.71%
Net Margin (TTM)15.62%12.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.55%22.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.61%38.78%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 8.67% and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 3.36% 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. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 9.00% and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at -8.91% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
MetricFASTSUNB
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.67%3.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.52%4.88%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.00%-8.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.87%-4.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fastenal (FAST) at 3.93 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 0.95 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

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

0.95

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
SUNB
0.95
Min
0.36
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): 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 quartile, while Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 1.53 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

1.53

Max
2.33
SUNB
1.53
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): 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 Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
MetricFASTSUNB
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.930.95
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.111.53
Net Debt / EBITDA0.123.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Fastenal (FAST) at 1.81% and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 1.87% 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%

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

1.87%

Max
2.66%
SUNB
1.87%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 22.63% 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%

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

22.63%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
SUNB
22.63%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
MetricFASTSUNB
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.81%1.87%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)78.05%22.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 23.28 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

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

23.28

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
SUNB
23.28
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 2.75 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

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

2.75

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
SUNB
2.75
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB) at 4.24 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

SUNB

Capital Goods industry group

4.24

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
SUNB
4.24
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Fastenal (FAST) vs. Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fastenal (FAST) and Sunbelt Rentals (SUNB)
MetricFASTSUNB
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.0823.28
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.702.75
P/B Ratio (MRQ)14.654.24
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.51%5.47%