43.36 USD
+0.04 (+0.09%)
At close: Jan 30, 2026
43.15 USD
-0.21 (-0.48%)
After Hours: 1/30/2026, 8:00:02 PM
Overall FAST gets a fundamental rating of 7 out of 10. We evaluated FAST against 50 industry peers in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. Both the health and profitability get an excellent rating, making FAST a very profitable company, without any liquidiy or solvency issues. While showing a medium growth rate, FAST is valued expensive at the moment. With these ratings, FAST could be worth investigating further for quality investing!.
1. Profitability
1.1 Basic Checks
- FAST had positive earnings in the past year.
- FAST had a positive operating cash flow in the past year.
- Each year in the past 5 years FAST has been profitable.
- In the past 5 years FAST always reported a positive cash flow from operatings.
1.2 Ratios
- The Return On Assets of FAST (24.91%) is better than 100.00% of its industry peers.
- With an excellent Return On Equity value of 31.92%, FAST belongs to the best of the industry, outperforming 90.00% of the companies in the same industry.
- FAST has a better Return On Invested Capital (29.08%) than 100.00% of its industry peers.
- Measured over the past 3 years, the Average Return On Invested Capital for FAST is significantly above the industry average of 9.64%.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | 24.91% | ||
| ROE | 31.92% | ||
| ROIC | 29.08% |
ROA(3y)25.09%
ROA(5y)24.14%
ROE(3y)32.74%
ROE(5y)32.6%
ROIC(3y)29.46%
ROIC(5y)28.69%
1.3 Margins
- With an excellent Profit Margin value of 15.35%, FAST belongs to the best of the industry, outperforming 82.00% of the companies in the same industry.
- In the last couple of years the Profit Margin of FAST has remained more or less at the same level.
- FAST's Operating Margin of 20.19% is amongst the best of the industry. FAST outperforms 82.00% of its industry peers.
- In the last couple of years the Operating Margin of FAST has remained more or less at the same level.
- Looking at the Gross Margin, with a value of 45.01%, FAST belongs to the top of the industry, outperforming 82.00% of the companies in the same industry.
- In the last couple of years the Gross Margin of FAST has remained more or less at the same level.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| OM | 20.19% | ||
| PM (TTM) | 15.35% | ||
| GM | 45.01% |
OM growth 3Y-1.02%
OM growth 5Y0%
PM growth 3Y-0.48%
PM growth 5Y0.17%
GM growth 3Y-0.77%
GM growth 5Y-0.2%
2. Health
2.1 Basic Checks
- FAST has a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), which is well above the Cost of Capital (WACC), which means it is creating value.
- The number of shares outstanding for FAST remains at a similar level compared to 1 year ago.
- Compared to 5 years ago, FAST has about the same amount of shares outstanding.
- FAST has a better debt/assets ratio than last year.
2.2 Solvency
- An Altman-Z score of 31.36 indicates that FAST is not in any danger for bankruptcy at the moment.
- FAST has a Altman-Z score of 31.36. This is amongst the best in the industry. FAST outperforms 100.00% of its industry peers.
- The Debt to FCF ratio of FAST is 0.12, which is an excellent value as it means it would take FAST, only 0.12 years of fcf income to pay off all of its debts.
- FAST has a better Debt to FCF ratio (0.12) than 88.00% of its industry peers.
- FAST has a Debt/Equity ratio of 0.03. This is a healthy value indicating a solid balance between debt and equity.
- FAST has a better Debt to Equity ratio (0.03) than 80.00% of its industry peers.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt/Equity | 0.03 | ||
| Debt/FCF | 0.12 | ||
| Altman-Z | 31.36 |
ROIC/WACC2.97
WACC9.8%
2.3 Liquidity
- A Current Ratio of 4.85 indicates that FAST has no problem at all paying its short term obligations.
- With an excellent Current ratio value of 4.85, FAST belongs to the best of the industry, outperforming 92.00% of the companies in the same industry.
- A Quick Ratio of 2.41 indicates that FAST has no problem at all paying its short term obligations.
- With an excellent Quick ratio value of 2.41, FAST belongs to the best of the industry, outperforming 86.00% of the companies in the same industry.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 4.85 | ||
| Quick Ratio | 2.41 |
3. Growth
3.1 Past
- FAST shows a strong growth in Earnings Per Share. In the last year, the EPS has been growing by 9.45%, which is quite good.
- Measured over the past years, FAST shows a quite strong growth in Earnings Per Share. The EPS has been growing by 8.11% on average per year.
- FAST shows quite a strong growth in Revenue. In the last year, the Revenue has grown by 8.67%.
- The Revenue has been growing slightly by 7.75% on average over the past years.
EPS 1Y (TTM)9.45%
EPS 3Y5.01%
EPS 5Y8.11%
EPS Q2Q%13.04%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)8.67%
Revenue growth 3Y5.52%
Revenue growth 5Y7.75%
Sales Q2Q%11.12%
3.2 Future
- Based on estimates for the next years, FAST will show a quite strong growth in Earnings Per Share. The EPS will grow by 10.02% on average per year.
- Based on estimates for the next years, FAST will show a quite strong growth in Revenue. The Revenue will grow by 8.71% on average per year.
EPS Next Y12.72%
EPS Next 2Y11.1%
EPS Next 3Y9.78%
EPS Next 5Y10.02%
Revenue Next Year9.44%
Revenue Next 2Y8.87%
Revenue Next 3Y8.03%
Revenue Next 5Y8.71%
3.3 Evolution
- When comparing the EPS growth rate of the last years to the growth rate of the upcoming years, we see that the growth is accelerating.
- When comparing the Revenue growth rate of the last years to the growth rate of the upcoming years, we see that the growth is stable.
4. Valuation
4.1 Price/Earnings Ratio
- The Price/Earnings ratio is 39.42, which means the current valuation is very expensive for FAST.
- FAST's Price/Earnings ratio is a bit more expensive when compared to the industry. FAST is more expensive than 62.00% of the companies in the same industry.
- Compared to an average S&P500 Price/Earnings ratio of 28.30, FAST is valued a bit more expensive.
- FAST is valuated quite expensively with a Price/Forward Earnings ratio of 34.97.
- Compared to the rest of the industry, the Price/Forward Earnings ratio of FAST is on the same level as its industry peers.
- When comparing the Price/Forward Earnings ratio of FAST to the average of the S&P500 Index (25.57), we can say FAST is valued slightly more expensively.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 39.42 | ||
| Fwd PE | 34.97 |
4.2 Price Multiples
- Based on the Enterprise Value to EBITDA ratio, FAST is valued a bit more expensive than 70.00% of the companies in the same industry.
- Compared to the rest of the industry, the Price/Free Cash Flow ratio of FAST is on the same level as its industry peers.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| P/FCF | 47.38 | ||
| EV/EBITDA | 27.04 |
4.3 Compensation for Growth
- The high PEG Ratio(NY), which compensates the Price/Earnings for growth, indicates FAST does not grow enough to justify the current Price/Earnings ratio.
- The excellent profitability rating of FAST may justify a higher PE ratio.
PEG (NY)3.1
PEG (5Y)4.86
EPS Next 2Y11.1%
EPS Next 3Y9.78%
5. Dividend
5.1 Amount
- FAST has a Yearly Dividend Yield of 2.22%. Purely for dividend investing, there may be better candidates out there.
- Compared to an average industry Dividend Yield of 1.03, FAST pays a better dividend. On top of this FAST pays more dividend than 84.00% of the companies listed in the same industry.
- Compared to an average S&P500 Dividend Yield of 1.83, FAST pays a bit more dividend than the S&P500 average.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% |
5.2 History
- The dividend of FAST has a limited annual growth rate of 4.58%.
- FAST has paid a dividend for at least 10 years, which is a reliable track record.
Dividend Growth(5Y)4.58%
Div Incr Years0
Div Non Decr Years0
5.3 Sustainability
- FAST pays out 79.79% of its income as dividend. This is not a sustainable payout ratio.
- FAST's earnings are growing more than its dividend. This makes the dividend growth sustainable.
DP79.79%
EPS Next 2Y11.1%
EPS Next 3Y9.78%
FASTENAL CO / FAST FAQ
What is the ChartMill fundamental rating of FASTENAL CO (FAST) stock?
ChartMill assigns a fundamental rating of 7 / 10 to FAST.
What is the valuation status of FASTENAL CO (FAST) stock?
ChartMill assigns a valuation rating of 2 / 10 to FASTENAL CO (FAST). This can be considered as Overvalued.
What is the profitability of FAST stock?
FASTENAL CO (FAST) has a profitability rating of 8 / 10.
What are the PE and PB ratios of FASTENAL CO (FAST) stock?
The Price/Earnings (PE) ratio for FASTENAL CO (FAST) is 39.42 and the Price/Book (PB) ratio is 12.62.
Can you provide the dividend sustainability for FAST stock?
The dividend rating of FASTENAL CO (FAST) is 5 / 10 and the dividend payout ratio is 79.79%.