FASTENAL CO (FAST) Fundamental Analysis & Valuation
NASDAQ:FAST • US3119001044
Current stock price
44.4 USD
-0.22 (-0.49%)
At close:
44.3509 USD
-0.05 (-0.11%)
After Hours:
This FAST fundamental analysis includes valuation metrics, fair value assessment, financial health analysis, profitability trends, growth metrics and dividend sustainability analysis.
1. FAST Profitability Analysis
1.1 Basic Checks
- In the past year FAST was profitable.
- FAST had a positive operating cash flow in the past year.
- FAST had positive earnings in each of the past 5 years.
- Each year in the past 5 years FAST had a positive operating cash flow.
1.2 Ratios
- The Return On Assets of FAST (24.91%) is better than 100.00% of its industry peers.
- FAST has a Return On Equity of 31.92%. This is amongst the best in the industry. FAST outperforms 95.74% of its industry peers.
- FAST's Return On Invested Capital of 29.08% is amongst the best of the industry. FAST outperforms 100.00% of its industry peers.
- FAST had an Average Return On Invested Capital over the past 3 years of 29.46%. This is significantly above the industry average of 9.04%.
| 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
- Looking at the Profit Margin, with a value of 15.35%, FAST belongs to the top of the industry, outperforming 89.36% 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.
- Looking at the Operating Margin, with a value of 20.19%, FAST belongs to the top of the industry, outperforming 85.11% of the companies in the same industry.
- FAST's Operating Margin has been stable in the last couple of years.
- With an excellent Gross Margin value of 45.01%, FAST belongs to the best of the industry, outperforming 87.23% of the companies in the same industry.
- FAST's Gross Margin has been stable in the last couple of years.
| 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. FAST Health Analysis
2.1 Basic Checks
- With a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) well above the Cost of Capital (WACC), FAST 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
- FAST has an Altman-Z score of 32.14. This indicates that FAST is financially healthy and has little risk of bankruptcy at the moment.
- FAST's Altman-Z score of 32.14 is amongst the best of 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 95.74% 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.
- Looking at the Debt to Equity ratio, with a value of 0.03, FAST belongs to the top of the industry, outperforming 82.98% of the companies in the same industry.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt/Equity | 0.03 | ||
| Debt/FCF | 0.12 | ||
| Altman-Z | 32.14 |
ROIC/WACC3.06
WACC9.49%
2.3 Liquidity
- FAST has a Current Ratio of 4.85. This indicates that FAST is financially healthy and has no problem in meeting its short term obligations.
- FAST has a better Current ratio (4.85) than 95.74% of its industry peers.
- FAST has a Quick Ratio of 2.41. This indicates that FAST is financially healthy and has no problem in meeting its short term obligations.
- FAST has a better Quick ratio (2.41) than 85.11% of its industry peers.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 4.85 | ||
| Quick Ratio | 2.41 |
3. FAST Growth Analysis
3.1 Past
- The Earnings Per Share has grown by an nice 13.43% over the past year.
- 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.
- Looking at the last year, FAST shows a quite strong growth in Revenue. The Revenue has grown by 8.67% in the last year.
- FAST shows a small growth in Revenue. Measured over the last years, the Revenue has been growing by 7.75% yearly.
EPS 1Y (TTM)13.43%
EPS 3Y5.01%
EPS 5Y8.11%
EPS Q2Q%15.38%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)8.67%
Revenue growth 3Y5.52%
Revenue growth 5Y7.75%
Sales Q2Q%12.37%
3.2 Future
- FAST is expected to show quite a strong growth in Earnings Per Share. In the coming years, the EPS will grow by 11.76% yearly.
- FAST is expected to show quite a strong growth in Revenue. In the coming years, the Revenue will grow by 9.79% yearly.
EPS Next Y14.23%
EPS Next 2Y11.92%
EPS Next 3Y10.14%
EPS Next 5Y11.76%
Revenue Next Year10.07%
Revenue Next 2Y9.3%
Revenue Next 3Y8.36%
Revenue Next 5Y9.79%
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 accelerating.
4. FAST Valuation Analysis
4.1 Price/Earnings Ratio
- A Price/Earnings ratio of 38.95 indicates a quite expensive valuation of FAST.
- FAST's Price/Earnings ratio is in line with the industry average.
- FAST is valuated rather expensively when we compare the Price/Earnings ratio to 27.38, which is the current average of the S&P500 Index.
- Based on the Price/Forward Earnings ratio of 32.23, the valuation of FAST can be described as expensive.
- The rest of the industry has a similar Price/Forward Earnings ratio as FAST.
- FAST is valuated at similar levels of the S&P average when we compare the Price/Forward Earnings ratio to 38.20, which is the current average of the S&P500 Index.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 38.95 | ||
| Fwd PE | 32.23 |
4.2 Price Multiples
- Compared to the rest of the industry, the Enterprise Value to EBITDA ratio of FAST indicates a slightly more expensive valuation: FAST is more expensive than 72.34% of the companies listed in the same industry.
- FAST's Price/Free Cash Flow ratio is in line with the industry average.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| P/FCF | 48.53 | ||
| EV/EBITDA | 27.84 |
4.3 Compensation for Growth
- The high PEG Ratio(NY), which compensates the Price/Earnings for growth, indicates an expensive valuation of the company.
- FAST has an outstanding profitability rating, which may justify a higher PE ratio.
PEG (NY)2.74
PEG (5Y)4.81
EPS Next 2Y11.92%
EPS Next 3Y10.14%
5. FAST Dividend Analysis
5.1 Amount
- With a Yearly Dividend Yield of 2.10%, FAST has a reasonable but not impressive dividend return.
- FAST's Dividend Yield is rather good when compared to the industry average which is at 0.79. FAST pays more dividend than 89.36% of the companies in the same industry.
- FAST's Dividend Yield is comparable with the S&P500 average which is at 1.82.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 2.1% |
5.2 History
- The dividend of FAST has a limited annual growth rate of 4.58%.
- FAST has been paying a dividend for at least 10 years, so it has a reliable track record.
- The dividend of FAST decreased recently.
Dividend Growth(5Y)4.58%
Div Incr Years1
Div Non Decr Years1
5.3 Sustainability
- FAST pays out 79.79% of its income as dividend. This is not a sustainable payout ratio.
- The dividend of FAST is growing, but earnings are growing more, so the dividend growth is sustainable.
DP79.79%
EPS Next 2Y11.92%
EPS Next 3Y10.14%
FAST Fundamentals: All Metrics, Ratios and Statistics
44.4
-0.22 (-0.49%)
Chartmill FA Rating
GICS SectorIndustrials
GICS IndustryGroupCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & Distributors
Earnings (Last)04-13 2026-04-13/bmo
Earnings (Next)07-13 2026-07-13
Inst Owners88.07%
Inst Owner Change-0.07%
Ins Owners0.04%
Ins Owner Change0.8%
Market Cap50.99B
Revenue(TTM)8.20B
Net Income(TTM)1.26B
Analysts58.26
Price Target46.26 (4.19%)
Short Float %2.4%
Short Ratio3.27
Dividend
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 2.1% |
Yearly Dividend0.88
Dividend Growth(5Y)4.58%
DP79.79%
Div Incr Years1
Div Non Decr Years1
Ex-Date01-29 2026-01-29 (0.24)
Surprises & Revisions
EPS beat(2)0
Avg EPS beat(2)-2.77%
Min EPS beat(2)-3.93%
Max EPS beat(2)-1.61%
EPS beat(4)1
Avg EPS beat(4)-1.59%
Min EPS beat(4)-3.93%
Max EPS beat(4)1.09%
EPS beat(8)1
Avg EPS beat(8)-2.25%
EPS beat(12)3
Avg EPS beat(12)-1.55%
EPS beat(16)5
Avg EPS beat(16)-0.99%
Revenue beat(2)0
Avg Revenue beat(2)-2.27%
Min Revenue beat(2)-2.76%
Max Revenue beat(2)-1.78%
Revenue beat(4)0
Avg Revenue beat(4)-1.93%
Min Revenue beat(4)-2.76%
Max Revenue beat(4)-1.49%
Revenue beat(8)0
Avg Revenue beat(8)-2.13%
Revenue beat(12)0
Avg Revenue beat(12)-2.1%
Revenue beat(16)0
Avg Revenue beat(16)-1.94%
PT rev (1m)1.68%
PT rev (3m)3.62%
EPS NQ rev (1m)0.45%
EPS NQ rev (3m)2.01%
EPS NY rev (1m)1.03%
EPS NY rev (3m)1.33%
Revenue NQ rev (1m)0%
Revenue NQ rev (3m)0.68%
Revenue NY rev (1m)0.5%
Revenue NY rev (3m)0.92%
Valuation
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 38.95 | ||
| Fwd PE | 32.23 | ||
| P/S | 6.22 | ||
| P/FCF | 48.53 | ||
| P/OCF | 39.34 | ||
| P/B | 12.93 | ||
| P/tB | 12.93 | ||
| EV/EBITDA | 27.84 |
EPS(TTM)1.14
EY2.57%
EPS(NY)1.38
Fwd EY3.1%
FCF(TTM)0.91
FCFY2.06%
OCF(TTM)1.13
OCFY2.54%
SpS7.14
BVpS3.43
TBVpS3.43
PEG (NY)2.74
PEG (5Y)4.81
Graham Number9.38549 (-78.86%)
Profitability
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | 24.91% | ||
| ROE | 31.92% | ||
| ROCE | 38.18% | ||
| ROIC | 29.08% | ||
| ROICexc | 31.06% | ||
| ROICexgc | 31.06% | ||
| OM | 20.19% | ||
| PM (TTM) | 15.35% | ||
| GM | 45.01% | ||
| FCFM | 12.81% |
ROA(3y)25.09%
ROA(5y)24.14%
ROE(3y)32.74%
ROE(5y)32.6%
ROIC(3y)29.46%
ROIC(5y)28.69%
ROICexc(3y)31.4%
ROICexc(5y)30.6%
ROICexgc(3y)31.4%
ROICexgc(5y)30.6%
ROCE(3y)38.68%
ROCE(5y)37.67%
ROICexgc growth 3Y-0.34%
ROICexgc growth 5Y1.29%
ROICexc growth 3Y-0.34%
ROICexc growth 5Y2.12%
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%
F-Score7
Asset Turnover1.62
Health
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt/Equity | 0.03 | ||
| Debt/FCF | 0.12 | ||
| Debt/EBITDA | 0.05 | ||
| Cap/Depr | 136.89% | ||
| Cap/Sales | 2.99% | ||
| Interest Coverage | 250.88 | ||
| Cash Conversion | 70.62% | ||
| Profit Quality | 83.47% | ||
| Current Ratio | 4.85 | ||
| Quick Ratio | 2.41 | ||
| Altman-Z | 32.14 |
F-Score7
WACC9.49%
ROIC/WACC3.06
Cap/Depr(3y)121.16%
Cap/Depr(5y)110.73%
Cap/Sales(3y)2.78%
Cap/Sales(5y)2.69%
Profit Quality(3y)91.62%
Profit Quality(5y)82.35%
High Growth Momentum
Growth
EPS 1Y (TTM)13.43%
EPS 3Y5.01%
EPS 5Y8.11%
EPS Q2Q%15.38%
EPS Next Y14.23%
EPS Next 2Y11.92%
EPS Next 3Y10.14%
EPS Next 5Y11.76%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)8.67%
Revenue growth 3Y5.52%
Revenue growth 5Y7.75%
Sales Q2Q%12.37%
Revenue Next Year10.07%
Revenue Next 2Y9.3%
Revenue Next 3Y8.36%
Revenue Next 5Y9.79%
EBIT growth 1Y9.66%
EBIT growth 3Y4.43%
EBIT growth 5Y7.74%
EBIT Next Year23.2%
EBIT Next 3Y13.11%
EBIT Next 5Y11.02%
FCF growth 1Y10.96%
FCF growth 3Y11.05%
FCF growth 5Y2.39%
OCF growth 1Y10.45%
OCF growth 3Y11.26%
OCF growth 5Y3.3%
FASTENAL CO / FAST Fundamental Analysis 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.
How profitable is FASTENAL CO (FAST) stock?
FASTENAL CO (FAST) has a profitability rating of 8 / 10.
Can you provide the financial health for FAST stock?
The financial health rating of FASTENAL CO (FAST) is 10 / 10.
How sustainable is the dividend of FASTENAL CO (FAST) stock?
The dividend rating of FASTENAL CO (FAST) is 5 / 10 and the dividend payout ratio is 79.79%.