44.8 USD
+1.44 (+3.32%)
At close: Feb 2, 2026
44.79 USD
-0.01 (-0.02%)
After Hours: 2/2/2026, 6:44:20 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. FAST scores excellent points on both the profitability and health parts. This is a solid base for a good stock. FAST is valied quite expensively at the moment, while it does show a decent growth rate. These ratings could make FAST a good candidate for quality investing.
1. Profitability
1.1 Basic Checks
- In the past year FAST was profitable.
- In the past year FAST had a positive cash flow from operations.
- In the past 5 years FAST has always been profitable.
- FAST had a positive operating cash flow in each of the past 5 years.
1.2 Ratios
- FAST's Return On Assets of 24.91% is amongst the best of the industry. FAST outperforms 100.00% of its industry peers.
- The Return On Equity of FAST (31.92%) is better than 90.00% of its industry peers.
- FAST has a better Return On Invested Capital (29.08%) than 100.00% of its industry peers.
- The Average Return On Invested Capital over the past 3 years 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
- FAST has a better Profit Margin (15.35%) than 82.00% of its industry peers.
- FAST's Profit Margin has been stable in the last couple of years.
- The Operating Margin of FAST (20.19%) is better than 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.
- FAST has a better Gross Margin (45.01%) than 82.00% of its industry peers.
- 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. 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.
- The number of shares outstanding for FAST remains at a similar level compared to 5 years ago.
- The debt/assets ratio for FAST has been reduced compared to a year ago.
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 better Altman-Z score (31.36) than 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 Debt to FCF ratio of 0.12. This is amongst the best in the industry. FAST outperforms 88.00% of its industry peers.
- A Debt/Equity ratio of 0.03 indicates that FAST is not too dependend on debt financing.
- FAST has a Debt to Equity ratio of 0.03. This is in the better half of the industry: FAST outperforms 78.00% of its industry peers.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt/Equity | 0.03 | ||
| Debt/FCF | 0.12 | ||
| Altman-Z | 31.36 |
ROIC/WACC2.93
WACC9.91%
2.3 Liquidity
- A Current Ratio of 4.85 indicates that FAST has no problem at all paying its short term obligations.
- FAST's Current ratio of 4.85 is amongst the best of the industry. FAST outperforms 92.00% 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.
- 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
- The Earnings Per Share has grown by an nice 9.45% over the past year.
- The Earnings Per Share has been growing by 8.11% on average over the past years. This is quite good.
- The Revenue has grown by 8.67% in the past year. This is quite good.
- FAST shows a small growth in Revenue. Measured over the last years, the Revenue has been growing by 7.75% yearly.
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
- The EPS growth rate is accelerating: in the next years the growth will be better than in the last years.
- 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
- A Price/Earnings ratio of 40.73 indicates a quite expensive valuation of FAST.
- Based on the Price/Earnings ratio, FAST is valued a bit more expensive than the industry average as 62.00% of the companies are valued more cheaply.
- FAST is valuated rather expensively when we compare the Price/Earnings ratio to 28.41, which is the current average of the S&P500 Index.
- Based on the Price/Forward Earnings ratio of 36.13, the valuation of FAST can be described as expensive.
- FAST's Price/Forward Earnings is on the same level as the industry average.
- The average S&P500 Price/Forward Earnings ratio is at 25.64. FAST is valued slightly more expensive when compared to this.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 40.73 | ||
| Fwd PE | 36.13 |
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.
- FAST's Price/Free Cash Flow ratio is in line with the industry average.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| P/FCF | 48.96 | ||
| 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.
- FAST has an outstanding profitability rating, which may justify a higher PE ratio.
PEG (NY)3.2
PEG (5Y)5.02
EPS Next 2Y11.1%
EPS Next 3Y9.78%
5. Dividend
5.1 Amount
- FAST has a Yearly Dividend Yield of 2.22%.
- FAST's Dividend Yield is rather good when compared to the industry average which is at 0.88. FAST pays more dividend than 90.00% of the companies in the same industry.
- FAST's Dividend Yield is a higher than the S&P500 average which is at 1.83.
| 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 been paying a dividend for at least 10 years, so it has a reliable track record.
Dividend Growth(5Y)4.58%
Div Incr Years0
Div Non Decr Years0
5.3 Sustainability
- 79.79% of the earnings are spent on dividend by FAST. 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 2Y11.1%
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 40.73 and the Price/Book (PB) ratio is 13.04.
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%.