Stock Analysis
Fastenal CoFAST
P/E 43.30×· 5Y range 23.58–48.73×· top 8% of history
Sector: Consumer Cyclical · Industry: Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply
AnalystsHold26 analystsP/E 43.3× sits at the 92nd percentile of its 5.0978781656399725-year history.
Cash covers 46% of debt · Q2 2026.
PMP Verdict
High quality, but expensive
Strengths
- Financial Health95
- Profitability90
Risks
- Valuation22
Excellent business. Weak entry price.
Bull Case
- ✓Piotroski F-Score 7/9 — high earnings quality
- ✓Altman Z 31.9 — safe-zone balance sheet
- ✓ROE 33.2% — efficient capital deployment
- ✓Interest coverage 195.1× — debt well covered
What's happening with FAST
Profile
Strong financial health, moat, profitability and earnings quality; valuation lags behind.
How is each axis scored?
- Valuation22/100 · Weak
- P/E vs own history (92th pct)0/25
- FCF yield (2.0%)5/25
- P/S (6.7x)12/25
- EV/EBIT (33.1x)5/25
- Growth56/100 · Moderate
- Revenue CAGR (8.1%)12/25
- Net income CAGR (8.0%)12/25
- EPS CAGR 5Y (8.1%)12/25
- Fwd implied growth (18.2%)20/25
- Profitability90/100 · Strong
- ROIC (32.6%)25/25
- ROE (33.2%)25/25
- Net margin (15.5%)20/25
- Operating margin (20.3%)20/25
- Financial Health95/100 · Strong
- Altman Z (31.93)25/25
- Current ratio (4.18)25/25
- Interest coverage (195.1x)25/25
- Net cash / debt (D/A 4%)20/25
- Quality89/100 · Strong
- Piotroski F (7/9)22/25
- Beneish M (-2.37)20/25
- FCF conversion (85%)22/25
- Margin stability (σ 2.1%)25/25
- Moat95/100 · Strong
- ROIC >12% years (10/10 yrs)25/25
- Median gross margin (46.1%)20/25
- FCF-positive years (10/10 yrs)25/25
- Worst-year net margin (worst 12.6%)25/25
Risk Flags
- ⚠P/E 43.3× at top 8% of 5-year history
About Fastenal Co
Fastenal began as an industrial retailer, expanding its product portfolio from nuts and bolts to cutting tools, safety equipment, and janitorial supplies. Show more
It transitioned into a distributor by building out a dense network of branches close to its business customers. Once a customer becomes large enough, Fastenal installs vending machines and its own personnel on-site. Today, these on-site locations exceed Fastenal's branch count and remain the firm's main focus for expansion. Fastenal acts as a one-stop outsourcing partner for its industrial customers, offering value-added services along with a wide breadth of maintenance, repair, and operations supplies.
Headquarters: WINONA, MN · Employees: 24,795 · Website ↗
Price History
Weekly Candlestick Chart — up to 5Y
Key Metrics
Financial snapshot · Tap any metric for its definition and grade
TTM Snapshot
trailing twelve months · YoYValuation
22EP/E (TTM)43.3xD
Grade D: ExpensivePrice / TTM EPS (own statements) — vs own 5Y history: 23.6x–48.7x · 92nd pct
P/FCF49.3xD
Grade D: ExpensivePrice / Free Cash Flow per share (Finnhub). Inverse of FCF yield — negative when FCF is negative
FCF Yield2.0%C
Grade C: LowTTM (OCF − CapEx) / Market Cap — vs own 5Y history: 1.5%–3.9% · 25th pct
P/S (TTM)6.69xC
Grade C: ExpensivePrice / TTM Revenue (own statements) — vs own 5Y history: 3.7x–7.5x · 93rd pct
EV/EBIT33.1xD
Grade D: ExpensiveEnterprise value / TTM EBIT (D&A not in our data) — capital-structure neutral — vs own 5Y history: 17.9x–37.0x · 94th pct
EV/Sales6.4xC
Grade C: ExpensiveEnterprise Value / TTM Revenue (Finnhub) — capital-structure neutral sales multiple
Forward P/E36.6xD
Grade D: ExpensivePrice / next-year EPS estimate — shows whether the TTM multiple is rich or just front-loading growth
P/B Ratio14.39xD
Grade D: Very expensivePrice to Book Value. Neg. equity = heavy buybacks
PEG Ratio3.38D
Grade D: ExpensiveFinnhub PEG — their P/E basis ÷ expected EPS growth. Suppressed when their P/E diverges >2× from our TTM P/E (different basis)
Dividend Yield1.90%A
Grade A: PaysTTM dividend yield (Finnhub) — annual dividends / price. None = no dividend; very high yield can signal distress
Payout Ratio77.7%C
Grade C: HighDividends / Net Income (Finnhub) — share of earnings paid out; >90% or negative = unsustainable
Profitability
90A+ROIC32.6%A
Grade A: MoatNOPAT (EBIT less ~21% tax) / invested capital (equity + debt − cash). Flagship quality metric — durable >15% signals a moat
ROE33.2%A
Grade A: StrongReturn on Equity. Neg. equity = heavy buybacks
ROA27.0%A
Grade A: StrongReturn on Assets (Finnhub) — Net Income / Total Assets; how efficiently assets produce profit
Net Margin15.5%A
Grade A: HighNet Income / Revenue
Operating Margin20.3%C
Grade C: AverageTTM EBIT / TTM Revenue
Gross Margin44.7%C
Grade C: AverageGross Profit / Revenue
FCF Margin13.2%C
Grade C: AverageFCF / Revenue
True FCF Margin13.1%A
Grade A: HighTTM (OCF − CapEx − SBC) / TTM Revenue — SBC treated as a real cost
Growth
56CRevenue CAGR8.1%C
Grade C: OkCompound annual revenue growth (up to 5Y depending on data availability)
Net Income CAGR8.0%C
Grade C: OkCompound annual net income growth (up to 5Y depending on data availability)
EPS CAGR (5Y)8.1%C
Grade C: OkCompound annual EPS growth over up to 5Y of per-share earnings (own statements). Null when either endpoint EPS ≤ 0
Implied EPS Growth18.2%C
Grade C: MedAnalyst forward EPS (normalized basis) vs our GAAP TTM EPS — different bases, so extreme values usually mark cyclically depressed TTM earnings, not real growth
Dilution (5Y)-0.5%B
Grade B: FlatShare count change over 5Y
SBC / Net Income0.7%A
Grade A: LowStock-based comp/Net income. >30% = dilution risk
SBC / Revenue0.1%A
Grade A: LowTTM stock-based comp / TTM Revenue
Financial Health
95A+Altman Z-Score31.93A
Grade A: SafeBankruptcy risk. >3 Safe, <1.8 Distress
Current Ratio4.18xA
Grade A: HighCurrent Assets/Liabilities
Quick Ratio2.10xA
Grade A: High(Current Assets − Inventory) / Current Liabilities (Finnhub) — stricter liquidity test, excludes inventory
Interest Coverage195.1xA
Grade A: StrongEBIT/Interest. >10 Strong
Debt Repayment0.2yA
Grade A: FastYears to repay net debt via FCF
Net Debt/EBIT0.1xA
Grade A: LowLeverage. <2x Low, >4x High
Debt/Equity0.11xA
Grade A: LowDebt / Equity: <1 Conservative, >2 Risky. Not meaningful with non-positive equity; shown as unavailable rather than low debt.
Cash / Debt0.46xC
Grade C: PartialCash covers how much of total debt. >1 = could repay all debt from cash
Quality
89APiotroski F-Score7/9A
Grade A: StrongFinancial strength 0–9. >7 Strong
Beneish M-Score-2.37A
Grade A: SafeEarnings manipulation risk. < -2.22 Safe
FCF Conversion85.5%A
Grade A: StrongFCF / Net Income
Margin Stability2.1%A
Grade A: StableEBIT margin std deviation. Lower = stable
Capex / Revenue2.8%A
Grade A: Asset-lightTTM CapEx / TTM Revenue — high % = capital-hungry business
Asset Turnover1.73xA
Grade A: HighRevenue / Total Assets (Finnhub) — how efficiently the asset base generates sales
Insider Transactions
SEC Form 4 · 8 recordsP/S codes are the directional signal; grants, option exercises and tax withholding carry none. Form 4 doesn't flag 10b5-1 plans — scheduled sales may appear within open-market sells.
| Trade date | Insider | Transaction | Shares | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen Filed | Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen | Option exercise | -7894 | |
Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen Filed | Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen | Option exercise | -1364 | |
Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen Filed | Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen | SellOpen market sale | -7894 | |
Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen Filed | Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen | Option exercise | +7.9K | |
Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen Filed | Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen | SellOpen market sale | -1364 |
Show 3 more filingsShow fewer filings
| Trade date | Insider | Transaction | Shares | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen Filed | Papenfuss Donnalee Kathleen | Option exercise | +1.4K | |
Ancius Michael J Filed | Ancius Michael J | Gift | -400 | |
Ancius Michael J Filed | Ancius Michael J | Option exercise | -3000 |
Option exercise (M) rows report a derivative leg, not an open-market sale — a paired negative entry is the option position being consumed.
More metrics — Moat, Per Share, Balance Sheet, MarketHide additional metrics
Moat
95A+ROIC >12% Years10/10 yrsA
Grade A: DurableShare of completed fiscal years with ROIC > 12% — measures multi-year capital-return durability
Gross Margin (Med.)46.1%A
Grade A: DurableMedian annual gross margin across available fiscal years — pricing-power durability
FCF-Positive Years10/10 yrsA
Grade A: DurableShare of completed fiscal years with positive free cash flow
Net Margin Floor12.6%A
Grade A: DurableWeakest annual net margin across completed fiscal years — recession/downcycle resilience
Per Share
EPS (TTM)$1.18
Own TTM net income / shares — same earnings basis as P/E
Cash / Share$0.18
Cash & short-term investments per share (Finnhub)
Book Value / Share$3.62
Shareholders' equity per share (Finnhub). Negative = accumulated losses / heavy buybacks
Balance Sheet
Total Debt$441.50M
Total debt obligations (short + long term)
Cash & Equiv.$204.70M
Cash and short-term investments
Net Debt$236.80M
Total Debt minus Cash. Negative = Net Cash position
Total Equity$4.07B
Shareholders' equity (book value)
Asset / Liability4.32xA
Grade A: SolidTotal Assets / Total Liabilities
Market
Market Cap$58.56B
Current Market Capitalization
Beta0.67B
Grade B: DefensivePrice sensitivity vs the market (Finnhub) — 1.0 moves with market, >1.2 amplifies swings
How grades work: each metric is graded A–D against fixed thresholds (tap a row for the meaning). Card grades map the pillar score to A+–E — a card grade is that pillar's own score, not an average of the rows shown.
Financials as of Jun 2026 · Ratio snapshot Oct 17, 2026
Key Insights: Fastenal Co (FAST)
FAST is up 1.27% at the last close. Fastenal Co meets 7 of 9 Piotroski F-Score criteria, placing its fundamental strength in the top tier of US-listed stocks. Altman Z-Score of 31.93 sits comfortably in the safe zone (≥ 2.99), indicating low bankruptcy risk. Beneish M-Score of -2.37 suggests a low likelihood of earnings manipulation.
- Takes ~0.2 years to repay net debt from free cash flow.
- At a valuation score of 22/100, FAST trades at a premium to its historical multiples (P/E 43.3).
- Return on equity of 33.2% is well above the market average.
See how FAST ranks on the Capex Tracker — top 50 capital spenders compared.
Recent Market Moves
See all FAST moves →| Date | Session | Price | Move | Z-Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15 | Regular | 50.23 | -3.41% | -3.78 |
| Oct 15 | After-hours | 50.26 | -3.35% | -3.71 |
| Oct 14 | Pre-market | 49.01 | -4.71% | -5.19 |
| Oct 7 | After-hours | 49.84 | -1.91% | -2.71 |
Frequently Asked Questions about FAST
What is the current Fastenal Co (FAST) stock price?
FAST is trading at $51.02 at the last market close, up 1.27% on the session. PreMarketPrice tracks FAST pre-market, intraday and after-hours prices.
Is FAST stock a buy right now?
PreMarketPrice's quantitative model rates Fastenal Co's financial health at 95/100. This is a data-driven snapshot of fundamentals, not investment advice.
Is FAST stock overvalued?
Fastenal Co trades at a trailing P/E of 43.3 and our valuation score rates it 22/100 (higher = cheaper vs. its own history). See the Valuation History and Key Metrics sections for forward P/E, EV/EBITDA and PEG context.
When does Fastenal Co report earnings?
No confirmed earnings date is currently scheduled for FAST. The Earnings section lists recent reports and updates as dates are announced.
What sector does Fastenal Co operate in?
Fastenal Co operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector, within the Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply industry. The Related Stocks section lists sector peers for comparison.
What does Fastenal Co do?
Fastenal began as an industrial retailer, expanding its product portfolio from nuts and bolts to cutting tools, safety equipment, and janitorial supplies.
About Fastenal Co (FAST) Stock
Fastenal Co (FAST) is a US-listed stock operating in the Consumer Cyclical sector, specifically the Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply industry. As of the latest update, Fastenal Co is trading at $51.02, up 1.27% on the day with a market capitalization of $58.6 billion. The financial health score for FAST is 95/100, which indicates excellent financial strength based on profitability, leverage, liquidity, and growth metrics. This page provides real-time pre-market pricing, earnings calendar, financial health analysis, and valuation metrics for FAST stock.
FAST Stock Analysis & Key Metrics
On PreMarketPrice, you can track Fastenal Co (FAST) across multiple dimensions:
- Pre-market price & movement: Real-time FAST stock price with percentage change, updated continuously during pre-market and regular trading hours.
- Valuation & P/E history: Historical P/E, P/S, and P/B ratios for FAST with trend analysis and normalized valuation multiples.
- Financial statements: Revenue, net income, assets, liabilities, and equity for Fastenal Co across multiple reporting periods.
- Financial health score: A composite score of 95/100 based on Altman Z-Score, Piotroski F-Score, profitability, and leverage metrics for FAST.
- Sector peers: Compare FAST against 6 other consumer cyclical stocks on key financial metrics.
Is FAST a Good Stock to Buy?
This page provides data-driven analysis to help you evaluate Fastenal Co (FAST) as an investment. The financial health score of 95/100 suggests excellent financial fundamentals. Valuation metrics show whether the stock is trading above or below its historical average.However, this is not financial advice — always do your own research before investing.
Data on this page is sourced from real-time market feeds, Polygon.io, and Finnhub.Fastenal Co (FAST) trades on NYSE/NASDAQ. Pre-market trading occurs 4:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET. Regular market hours are 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET.