📊 FAST Key Takeaways
Is Fastenal Co (FAST) a Good Investment?
Fastenal demonstrates exceptional financial health with industry-leading profitability metrics, robust revenue growth of 8.7% YoY, and exceptional cash generation capabilities. The company's fortress balance sheet, combined with superior returns on equity (31.9%) and assets (24.9%), positions it as a fundamentally sound business with significant operational leverage and financial flexibility.
Fastenal’s fundamentals show a high-quality business with strong and consistent profitability, efficient asset use, and excellent cash generation. Revenue and net income are both growing at high-single-digit rates while margins remain robust, suggesting disciplined execution rather than low-quality growth. The balance sheet is exceptionally conservative, which supports resilience and ongoing shareholder returns even if demand softens.
Why Buy Fastenal Co Stock? FAST Key Strengths
- Outstanding profitability with 45% gross margin and 15.3% net margin, indicating pricing power and operational efficiency
- Exceptional return metrics (ROE 31.9%, ROA 24.9%) demonstrate superior capital allocation and business quality
- Fortress balance sheet with minimal leverage (0.03x debt/equity), exceptional liquidity (4.85x current ratio), and 1.1B in annual free cash flow
- Consistent revenue and earnings growth (8.7% and 9.4% YoY respectively) with strong FCF generation at 12.8% margin
- Interest coverage of 827.9x reflects minimal financial risk and substantial debt servicing capacity
- High profitability with 45.0% gross margin, 20.2% operating margin, and 15.3% net margin
- Excellent financial health driven by 4.85x current ratio, minimal leverage at 0.03x debt/equity, and very high interest coverage
- Strong cash generation with $1.05B in free cash flow and a 12.8% FCF margin, supporting durable growth quality
FAST Stock Risks: Fastenal Co Investment Risks
- Exposed to macroeconomic cycles affecting construction and industrial sectors; economic slowdown could pressure demand
- High insider trading activity (23 Form 4 filings in 90 days) warrants monitoring for potential signaling concerns
- Capital intensity of retail distribution model limits scalability; significant ongoing capex requirements
- Revenue growth is solid but not rapid, so future upside depends on sustaining margins and execution
- Low cash balance relative to annual revenue means liquidity strength relies more on working capital efficiency than large cash reserves
- As an industrial and construction-linked distributor, results may weaken if end-market demand slows or customer spending pulls back
Key Metrics to Watch
- Revenue growth rate sustainability and comparable store/segment performance
- Gross margin trends amid potential input cost inflation or pricing pressure
- Free cash flow conversion and capital deployment efficiency (share buybacks, debt reduction, acquisitions)
- Return on equity maintenance as equity base grows from retained earnings
- Operating margin and gross margin stability
- Free cash flow conversion relative to net income
Fastenal Co (FAST) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
Strong liquidity with a 4.85x current ratio provides a solid financial cushion.
FAST Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
FAST vs Consumer Sector: How Fastenal Co Compares
How Fastenal Co compares to Consumer sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Fastenal Co Stock Overvalued? FAST Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Fastenal Co appears fundamentally strong relative to the Consumer sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Fastenal Co Balance Sheet: FAST Debt, Cash & Liquidity
FAST Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Fastenal Co's revenue has grown significantly by 36% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $1.01 reflects profitable operations.
FAST Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
FAST Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $1.9B | $298.1M | $0.26 |
| Q2 2025 | $1.9B | $292.7M | $0.25 |
| Q1 2025 | $1.9B | $297.7M | $0.52 |
| Q3 2024 | $1.8B | $295.5M | $0.52 |
| Q2 2024 | $1.9B | $292.7M | $0.51 |
| Q1 2024 | $1.9B | $295.1M | $0.52 |
| Q3 2023 | $1.8B | $284.6M | $0.50 |
| Q2 2023 | $1.8B | $287.1M | $0.50 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Fastenal Co Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
FAST SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Fastenal Co (CIK: 0000815556)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about FAST
What is the AI rating for FAST?
Fastenal Co (FAST) has a Combined AI Rating of BUY from Claude (STRONG BUY) and ChatGPT (BUY) with 90% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are FAST's key strengths?
Claude: Outstanding profitability with 45% gross margin and 15.3% net margin, indicating pricing power and operational efficiency. Exceptional return metrics (ROE 31.9%, ROA 24.9%) demonstrate superior capital allocation and business quality. ChatGPT: High profitability with 45.0% gross margin, 20.2% operating margin, and 15.3% net margin. Excellent financial health driven by 4.85x current ratio, minimal leverage at 0.03x debt/equity, and very high interest coverage.
What are the risks of investing in FAST?
Claude: Exposed to macroeconomic cycles affecting construction and industrial sectors; economic slowdown could pressure demand. High insider trading activity (23 Form 4 filings in 90 days) warrants monitoring for potential signaling concerns. ChatGPT: Revenue growth is solid but not rapid, so future upside depends on sustaining margins and execution. Low cash balance relative to annual revenue means liquidity strength relies more on working capital efficiency than large cash reserves.
What is FAST's revenue and growth?
Fastenal Co reported revenue of $8.2B.
Does FAST pay dividends?
Fastenal Co pays dividends, with $1,004.2M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find FAST SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Fastenal Co (CIK: 0000815556) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is FAST's EPS?
Fastenal Co has a diluted EPS of $1.09.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is FAST a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Fastenal Co has a BUY rating with 90% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.
Is FAST stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for FAST: ROE of 31.9% (sector avg: 18%), net margin of 15.3% (sector avg: 8%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.
Should I buy FAST stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Fastenal Co a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is FAST's free cash flow?
Fastenal Co's operating cash flow is $1.3B, with capital expenditures of $245.3M. FCF margin is 12.8%.
How does FAST compare to other Consumer stocks?
Vs Consumer sector averages: Net margin 15.3% (avg: 8%), ROE 31.9% (avg: 18%), current ratio 4.85 (avg: 1.5).
Why is FAST's return on equity (ROE) so high?
Fastenal Co has a return on equity of 31.9%, significantly above the Consumer sector average of 18%. A high ROE indicates the company is efficient at generating profits from shareholder equity. This is supported by a 15.3% net margin.