Fastenal Company
Fastenal Company Fundamental Analysis
Fastenal Company (FAST) shows moderate financial fundamentals with a PE ratio of 40.14, profit margin of 15.35%, and ROE of 32.83%. The company generates $8.2B in annual revenue with weak year-over-year growth of 2.71%.
Key Strengths
Areas of Concern
The stock receives a Fundamental Health Score of 64.5/100 based on profitability, valuation, growth, and balance sheet metrics. The C+ grade reflects average fundamentals, with notable risks in certain areas.
Fundamental Health Score
We analyze FAST's fundamental strength across five key dimensions:
Efficiency Score
ExcellentFAST demonstrates superior asset utilization.
Valuation Score
WeakFAST trades at a premium to fair value.
Growth Score
WeakFAST faces weak or negative growth trends.
Financial Health Score
ExcellentFAST maintains a strong and stable balance sheet.
Profitability Score
ExcellentFAST achieves industry-leading margins.
Key Financial Metrics
Is FAST Expensive or Cheap?
P/E Ratio
FAST trades at 40.14 times earnings. This suggests a premium valuation.
PEG Ratio
When adjusting for growth, FAST's PEG of 14.32 indicates potential overvaluation.
Price to Book
The market values Fastenal Company at 12.81 times its book value. This suggests the stock is fully valued or overvalued on an asset basis.
EV/EBITDA
Enterprise value stands at 28.06 times EBITDA. This signals the market has high growth expectations.
How Well Does FAST Make Money?
Net Profit Margin
For every $100 in sales, Fastenal Company keeps $15.35 as profit after all expenses.
Operating Margin
Core operations generate 20.19 in profit for every $100 in revenue, before interest and taxes.
ROE
Management delivers $32.83 in profit for every $100 of shareholder equity.
ROA
Fastenal Company generates $24.91 in profit for every $100 in assets, demonstrating efficient asset deployment.
Following the Money - Real Cash Generation
Operating Cash Flow
Fastenal Company produces operating cash flow of $1.30B, showing steady but balanced cash generation.
Free Cash Flow
Fastenal Company generates strong free cash flow of $1.05B, providing ample flexibility for dividends, buybacks, or growth.
FCF Per Share
Each share generates $0.92 in free cash annually.
FCF Yield
FAST converts 2.10% of its market value into free cash.
Financial Ratios Analysis
Valuation Ratios
P/E Ratio
Price to earnings ratio
40.14
vs 25 benchmark
PEG Ratio
Price/earnings to growth ratio
14.32
vs 25 benchmark
P/B Ratio
Price to book value ratio
12.81
vs 25 benchmark
P/S Ratio
Price to sales ratio
6.16
vs 25 benchmark
Financial Health
Debt/Equity
Total debt to shareholders' equity
0.11
vs 25 benchmark
Current Ratio
Current assets to current liabilities
4.85
vs 25 benchmark
Efficiency Ratios
ROE
Return on equity percentage
0.33
vs 25 benchmark
ROA
Return on assets percentage
0.25
vs 25 benchmark
ROCE
Return on capital employed
0.38
vs 25 benchmark
How FAST Stacks Against Its Sector Peers
| Metric | FAST Value | Sector Average | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 40.14 | 24.98 | Worse (Expensive) |
| ROE | 32.83% | 1284.00% | Weak |
| Net Margin | 15.35% | -45683.00% (disorted) | Strong |
| Debt/Equity | 0.11 | 0.79 | Strong (Low Leverage) |
| Current Ratio | 4.85 | 10.67 | Strong Liquidity |
| ROA | 24.91% | -1542352.00% (disorted) | Strong |
FAST outperforms its industry in 4 out of 6 key metrics, particularly excelling in Net Margin, but lagging in P/E Ratio.
Historical Growth Performance
5-Year Growth Trajectory
This section reviews Fastenal Company's 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and compares its performance against the typical investment style of its industry.
Revenue CAGR
41.60%
Industry Style: Cyclical, Value, Infrastructure
High GrowthEPS CAGR
45.61%
Industry Style: Cyclical, Value, Infrastructure
High GrowthFCF CAGR
39.35%
Industry Style: Cyclical, Value, Infrastructure
High Growth