FAST - Fastenal Company | StockAlert.pro

Stock Details

Fastenal Company (FAST), a prominent company in the trade & services sector within the retail-building materials, hardware, garden supply industry, is based in USA and primarily trades on the NASDAQ.Currently, the stock is trading at $47.75. Over the past 52 weeks, it has ranged between $31.01 and $48.10. This places the current price at 99.3% of its 52-week high and 54.0% above its 52-week low. Recent trading volume was recorded at 5,504,974. The International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) for this stock is US3119001044.

Fundamentals

Valuation Metrics

P/E Ratio (TTM)

41.96

Above market average

Forward P/E

38.46

Earnings expected to grow

PEG Ratio

3.79

Potentially overvalued

Price to Book

13.04

EV/EBITDA

28.55

EPS (TTM)

$1.00

Price to Sales

6.33

Beta

0.97

Less volatile than market

How is FAST valued relative to its earnings and growth?

Fastenal Company trades at a P/E ratio of 41.96, which is above the market average of approximately 20. This premium valuation suggests investors expect above-average growth or the company has competitive advantages justifying the higher multiple. Looking ahead, the forward P/E of 38.46 is lower than the current P/E, indicating analysts expect earnings to grow over the next year. The PEG ratio of 3.79 indicates a premium valuation even accounting for growth.

What is FAST's risk profile compared to the market?

With a beta of 0.97, Fastenal Company is less volatile than the overall market. This means when the market moves up or down by 10%, this stock typically moves less than 10% in the same direction. Lower beta stocks are often preferred by conservative investors seeking stability. The price-to-book ratio of 13.04 shows investors value the company above its book value, which often reflects intangible assets or growth prospects.

Performance & Growth

Profit Margin

15.10%

Operating Margin

20.10%

Return on Equity

32.40%

Return on Assets

20.10%

Revenue Growth (YoY)

3.40%

Earnings Growth (YoY)

0.00%

How profitable and efficient is FAST's business model?

Fastenal Company achieves a profit margin of 15.10%, meaning it retains $15.10 from every $100 in revenue after all expenses. This is an impressive margin, indicating strong pricing power and efficient cost management that allows the company to generate substantial profits. The operating margin of 20.10% reveals how efficiently the company runs its core business operations before interest and taxes. With ROE at 32.40% and ROA at 20.10%, the company generates strong returns on invested capital.

What are FAST's recent growth trends?

Fastenal Company's revenue grew by 3.40% year-over-year, showing steady progress in growing the business. This positive trajectory indicates the company maintains competitive positioning in its markets.0 These growth metrics should be evaluated against RETAIL-BUILDING MATERIALS, HARDWARE, GARDEN SUPPLY industry averages for proper context.

Dividend Information

Dividend Per Share

$0.80

Dividend Yield

2.10%

Ex-Dividend Date

4/25/2025

Dividend Date

5/23/2025

What dividend income can investors expect from FAST?

Fastenal Company offers a dividend yield of 2.10%, paying $0.80 per share annually. This above-average yield of 2-4% provides meaningful income while still allowing the company to reinvest for growth. It compares favorably to the S&P 500 average and offers competitive returns versus bonds in the current rate environment. To receive the next dividend, shares must be purchased before the ex-dividend date of 4/25/2025.

How reliable is FAST's dividend for long-term investors?

The dividend sustainability can be assessed through the payout ratio - Fastenal Company pays $0.80 per share in dividends against earnings of $1.00 per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 80.00%. This high payout ratio of 60-90% leaves limited earnings for reinvestment. While currently sustainable, there's less buffer for dividend growth or protection during earnings downturns. The next dividend payment is scheduled for 5/23/2025.

Company Size & Market

Shares Outstanding

1.15B

Book Value/Share

$3.22

Asset Type

Common Stock

What is FAST's market capitalization and position?

Fastenal Company has a market capitalization of $48.14B, classifying it as a large-cap stock ($10B-$200B). Large-caps are typically industry leaders with established business models, offering a balance of stability and growth potential. They often provide dividend income and are core holdings in institutional portfolios. With 1.15B shares outstanding, the company's ownership is widely distributed. As a participant in the RETAIL-BUILDING MATERIALS, HARDWARE, GARDEN SUPPLY industry, it competes with other firms in this sector.

How does FAST's price compare to its book value?

Fastenal Company's book value per share is $3.22, while the current stock price is $47.75, resulting in a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 14.84. This high P/B ratio indicates significant intangible assets, strong brand value, or high growth expectations. Technology and consumer brand companies often trade at elevated P/B ratios due to intellectual property and competitive advantages not reflected on the balance sheet. As a common stock, this represents equity ownership with voting rights.

Analyst Ratings

Analyst Target Price

$38.10

20.21% downside potential

Analyst Recommendations

Strong Buy

Buy

Hold

Sell

Strong Sell

How reliable are analyst predictions for FAST?

17 analysts cover FAST with 18% recommending buy/strong buy ratings. Analyst predictions have mixed reliability - studies show consensus rarely beats market returns consistently. The bearish sentiment could create opportunity if analysts are wrong. The consensus target of $38.10 implies -20.2% downside, but targets are often adjusted to follow price moves rather than predict them.

What is the Wall Street consensus on FAST?

Current analyst recommendations:03 Buy, 11 Hold, 2 Sell, 1 Strong Sell. The neutral stance suggests uncertainty or fair valuation at current levels.Remember that analyst opinions often lag price movements and can be influenced by investment banking relationships.

Fundamentals last updated: Jul 1, 2025, 02:15 AM

Fastenal Company (FAST) Stock