FAST Fastenal Company - Fundamental Analysis
NEUTRAL
FAST Stock | Fundamental Analysis & Investment Insights
NASDAQ
•
Industrials
•
Industrial Distribution
Current Price
$40.45
Analyst Target
$43.46
+7.4% Upside
52W High
$50.63
52W Low
$35.3
AI Analysis
Powered by advanced machine learning algorithms
Confidence Score
72%
Analysis Accuracy
Fastenal Company trades at a premium valuation with solid profitability and financial health, but recent price underperformance and mixed earnings execution temper near-term upside. The stock's P/E of 38.16 is well above sector average (31.89) and close peers like NSC and PCAR, though justified somewhat by superior ROE (32.74%) and disciplined capital structure (Debt/Equity: 0.13). Revenue and earnings growth remain healthy at ~11.7% and 11.5% YoY, but insider selling worth $10.16M over the past six months raises caution. Analysts are tepid with a 'hold' consensus and a $43.46 target implying only 7.4% upside, while the dividend yield of 2.18% offers modest support.
Key Strengths
Exceptional profitability with ROE of 32.74% vs sector avg of 31.90% and peer CPRT at 18.48%
Strong balance sheet: Debt/Equity of 0.13 vs sector average of 1.44, indicating conservative leverage
High gross margin of 45.15%, reflecting pricing power and efficient supply chain in industrial distribution
Operating margin of 20.70% exceeds sector average profit margin (13.67%) by over 50%
Healthy dividend yield of 2.18% with a long-standing payout history providing income floor
Key Risks
Elevated valuation: P/E of 38.16 vs sector avg 31.89 and forward P/E of 18.47 suggesting limited near-term multiple expansion
Recent insider selling: $10.16M in sales by executives including CEO and President signals lack of confidence
High payout ratio of 79.81% leaves little room for dividend growth or reinvestment during downturns
Near-term price weakness: -3.7% over 1M and -1.6% over 6M underperforms peers like NSC (+16.5% 6M)
Only 2 out of last 4 quarters beat estimates, with average surprise of just 1.66%, indicating inconsistent execution
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$43.5
+7.5% above current price
Performance Snowflake
Multi-dimensional AI analysis across 5 key categories
Stock Price & Analyst Targets
Real-time price movements and analyst price targets
Historical Performance Trends
Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns
Valuation Metrics
Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators
Profitability, Growth & Financial Health
Detailed profit margins, ROE, debt ratios, and liquidity metrics
Sector Comparison & Peer Analysis
Compare FAST against industry averages and similar companies
Insider Trading & Analyst Ratings
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