Fastenal [FAST] vs Watsco [WSO] Detailed Stock Comparison

Fastenal Co.

NASDAQ
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Watsco Inc.

NYSE
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TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Fastenal Co. wins in 13 metrics, Watsco Inc. wins in 8 metrics, with 0 ties. Fastenal Co. appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Fastenal Co. Watsco Inc. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 39.65 35.32 Watsco Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 13.05 5.90 Watsco Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 11.17 14.86 Fastenal Co.
PEG Ratio 2.58 -1.22 Fastenal Co.
EV/EBITDA 27.31 22.50 Watsco Inc.
Profit Margin (TTM) 15.39% 6.87% Fastenal Co.
Operating Margin (TTM) 20.33% 6.09% Fastenal Co.
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 20.33% 6.09% Fastenal Co.
Return on Equity 33.84% 18.69% Fastenal Co.
Return on Assets (TTM) 21.20% 9.76% Fastenal Co.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $1.05B $535.06M Fastenal Co.
Dividend Yield 3.47% 3.15% Fastenal Co.
1-Year Return 10.43% -11.93% Fastenal Co.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 6.09 2.43 Watsco Inc.
Enterprise Value $51.58B $16.60B Fastenal Co.
EV/Revenue Ratio 6.11 2.29 Watsco Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 44.64% 27.14% Fastenal Co.
Revenue per Share (TTM) $7 $191 Watsco Inc.
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $1.13 $12.25 Watsco Inc.
Beta (Stock Volatility) 0.84 1.05 Fastenal Co.
Short % of Float 2.73% 0.00% Watsco Inc.

Fastenal Co. vs Watsco Inc. Stock Performance Analysis

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FAST
WSO

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Fastenal Co.-1.01%0.22%6.56%0.92%8.27%14.00%
Watsco Inc.1.14%3.49%-4.55%2.77%11.67%10.79%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Fastenal Co.10.43%64.62%83.71%318.79%467.93%846.54%
Watsco Inc.-11.93%3.79%38.48%185.27%499.06%550.36%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Fastenal Co. vs Watsco Inc.

MetricFASTWSO
Market Information
Market Cap i$52.19B$17.79B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i8,443,340474,638
90 Day Avg. Volume i8,016,233508,073
Last Close$46.10$384.81
52 Week Range$38.97 - $50.63$323.05 - $494.94
% from 52W High-8.95%-22.25%
All-Time High$84.88 (Nov 11, 2024)$571.42 (Nov 25, 2024)
% from All-Time High-45.69%-32.66%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.12%-0.10%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.14%-0.26%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.15%0.07%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.20%0.06%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.34%0.19%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i11.1714.86
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$3.44$73.36
Cash per Share (MRQ)$0.27$19.33
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$1.41B$569.61M
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$904.46M$290.91M
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.47%3.15%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$1.55$12.00

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Fastenal Co. vs Watsco Inc.

MetricFAST (Apr 24, 2026)WSO (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i39.6535.32
Forward P/E i32.8330.72
PEG Ratio i2.58-1.22
Price to Sales (TTM) i6.092.43
Price to Book (MRQ) i13.055.90
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$52.19B$17.79B
Enterprise Value i$51.58B$16.60B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i6.112.29
Enterprise to EBITDA i27.3122.50
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i0.841.05
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$3.44$73.36

Financial Statements Comparison: Fastenal Co. vs Watsco Inc.

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricFAST (2025)WSO (2025)
Revenue/Sales i8.20B7.24B
Cost of Goods Sold i4.51B5.21B
COGS % of Revenue i55.0%72.0%
Gross Profit i3.69B2.03B
Gross Margin i45.0%28.0%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i1.66B692.58M
Operating Margin i20.2%9.6%
EBITDA i1.84B736.33M
EBITDA Margin i22.4%10.2%
Pre-Tax Income i1.66B737.68M
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i20.2%10.2%
Income Tax i396.60M150.09M
Income Tax % of Revenue i4.8%2.1%
Net Income (Profit) i1.26B587.59M
Profit Margin i15.3%8.1%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricFAST (2025)WSO (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i276.80M433.28M
Total Current Assets i3.47B2.95B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i42.3%40.8%
Total Current Liabilities i715.60M717.74M
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i8.7%9.9%
Long-Term Debt i310.80M361.64M
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i3.8%5.0%
Total Shareholders Equity i3.94B3.22B
Retained Earnings i3.87B1.32B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i47.2%18.2%
Property, Plant & Equipment i2.14B452.55M

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricFAST (2025)WSO (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i1.26B583.03M
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i15.4%8.1%
Capital Expenditures i-230.50M457,000
Free Cash Flow i1.05B535.06M
FCF Margin i12.8%7.4%
Debt Repayment i-1.18B-5.97M
Common Stock Repurchase iN/A-3.66M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricFASTWSO
Shares Short i27.51M19
Short Ratio i3.520.00
Short % of Float i2.73%0.00%
Shares Outstanding i1.15B40.58M
Float Shares i1.14B32.86M
% Held by Insiders i0.17%0.39%
% Held by Institutions i88.23%110.84%
% Held by Public i11.60%-11.23%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Fastenal Co. vs Watsco Inc.

MetricFASTWSO
Last 12-Month Dividend i$1.55$12.00
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.47%3.15%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$1.63$10.87
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i1.03%0.65%
3-Year Total Dividends i$4.89$32.60
Ex-Dividend DateJan 29, 2026Jan 16, 2026