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

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Watsco Inc. wins in 9 metrics, Fastenal Co. wins in 12 metrics, with 0 ties. Fastenal Co. appears stronger overall.

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Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Watsco Inc. Fastenal Co. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 29.85 39.65 Watsco Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 4.98 13.05 Watsco Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 14.86 11.17 Fastenal Co.
PEG Ratio -1.03 2.58 Fastenal Co.
EV/EBITDA 19.19 27.31 Watsco Inc.
Profit Margin (TTM) 6.87% 15.39% Fastenal Co.
Operating Margin (TTM) 6.09% 20.33% Fastenal Co.
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 6.09% 20.33% Fastenal Co.
Return on Equity 18.69% 33.84% Fastenal Co.
Return on Assets (TTM) 9.76% 21.20% Fastenal Co.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $535.06M $1.05B Fastenal Co.
Dividend Yield 3.91% 3.47% Watsco Inc.
1-Year Return -22.22% 10.43% Fastenal Co.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 2.05 6.09 Watsco Inc.
Enterprise Value $14.16B $51.58B Fastenal Co.
EV/Revenue Ratio 1.96 6.11 Watsco Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 27.14% 44.64% Fastenal Co.
Revenue per Share (TTM) $191 $7 Watsco Inc.
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $12.23 $1.13 Watsco Inc.
Beta (Stock Volatility) 1.05 0.84 Fastenal Co.
Short % of Float 0.00% 2.73% Watsco Inc.

Watsco Inc. vs Fastenal Co. Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Watsco Inc.0.00%0.00%-22.80%-4.77%-0.55%3.29%
Fastenal Co.-1.01%0.22%6.56%0.92%8.27%14.00%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Watsco Inc.-22.22%-4.66%19.86%163.16%449.45%493.22%
Fastenal Co.10.43%64.62%83.71%318.79%467.93%846.54%

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

MetricWSO.BFAST
Market Information
Market Cap i$14.96B$52.19B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i108,443,340
90 Day Avg. Volume i38,016,233
Last Close$350.00$46.10
52 Week Range$338.85 - $453.37$38.97 - $50.63
% from 52W High-22.80%-8.95%
All-Time High$535.00 (Nov 18, 2024)$84.88 (Nov 11, 2024)
% from All-Time High-34.58%-45.69%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth-0.10%0.12%
Quarterly Earnings Growth-0.26%0.14%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.07%0.15%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.06%0.20%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.19%0.34%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i14.8611.17
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$73.36$3.44
Cash per Share (MRQ)$19.33$0.27
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$569.61M$1.41B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$290.91M$904.46M
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.91%3.47%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$14.70$1.55

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

MetricWSO.B (Apr 26, 2026)FAST (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i29.8539.65
Forward P/E iN/A32.83
PEG Ratio i-1.032.58
Price to Sales (TTM) i2.056.09
Price to Book (MRQ) i4.9813.05
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$14.96B$52.19B
Enterprise Value i$14.16B$51.58B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i1.966.11
Enterprise to EBITDA i19.1927.31
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i1.050.84
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$73.36$3.44

Financial Statements Comparison: Watsco Inc. vs Fastenal Co.

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricWSO.B (2025)FAST (2025)
Revenue/Sales i7.24B8.20B
Cost of Goods Sold i5.21B4.51B
COGS % of Revenue i72.0%55.0%
Gross Profit i2.03B3.69B
Gross Margin i28.0%45.0%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i692.58M1.66B
Operating Margin i9.6%20.2%
EBITDA i736.33M1.84B
EBITDA Margin i10.2%22.4%
Pre-Tax Income i737.68M1.66B
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i10.2%20.2%
Income Tax i150.09M396.60M
Income Tax % of Revenue i2.1%4.8%
Net Income (Profit) i587.59M1.26B
Profit Margin i8.1%15.3%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricWSO.B (2025)FAST (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i433.28M276.80M
Total Current Assets i2.95B3.47B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i40.8%42.3%
Total Current Liabilities i717.74M715.60M
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i9.9%8.7%
Long-Term Debt i361.64M310.80M
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i5.0%3.8%
Total Shareholders Equity i3.22B3.94B
Retained Earnings i1.32B3.87B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i18.2%47.2%
Property, Plant & Equipment i452.55M2.14B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricWSO.B (2025)FAST (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i583.03M1.26B
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i8.1%15.4%
Capital Expenditures i457,000-230.50M
Free Cash Flow i535.06M1.05B
FCF Margin i7.4%12.8%
Debt Repayment i-5.97M-1.18B
Common Stock Repurchase i-3.66MN/A

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricWSO.BFAST
Shares Short i2527.51M
Short Ratio i3.573.52
Short % of Float i0.00%2.73%
Shares Outstanding i40.58M1.15B
Float Shares i32.86M1.14B
% Held by Insiders i92.38%0.17%
% Held by Institutions i0.42%88.23%
% Held by Public i7.20%11.60%

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

MetricWSO.BFAST
Last 12-Month Dividend i$14.70$1.55
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.91%3.47%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$10.87$1.63
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.66%1.03%
3-Year Total Dividends i$32.60$4.89
Ex-Dividend DateJan 16, 2026Jan 29, 2026