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

Watsco Inc.

NYSE
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Fastenal Co.

NASDAQ
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TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

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

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Watsco Inc. Fastenal Co. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 35.32 39.65 Watsco Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 5.90 13.05 Watsco Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 14.86 11.17 Fastenal Co.
PEG Ratio -1.22 2.58 Fastenal Co.
EV/EBITDA 22.50 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 3.15% 3.47% Fastenal Co.
1-Year Return -11.93% 10.43% Fastenal Co.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 2.43 6.09 Watsco Inc.
Enterprise Value $16.60B $51.58B Fastenal Co.
EV/Revenue Ratio 2.29 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) $12.25 $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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WSO
FAST

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

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

Long-term Returns

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

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

MetricWSOFAST
Market Information
Market Cap i$17.79B$52.19B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i474,6388,443,340
90 Day Avg. Volume i508,0738,016,233
Last Close$384.81$46.10
52 Week Range$323.05 - $494.94$38.97 - $50.63
% from 52W High-22.25%-8.95%
All-Time High$571.42 (Nov 25, 2024)$84.88 (Nov 11, 2024)
% from All-Time High-32.66%-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 i3.15%3.47%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$12.00$1.55

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

MetricWSO (Apr 24, 2026)FAST (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i35.3239.65
Forward P/E i30.7232.83
PEG Ratio i-1.222.58
Price to Sales (TTM) i2.436.09
Price to Book (MRQ) i5.9013.05
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$17.79B$52.19B
Enterprise Value i$16.60B$51.58B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i2.296.11
Enterprise to EBITDA i22.5027.31
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 (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 (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 (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

MetricWSOFAST
Shares Short i1927.51M
Short Ratio i0.003.52
Short % of Float i0.00%2.73%
Shares Outstanding i40.58M1.15B
Float Shares i32.86M1.14B
% Held by Insiders i0.39%0.17%
% Held by Institutions i110.84%88.23%
% Held by Public i-11.23%11.60%

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

MetricWSOFAST
Last 12-Month Dividend i$12.00$1.55
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.15%3.47%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$10.87$1.63
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.65%1.03%
3-Year Total Dividends i$32.60$4.89
Ex-Dividend DateJan 16, 2026Jan 29, 2026