Fact based stock research
Fastenal (NasdaqGS:FAST)
US3119001044
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Fastenal stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 79 (better than 79% compared with investment alternatives), Fastenal (Trading & Distribution, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Fastenal are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 7 (worse than 93% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 100) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 77, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 79, is a strong buy recommendation based on Fastenal's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Fastenal exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 7), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 100). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 77) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
Latest Obermatt Ranks
Log in or sign up to see the new 360° View and Sentiment ranks.
360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Trading & Distribution |
| Index | Dividends USA, Water Tech, NASDAQ 100, NASDAQ, S&P 500 |
| Size class | Large |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: Fastenal
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 9 |
|
12 |
|
11 |
|
7 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 37 |
|
97 |
|
83 |
|
100 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 74 |
|
67 |
|
80 |
|
77 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 14 |
|
60 |
|
61 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 8 |
|
75 |
|
68 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 79 (better than 79% compared with investment alternatives), Fastenal (Trading & Distribution, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Fastenal are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 7 (worse than 93% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 100) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 77, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 79, is a strong buy recommendation based on Fastenal's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Fastenal exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 7), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 100). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 77) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 9 |
|
12 |
|
11 |
|
7 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 37 |
|
97 |
|
83 |
|
100 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 74 |
|
67 |
|
80 |
|
77 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 18 |
|
62 |
|
61 |
|
79 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 7 (worse than 93% compared with alternatives), Fastenal shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Fastenal. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 73% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 2 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 98% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Fastenal's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 5 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 95% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 3 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 97% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 7, is a sell recommendation based on Fastenal's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick Fastenal? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose Fastenal only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 3 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
2 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 5 |
|
9 |
|
7 |
|
5 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 8 |
|
14 |
|
7 |
|
3 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 87 |
|
82 |
|
77 |
|
73 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 9 |
|
12 |
|
11 |
|
7 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives) for 2025, Fastenal shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators above average for Fastenal. Sales Growth has a value of 95, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 95% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 78 and for Capital Growth with 67. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 95, which means they have been higher than 95% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 100, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, Fastenal exhibits above-average growth momentum. This could be due to a uniquely strong market position, proprietary technology, or an extensive corporate acquisition strategy. Growth investors will find this an attractive investment opportunity, unless they expect that the current phase is transitory and will deteriorate in the future. The current performance could also be a temporary recovery from a very low point, such as a turn-around situation. In the case of a turn-around, the current performance may or may not be followed by a continuing positive development. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 73 |
|
73 |
|
85 |
|
95 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 19 |
|
65 |
|
72 |
|
78 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 61 |
|
98 |
|
46 |
|
67 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 41 |
|
69 |
|
57 |
|
95 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 37 |
|
97 |
|
83 |
|
100 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 77 (better than 77% compared with alternatives) for 2025, the company Fastenal has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of Fastenal is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above average for Fastenal. Leverage is at a rank of 86, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 86% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 98, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 98% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 6, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 94% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 77 (better than 77% compared with alternatives), Fastenal has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for Fastenal. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge with Fastenal and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 82 |
|
86 |
|
84 |
|
86 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 12 |
|
12 |
|
8 |
|
6 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 96 |
|
93 |
|
100 |
|
98 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 74 |
|
67 |
|
80 |
|
77 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
13 |
|
20 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 56 |
|
69 |
|
12 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 40 |
|
94 |
|
97 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 58 |
|
62 |
|
76 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 14 |
|
60 |
|
61 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Fastenal from July 31, 2025.
Obermatt Portfolio Performance
We’re so convinced about our free research, that we buy our stock tips.
See the performance of the Obermatt portfolio.