Compare Stocks › AXP vs FAST
American Express Company (AXP) vs Fastenal Company (FAST)
AXP
American Express Company
$294.93
VS
FAST
Fastenal Company
$44.49
Rewards
AXP
- ★Gross margin of 63.5% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.18 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
FAST
- ★Fastenal Company has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Fastenal Company scores 94/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 11.0% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
Risks
AXP
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.93 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠7 insider sales totaling $36.4M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
- ⚠Free cash flow has declined at a 5.9% CAGR over the past 4 years — a concerning trend.
FAST
- ⚠FCF yield of 2.1% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
- ⚠Trailing P/E of 40.8x is 26% above the historical average of 32.3x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
- ⚠PEG ratio of 4.39 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AXP
FAST
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$1.05B
N/A
FCF Yield
2.06%
19.19
Trailing P/E
40.82
14.64
Forward P/E
32.99
Quality & Moat
9.49%
ROIC
28.00%
31.97%
ROE
31.91%
63.47%
Gross Margin
45.01%
1.16
PEG Ratio
4.39
Balance Sheet Safety
1.91
Debt / Equity
0.11
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.09
1.29%
Dividend Yield
2.02%
AXP: 4Ties: 2FAST: 3
AXPFAST
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →AXP
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
FAST
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →AXP
$6.18
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$23.29B
Δ Market Cap
+$144.01B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
FAST
$29.34
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$649.7M
Δ Market Cap
+$19.06B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →AXP
38.6% Margin of Safety
Price is 38.6% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $294.93
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $480.21
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
FAST
65.8% Overvalued
Price is 65.8% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $44.49
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $26.84
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AXP
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
FAST
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $44?
+17.4%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +19.9%
The market implies +17.4% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +19.9%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →AXP
40/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
FAST
94/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →AXP
-2.51
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
FAST
-2.40
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →AXP
Insiders 22.2%Institutions 64.8%Retail & Other 12.9%
No. of Institutional Holders3,749
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
FAST
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 88.2%Retail & Other 11.6%
No. of Institutional Holders1,854
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →AXP
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $4,054
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4,054
@ $176.26 · 2025-04-09
ANGELAKIS MICHAEL J
Director
$998,593
@ $269.89 · 2025-03-07
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
FAST
0
Buys (3M)
8
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $250,806
NIELSEN SARAH N
Director
$39,600
@ $39.60 · 2025-11-19
JOHNSON DANIEL L.
Director
$40,440
@ $40.44 · 2025-11-17
HSU HSENGHUNG SAM
Director
$40,750
@ $40.75 · 2025-11-13
HSU HSENGHUNG SAM
Director
$40,580
@ $40.58 · 2025-11-13
EASTMAN STEPHEN L
Director
$40,816
@ $40.82 · 2025-11-12
HSU HSENGHUNG SAM
Director
$42,450
@ $42.45 · 2025-10-16
MILLER CHARLES S
Officer
$3,069
@ $76.72 · 2025-04-14
MILLER CHARLES S
Officer
$3,101
@ $77.53 · 2025-04-14
LEWIS HOLDEN
Chief Financial Officer
$15,538
@ $71.94 · 2024-11-21
HSU HSENGHUNG SAM
Director
$63,115
@ $63.12 · 2024-06-11
JOHNSON DANIEL L.
Director
$229,056
@ $68.37 · 2024-04-17
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →AXP
7
Sells (3M)
20
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $152.65M
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$909,661
@ $300.02 · 2026-03-06
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4.77M
@ $340.67 · 2026-02-19
GROSFIELD HOWARD M
Officer
$2.82M
@ $346.73 · 2026-02-12
RADHAKRISHNAN RAVIKUMAR S
Chief Technology Officer
$5.35M
@ $356.58 · 2026-02-09
SEEGER LAUREEN E
Officer
$4.60M
@ $360.99 · 2026-02-09
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$9.60M
@ $350.01 · 2026-02-05
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$8.35M
@ $356.91 · 2026-02-05
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$538,902
@ $384.93 · 2025-12-12
RUTLEDGE ELIZABETH
Officer
$18.01M
@ $360.21 · 2025-10-31
TABISH DOUGLAS J
Officer
$894,359
@ $355.61 · 2025-10-23
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$1.75M
@ $350.73 · 2025-10-22
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$37.03M
@ $329.86 · 2025-09-04
HERENA MONIQUE
Officer
$2.83M
@ $325.88 · 2025-09-03
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$7.67M
@ $326.37 · 2025-09-02
SEEGER LAUREEN E
Officer
$23.37M
@ $296.90 · 2025-08-06
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$15.47M
@ $309.50 · 2025-07-29
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$1.71M
@ $310.77 · 2025-07-29
MARQUEZ RAFAEL
Officer
$3.56M
@ $296.93 · 2025-05-20
GROSFIELD HOWARD M
Officer
$2.60M
@ $275.50 · 2025-05-06
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$799,009
@ $264.66 · 2025-04-29
MARRS ANNA
President
$6.32M
@ $287.88 · 2025-03-04
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$897,590
@ $296.43 · 2025-02-26
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$2.29M
@ $309.96 · 2025-02-11
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$16.24M
@ $319.45 · 2025-02-06
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$3.53M
@ $317.01 · 2025-02-05
RADHAKRISHNAN RAVIKUMAR S
Chief Technology Officer
$3.03M
@ $319.17 · 2025-02-05
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$7.25M
@ $318.69 · 2025-02-05
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4.77M
@ $313.94 · 2025-01-28
LE CAILLEC CHRISTOPHE
Chief Financial Officer
$1.82M
@ $303.48 · 2024-11-27
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$48.90M
@ $286.57 · 2024-11-07
HERENA MONIQUE
Officer
$374,010
@ $287.70 · 2024-11-07
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$3.55M
@ $270.98 · 2024-10-29
WILLIAMS ANRE D.
Officer
$21.05M
@ $270.26 · 2024-10-22
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$666,213
@ $240.68 · 2024-05-22
SKYLER JENNIFER
Officer
$3.58M
@ $241.73 · 2024-05-10
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$729,770
@ $232.41 · 2024-05-06
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$829,501
@ $230.93 · 2024-05-03
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$27.27M
@ $232.44 · 2024-05-02
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$9.28M
@ $238.63 · 2024-04-23
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
FAST
2
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $26.27M
WISECUP REYNE KAY
Director
$1.75M
@ $47.34 · 2026-03-05
SATTERLEE SCOTT ALAN
Director
$705,454
@ $44.19 · 2026-01-23
DRAZKOWSKI WILLIAM JOSEPH
Officer
$333,012
@ $48.67 · 2025-08-15
FLORNESS DANIEL LARS
Chief Executive Officer
$4.10M
@ $48.44 · 2025-08-12
FLORNESS DANIEL LARS
Chief Executive Officer
$4.10M
@ $48.44 · 2025-08-12
WATTS JEFFERY MICHAEL
President
$2.34M
@ $48.05 · 2025-08-08
SODERBERG JOHN LEWIS
Officer
$1.66M
@ $48.03 · 2025-08-08
SODERBERG JOHN LEWIS
Officer
$1.66M
@ $48.03 · 2025-08-08
BROERSMA ANTHONY PAUL
Officer
$650,931
@ $47.93 · 2025-07-24
LISOWSKI SHERYL ANN
Chief Financial Officer
$951,832
@ $45.21 · 2025-07-17
PAPENFUSS DONNALEE KATHLEEN
Officer
$121,983
@ $41.27 · 2025-06-05
SODERBERG JOHN LEWIS
Officer
$1.35M
@ $82.45 · 2025-05-16
SATTERLEE SCOTT ALAN
Director
$768,868
@ $79.51 · 2025-05-06
BROERSMA ANTHONY PAUL
Officer
$452,060
@ $81.19 · 2025-04-25
FLORNESS DANIEL LARS
Chief Executive Officer
$4.11M
@ $82.12 · 2025-04-24
DRAZKOWSKI WILLIAM JOSEPH
Officer
$1.22M
@ $81.31 · 2025-04-14
LEWIS HOLDEN
Chief Financial Officer
$5.15M
@ $74.97 · 2025-03-14
JANSEN JAMES C
Officer
$1.63M
@ $83.07 · 2024-11-22
MILLER CHARLES S
Officer
$1.97M
@ $83.92 · 2024-11-13
JOHNSON DANIEL L.
Director
$706,396
@ $83.36 · 2024-11-13
FLORNESS DANIEL LARS
Chief Executive Officer
$2.69M
@ $84.50 · 2024-11-11
LUNDQUIST NICHOLAS J
Director
$705,695
@ $83.14 · 2024-11-08
PAPENFUSS DONNALEE KATHLEEN
Officer
$374,470
@ $83.92 · 2024-11-08
LISOWSKI SHERYL ANN
Officer and Treasurer
$501,205
@ $83.53 · 2024-11-08
LEWIS HOLDEN
Chief Financial Officer
$3.41M
@ $83.12 · 2024-11-07
DRAZKOWSKI WILLIAM JOSEPH
Officer
$1.42M
@ $82.28 · 2024-11-06
SODERBERG JOHN LEWIS
Officer
$1.59M
@ $82.95 · 2024-11-06
HEISE RITA J
Director
$845,692
@ $77.67 · 2024-10-30
DRAZKOWSKI WILLIAM JOSEPH
Officer
$1.27M
@ $77.65 · 2024-10-16
WISECUP REYNE KAY
Director
$1.71M
@ $78.55 · 2024-10-16
BROERSMA ANTHONY PAUL
Officer
$52,945
@ $77.86 · 2024-10-16
LUNDQUIST NICHOLAS J
Director
$1.74M
@ $77.15 · 2024-10-15
LEWIS HOLDEN
Chief Financial Officer
$2.30M
@ $76.52 · 2024-10-14
LISOWSKI SHERYL ANN
Officer and Treasurer
$1.03M
@ $76.19 · 2024-10-14
FLORNESS DANIEL LARS
Chief Executive Officer
$3.48M
@ $69.68 · 2024-09-12
FLORNESS DANIEL LARS
Chief Executive Officer
$3.12M
@ $68.14 · 2024-08-21
JANSEN JAMES C
Officer
$732,147
@ $64.07 · 2024-05-29
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →AXP
😐Neutral(42/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
FAST
😐Neutral(52/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →AXP
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (42)
FAST
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (52)