Compare StocksFAST vs MA

Fastenal Company (FAST) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA)

FAST
Fastenal Company
$44.49
VS
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$491.14

Rewards

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.
MA
  • Mastercard Incorporated has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Mastercard Incorporated scores 99/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

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.
MA
  • High leverage (2.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • Insiders have sold $4.5M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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FAST
MA
Valuation
$1.05B
Free Cash Flow
$16.27B
2.06%
FCF Yield
3.71%
40.82
Trailing P/E
29.77
32.99
Forward P/E
21.70
Quality & Moat
28.00%
ROIC
54.23%
31.91%
ROE
193.24%
45.01%
Gross Margin
100.00%
4.39
PEG Ratio
1.23
Balance Sheet Safety
0.11
Debt / Equity
2.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.09
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.43
2.02%
Dividend Yield
0.71%
FAST: 3Ties: 1MA: 8
FASTMA

Historical Fundamentals

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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.

MA

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

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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
MA
$5.62
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$31.68B
Δ Market Cap
+$177.96B
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

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

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FAST
65.8% Overvalued
Price is 65.8% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $44.49
Fair Value: $26.84
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MA
12.0% Margin of Safety
Price is 12.0% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $491.14
Fair Value: $558.06
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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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.

MA

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $491?

+13.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +12.0%

The market implies +13.2% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +12.0%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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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.
MA
99/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency 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 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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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.
MA
-2.53
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

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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.
MA
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 91.1%Retail & Other 8.3%
No. of Institutional Holders4,864
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

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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
MA
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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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
MA
1
Sells (3M)
19
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $64.44M
LING HAI
Officer
$4.48M
@ $499.20 · 2026-02-24
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.20M
@ $591.00 · 2025-09-02
LING HAI
Officer
$2.69M
@ $600.00 · 2025-08-22
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.46M
@ $586.89 · 2025-08-19
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.83M
@ $566.46 · 2025-08-05
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$178,049
@ $570.67 · 2025-07-07
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-30
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$601,447
@ $546.77 · 2025-06-27
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$173,910
@ $561.00 · 2025-06-24
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-24
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$508,474
@ $535.80 · 2025-06-20
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.02M
@ $532.97 · 2025-06-20
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$1.76M
@ $561.78 · 2025-06-16
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$549,373
@ $572.86 · 2025-06-13
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.55M
@ $588.18 · 2025-06-12
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$8.22M
@ $585.05 · 2025-06-05
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$218,223
@ $577.31 · 2025-05-15
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$257,535
@ $572.30 · 2025-05-12
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$8.68M
@ $550.16 · 2025-03-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$3.81M
@ $534.68 · 2025-03-19
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.12M
@ $556.14 · 2025-03-05
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$9.78M
@ $553.76 · 2025-03-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.19M
@ $562.72 · 2025-02-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$6.18M
@ $564.99 · 2025-02-18
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$7.97M
@ $565.00 · 2025-02-18
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$10.17M
@ $564.95 · 2025-02-18
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.36M
@ $500.44 · 2024-11-01
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.30M
@ $491.03 · 2024-09-27
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.29M
@ $489.86 · 2024-09-20
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$550,000
@ $500.00 · 2024-09-17
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.31M
@ $493.10 · 2024-09-13
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$528,000
@ $480.00 · 2024-08-29
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.19M
@ $468.80 · 2024-08-22
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.03M
@ $467.02 · 2024-08-21
LING HAI
Officer
$1.36M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.16M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$6.11M
@ $455.00 · 2024-08-05
LING HAI
Officer
$1.35M
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$512,006
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.07M
@ $451.06 · 2024-06-20
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.34M
@ $446.24 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$47.72M
@ $445.98 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$49.51M
@ $442.03 · 2024-06-13
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.11M
@ $449.66 · 2024-06-12
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$50.61M
@ $447.85 · 2024-06-10
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.71M
@ $443.93 · 2024-06-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.04M
@ $447.28 · 2024-06-05
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.31M
@ $441.57 · 2024-06-03
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

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FAST
FearGreed
😐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.
MA
FearGreed
😐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.

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

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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)
MA
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)
View FAST Full AnalysisView MA Full Analysis
Fastenal Company (FAST) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io