Compare Stocks › FAST vs MSFT
Fastenal Company (FAST) vs Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
FAST
Fastenal Company
$44.49
VS
MSFT
Microsoft Corporation
$389.02
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.
MSFT
- ★Microsoft Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Gross margin of 68.6% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Microsoft Corporation scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability 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.
MSFT
- ⚠FCF yield of 2.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →FAST
MSFT
Valuation
$1.05B
Free Cash Flow
$71.61B
2.06%
FCF Yield
2.48%
40.82
Trailing P/E
24.33
32.99
Forward P/E
20.64
Quality & Moat
28.00%
ROIC
22.10%
31.91%
ROE
26.05%
45.01%
Gross Margin
68.59%
4.39
PEG Ratio
0.41
Balance Sheet Safety
0.11
Debt / Equity
0.32
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.09
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.19
2.02%
Dividend Yield
0.94%
FAST: 5Ties: 1MSFT: 6
FASTMSFT
Historical Fundamentals
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Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
MSFT
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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$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
MSFT
$9.18
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$196.68B
Δ Market Cap
+$1.81T
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 →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
MSFT
0.5% Overvalued
Price is 0.5% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $389.02
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $387.10
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
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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.
MSFT
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $389?
+12.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +17.4%
The market implies +12.6% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.
Standard FCF implies +17.4%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →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.
MSFT
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Reinvestment Efficiency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.
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
Learn more →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.
MSFT
-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.
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 →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.
MSFT
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 76.0%Retail & Other 23.9%
No. of Institutional Holders8,054
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 →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
MSFT
1
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $3.44M
STANTON JOHN W.
Director
$1.99M
@ $397.35 · 2026-02-18
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$1.45M
@ $377.47 · 2025-04-23
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 →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
MSFT
1
Sells (3M)
13
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $172.43M
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$5.05M
@ $409.55 · 2026-03-06
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.36M
@ $478.72 · 2025-12-04
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$6.27M
@ $491.52 · 2025-12-02
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$19.97M
@ $518.64 · 2025-11-03
NADELLA SATYA
Chief Executive Officer
$75.32M
@ $504.78 · 2025-09-03
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$2.56M
@ $527.32 · 2025-08-12
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.39M
@ $463.00 · 2025-06-03
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$460,008
@ $460.01 · 2025-05-30
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$9.76M
@ $453.77 · 2025-05-21
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$7.33M
@ $458.18 · 2025-05-19
COLEMAN AMY
Officer
$5.99M
@ $452.04 · 2025-05-15
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$1.68M
@ $438.44 · 2025-05-05
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$35.30M
@ $435.84 · 2025-05-05
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.12M
@ $447.41 · 2024-12-09
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$874,634
@ $437.32 · 2024-12-04
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.50M
@ $428.76 · 2024-12-02
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$10.43M
@ $417.00 · 2024-11-22
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$414,720
@ $414.72 · 2024-11-22
YOUNG CHRISTOPHER DAVID
Officer
$3.05M
@ $423.66 · 2024-11-12
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$7.16M
@ $411.86 · 2024-09-10
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.03M
@ $411.04 · 2024-09-10
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$16.10M
@ $402.59 · 2024-09-09
HOOD AMY E
Chief Financial Officer
$15.60M
@ $410.55 · 2024-09-05
NADELLA SATYA
Chief Executive Officer
$32.02M
@ $408.63 · 2024-09-04
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$235,535
@ $416.14 · 2024-06-03
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$10.64M
@ $425.68 · 2024-05-23
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 →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.
MSFT
😐Neutral(43/100)
"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 →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)
MSFT
⚪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 (43)