FAST vs SNA

For growth investors, Fastenal Company (FAST) is the stronger pick with 8.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 9% for Snap-on Incorporated (SNA). Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) offers the better valuation at 19. 5x trailing P/E (19. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) a "Buy" — based on 17 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) is the cheapest at 19.

5x versus Fastenal Company at 40. 5x. On forward P/E, Snap-on Incorporated is actually cheaper at 19. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Snap-on Incorporated wins at 1. 80x versus Fastenal Company's 4. 59x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Fastenal Company (FAST) delivered a total return of +78.

9%, compared to +60. 4% for Snap-on Incorporated (SNA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FAST returned +336. 4% versus SNA's +168. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fastenal Company (FAST) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

65β versus Snap-on Incorporated's 0. 76β — meaning SNA is approximately 16% more volatile than FAST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fastenal Company (FAST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 22% for Snap-on Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fastenal Company (FAST) is pulling ahead at 8.

7% versus 0. 9% for Snap-on Incorporated (SNA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fastenal Company grew EPS 9. 0% year-over-year, compared to -1. 6% for Snap-on Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, FAST leads at 5. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) is the more profitable company, earning 19.

7% net margin versus 15. 3% for Fastenal Company — meaning it keeps 19. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SNA leads at 25. 8% versus 20. 2% for FAST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SNA leads at 51. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 80x versus Fastenal Company's 4. 59x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) trades at 19. 6x forward P/E versus 35. 7x for Fastenal Company — 16. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SNA: 10. 4% to $413. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 2. 0% for Fastenal Company (FAST).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Fastenal Company (FAST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

65), 2. 0% yield, +336. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FAST: +336. 4%, SNA: +168. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.