AIT
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.
Industrial - Distribution
Market Cap$11.47B
5Y Perf.+435.1%
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Stock Comparison
AIT vs FAST
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
FAST
Fastenal Company
Industrial - Distribution
Market Cap$50.93B
5Y Perf.+115.0%
AIT vs FAST — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AIT | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Distribution | Industrial - Distribution |
| Market Cap | $11.47B | $50.93B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.84B | $8.20B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $404M | $1.26B |
| Gross Margin | 30.0% | 45.0% |
| Operating Margin | 11.2% | 20.2% |
| Forward P/E | 29.0x | 35.9x |
| Total Debt | $572M | $442M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $388M | $277M |
AIT vs FAST — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AIT
FAST
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Industrial … (AIT) | 100 | 535.1 | +435.1% |
| Fastenal Company (FAST) | 100 | 215.0 | +115.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AIT vs FAST
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: FAST leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AIT
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
AIT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and valuation efficiency.
- 6.3% 10Y total return vs FAST's 338.1%
- PEG 0.39 vs FAST's 4.62
- Lower P/E (29.0x vs 35.9x), PEG 0.39 vs 4.62
Best for: long-term compounding and valuation efficiency
FAST
Fastenal Company
The Income Pick
FAST carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.69, yield 2.0%
- Rev growth 8.7%, EPS growth 9.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.69, Low D/E 11.2%, current ratio 4.85x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FAST | 8.7% revenue growth vs AIT's 1.9% |
| Value | AIT | Lower P/E (29.0x vs 35.9x), PEG 0.39 vs 4.62 |
| Quality / Margins | FAST | 15.3% margin vs AIT's 8.3% |
| Stability / Safety | FAST | Beta 0.69 vs AIT's 1.07, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AIT | 0.5% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs FAST's 2.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AIT | +44.6% vs FAST's +15.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FAST | 24.9% ROA vs AIT's 12.9%, ROIC 31.2% vs 18.7% |
AIT vs FAST — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2015
AIT vs FAST — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAITLAGGINGFAST
FASTFastenal Company
2leads
AITApplied Industrial Te…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FASTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
FAST6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AIT7/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
FAST9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AIT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FAST leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FAST is the larger business by revenue, generating $8.2B annually — 1.7x AIT's $4.8B. FAST is the more profitable business, keeping 15.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AIT's 8.3%. On growth, FAST holds the edge at +11.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AITApplied Industria… | FASTFastenal Company |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.8B | $8.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $592M | $1.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $404M | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $437M | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +30.0% | +45.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +20.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +15.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +12.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.3% | +11.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.1% | +13.0% |
FAST leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AIT leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 30.7x trailing earnings, AIT trades at a 25% valuation discount to FAST's 40.7x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AIT offers better value at 0.41x vs FAST's 5.24x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | AITApplied Industria… | FASTFastenal Company |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.5B | $50.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.7B | $51.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 30.67x | 40.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.00x | 35.86x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.41x | 5.24x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.85x | 30.86x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.51x | 6.21x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.53x | 12.94x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.66x | 48.48x |
AIT leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FAST leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FAST delivers a 31.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $32 in annual profit, vs $22 for AIT. FAST carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AIT's 0.31x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FAST scores 7/9 vs AIT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AITApplied Industria… | FASTFastenal Company |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.6% | +31.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.9% | +24.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +18.7% | +31.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.5% | +39.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 0.11x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $184M | $165M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $388M | $277M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $572M | $442M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 42.94x | 259.39x |
FAST leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AIT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AIT five years ago would be worth $30,484 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,132 for FAST. Over the past 12 months, AIT leads with a +44.6% total return vs FAST's +15.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AIT at 34.6% vs FAST's 20.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AITApplied Industria… | FASTFastenal Company |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.7% | +10.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +44.6% | +15.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +143.8% | +73.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +204.8% | +81.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +627.9% | +338.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +34.6% | +20.1% |
AIT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — AIT and FAST each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FAST is the less volatile stock with a 0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AIT's 1.07 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AIT currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs FAST's 87.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AITApplied Industria… | FASTFastenal Company |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.07x | 0.69x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $316.82 | $50.63 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $213.78 | $38.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.0% | +87.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 72.6 | 46.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 285K | 7.3M |
Evenly matched — AIT and FAST each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AIT and FAST each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AIT as "Buy" and FAST as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 5.0% upside for FAST (target: $47) vs 3.9% for AIT (target: $322). For income investors, FAST offers the higher dividend yield at 1.97% vs AIT's 0.53%.
| Metric | AITApplied Industria… | FASTFastenal Company |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $322.33 | $46.57 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 31 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | +2.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 15 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.64 | $0.87 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.3% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — AIT and FAST each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
FAST leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). AIT leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallApplied Industrial Technolo… (AIT)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
AIT vs FAST: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AIT or FAST a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Fastenal Company (FAST) is the stronger pick with 8.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT). Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) offers the better valuation at 30. 7x trailing P/E (29. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) a "Buy" — based on 15 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.
02Which has the better valuation — AIT or FAST?
On trailing P/E, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.
(AIT) is the cheapest at 30. 7x versus Fastenal Company at 40. 7x. On forward P/E, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 29. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. wins at 0. 39x versus Fastenal Company's 4. 62x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AIT or FAST?
Over the past 5 years, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.
(AIT) delivered a total return of +204. 8%, compared to +81. 3% for Fastenal Company (FAST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AIT returned +627. 9% versus FAST's +338. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AIT or FAST?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fastenal Company (FAST) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
69β versus Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 07β — meaning AIT is approximately 54% 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 31% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AIT or FAST?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fastenal Company (FAST) is pulling ahead at 8.
7% versus 1. 9% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fastenal Company grew EPS 9. 0% year-over-year, compared to 3. 0% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AIT leads at 6. 2% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — AIT or FAST?
Fastenal Company (FAST) is the more profitable company, earning 15.
3% net margin versus 8. 6% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FAST leads at 20. 2% versus 10. 9% for AIT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FAST leads at 45. 0%, 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.
07Is AIT or FAST more undervalued right now?
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, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 39x versus Fastenal Company's 4. 62x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) trades at 29. 0x forward P/E versus 35. 9x for Fastenal Company — 6. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FAST: 5. 0% to $46. 57.
08Which pays a better dividend — AIT or FAST?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Fastenal Company (FAST) offers the highest yield at 2. 0%, versus 0. 5% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT).
09Is AIT or FAST better for a retirement portfolio?
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.
69), 2. 0% yield, +338. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FAST: +338. 1%, AIT: +627. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between AIT and FAST?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(AIT: 7.3% · FAST: 11.1%)Net Margin>
%
(AIT: 8.3% · FAST: 15.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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