DXPE vs FAST

For growth investors, DXP Enterprises, Inc.

(DXPE) is the stronger pick with 11. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 7% for Fastenal Company (FAST). DXP Enterprises, Inc. (DXPE) offers the better valuation at 29. 1x trailing P/E (25. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate DXP Enterprises, Inc. (DXPE) a "Hold" — based on 7 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, DXP Enterprises, Inc.

(DXPE) is the cheapest at 29. 1x versus Fastenal Company at 40. 5x. On forward P/E, DXP Enterprises, Inc. is actually cheaper at 25. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, DXP Enterprises, Inc.

(DXPE) delivered a total return of +389. 0%, compared to +78. 9% for Fastenal Company (FAST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DXPE returned +732. 1% versus FAST's +336. 4%. 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 DXP Enterprises, Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning DXPE is approximately 160% 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 197% for DXP Enterprises, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), DXP Enterprises, Inc.

(DXPE) is pulling ahead at 11. 9% versus 8. 7% for Fastenal Company (FAST). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: DXP Enterprises, Inc. grew EPS 27. 0% year-over-year, compared to 9. 0% for Fastenal Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, DXPE leads at 10. 8% 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.

Fastenal Company (FAST) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

3% net margin versus 4. 4% for DXP Enterprises, 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 8. 8% for DXPE. 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.

On forward earnings alone, DXP Enterprises, Inc.

(DXPE) trades at 25. 5x forward P/E versus 35. 7x for Fastenal Company — 10. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FAST: 5. 4% to $46. 57.

In this comparison, FAST (2.

0% yield) pays a dividend. DXPE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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). DXP Enterprises, Inc. (DXPE) carries a higher beta of 1. 70 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FAST: +336. 4%, DXPE: +732. 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.

FAST pays a dividend while DXPE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.