FAST vs SNA vs SWK vs ITW

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 5% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). 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, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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 -56. 0% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FAST returned +336. 4% versus SWK's -0. 7%. 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 Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning SWK is approximately 181% 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 3% for Illinois Tool Works Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

7% versus -1. 5% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. grew EPS 35. 9% year-over-year, compared to -10. 4% for Illinois Tool Works Inc.. 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 2. 7% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ITW leads at 26. 3% versus 7. 6% for SWK. 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, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) trades at 17. 8x forward P/E versus 35. 7x for Fastenal Company — 17. 8x 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.

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) offers the highest yield at 4. 1%, 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). Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — 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%, SWK: -0. 7%), 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.

In terms of investment character: FAST is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SNA is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SWK is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ITW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.