Does FAST pay a dividend and is it safe?

Fastenal Company (FAST) offers a 1.67% cash dividend yield ($0.88 annualized) and 2.27% total shareholder yield including buybacks. Roarable rates its payout coverage as SAFE COVERAGE.

Stock Ratings / Consumer Discretionary / FAST / dividends

SHW (60) LOW (67) TSCO (70) QXO (26) ⌘ Pro Terminal →

Fastenal Company (FAST) Dividend Safety Gauge & 10-Year DRIP Compounder

$52.55 +1.23% NASDAQ • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $52.79

Fastenal Company (FAST) earns a Roarable Rating of B+ (Buy) with 78/100 RQD Confidence. High-quality cash engine (45.0% gross margin, 27% return on capital) with steady institutional support. The company’s underlying cash engine and institutional positioning keep the composite score in the Green Buy zone.

ROARABLE B+ • BUY Cap $59.56B

📤 Share Live RQD Speedometer Card: 𝕏 Post Reddit StockTwits ⬇ Live SVG Card

⚡ INSTANT AI QUANT PREVIEW • $0 FREE TIER Click Any Pre-Computed AI Quant Specialist Briefing on FAST Below — or Connect Your Own ChatGPT / Claude

🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) Is FAST stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

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As of 2026-11-03, Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST) is rated B+ (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 78/100 at a spot price of $52.55 (+1.23% 1D, market cap $59.56B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 18/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 15/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 18/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 14/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 13/20. Across 1009 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, FAST ranks #31 in composite RQD confidence.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) How does FAST compare to SHW and LOW in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

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Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (RETAIL: Building Materials), FAST carries a Roarable B+ (78/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 47.9x, gross margin of 45.0%, and ROIC of 27.1%. By comparison, SHW (Sherwin-Williams Company) holds a C- grade (60/100 RQD, P/E 31.0x, ROIC 18.1%, cap $80.35B) and LOW (Lowe's Companies Inc.) posts a C+ grade (67/100 RQD, P/E 17.5x, ROIC 50.1%, cap $117.30B). Among the 5-stock peer group, TSCO leads on earnings multiple (16.0x) while LOW leads on capital efficiency (50.1% ROIC).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief) What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for FAST?

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Per FAST's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000815556), Fastenal Company generated $8.20B in revenue (+8.7% YoY), $1.26B in net income, and $1.05B in free cash flow against $5.05B in total assets and $100.0M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (45.0% gross margin)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks. Primary risk factors monitored: Priced at 48x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).

INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:

🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray

EXT / AFTER-HRS: $52.79 (+0.46%)🧬 Disciplined Float (-0.32% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 18/20 (A) • 12.8% FCF Margin

Verify 90D Bucket Audit →

📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 78/100 (B+) historically ranked in the Top 10% of excess returns over the next 90 days (+7.9% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 70.6% hit rate).

Audit Bucket Track Record →

RQD QUANT TACHOMETERBUY • B+

3-of-3 JEV AI Jury Bullish

Cash

SEC

Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw B+ · Rk B+

Each axis scored 0–20

12M PRICE TARGET CONE+9% Base Target

WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for FAST)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±5.9%

Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (78/100 Composite)

🔍 WHY FAST SCORES 78/100 (B+) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag

▲ #1 Bullish Driver: Cash Engine Quality+18/20 pts (23% of score)

SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 12.8% FCF Margin ($1.05B FCF) & 45% Gross Margin

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+18/20 pts (23% of score)

Altman Z-Score 19.35 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 9/9

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Insider Conviction & Share Dilution13/20 pts (-7 pt drag)

Disciplined Float (-0.32% YoY Shares) & executive Form 4 sales trim 7 pts from alignment

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current

Q1 (-3Q)

Grade B$52.00+0.9% Next Q

Q2 (-2Q)

Grade B$52.49-2% Next Q

Q3 (-1Q)

Grade B+$51.45+2.1% Next Q

Current

Grade B+$52.55+7.9% Hist 90D α

Trajectory: B (70) → B+ (78)Full Audit →

⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)GIDEON ASHMERE // FORENSIC SHORT & KILL-SWITCH DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the FAST Bull Thesis Could Fail

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

Even with a 78/100 (B+) score, FAST faces multiple-compression risk if 47.9x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #1

Priced at 48x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #2

Dilution & Margin Drag: Disciplined Float (-0.32% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 42.5% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #3

Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($50.56) or 200D SMA ($47.35) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($57.28) toward Bear Floor ($43.09).

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $FAST• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite

Contract: “FAST Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Dec 30, 2026) & Holds Above 200D SMA”

YES 78%NO 22%Trade / Inspect Odds →

CASH DIVIDEND + BUYBACK YIELD

2.27% Total Yield

1.67% Cash ($0.88/yr) + 0.6% Buybacks

PAYOUT SAFETY SPEEDOMETER

68/100 • SAFE COVERAGE

FREE CASH FLOW PAYOUT RATIO

62.4% of FCF

8 consecutive years of payout growth

INTERACTIVE DRIP & SHAREHOLDER-YIELD COMPOUNDER (7.1% EST. ANNUAL)

$10,000 Compounded Over 10 Years → $19,856

Est. Year-10 Shareholder Yield: $451/yr

Starting Investment: $10,000

Compounding Horizon: 10 Years

$10.7K

Yr 1

$11.5K

Yr 2

$12.3K

Yr 3

$13.2K

Yr 4

$14.1K

Yr 5

$15.1K

Yr 6

$16.2K

Yr 7

$17.3K

Yr 8

$18.5K

Yr 9

$19.9K

Yr 10

ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher + Cash-Flow & Quality Compounder Desk

Cash-Fortress Compounders: Auditing Free Cash Flow & Yield Safety in FAST & A-Rated Leaders

✓12-month Bull/Base/Bear fair-value walkthrough on FAST and its top sector peer
✓Top Roarable A-Rated cash compounders with verified executive & 13F accumulation
✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts

RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED

Want Custom AI PineScript / Python Indicators & Priority Rating-Change Alerts?

Join Founding VIP Waitlist (No Card Required) →$100K Arena

FAST // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +17.09%⚡ TESTING RESISTANCE

2026-11-03O $52.55H $52.55L $51.91C $52.55VOL 11.23M

RES: $53.32SUP: $47.12SMA50: $50.56SMA200: $47.35

PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

FAST Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

🦋 FAST Butterfly Map → + Track FAST →

Share Count & Dilution Monitor

Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle

35.2%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. +8.7% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on FAST today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for FAST. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video

🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for FAST today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →

DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (FAST)

Consumer Discretionary Rank #31 of 1009 ⚔️ SHW vs FAST Full Matrix →

1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (FAST vs. SHW, LOW, TSCO, QXO)

Industry: RETAIL: Building Materials (17 Tracked Issuers)

Across 1009 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Fastenal Company (FAST) ranks #31 by composite RQD confidence (78/100, grade B+) and #36 by equity capitalization ($59.56B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, TSCO leads on earnings valuation at 16.0x trailing P/E, while LOW leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 50.1% ROIC and 33.5% gross margin. FAST currently leads its immediate peer cohort in composite quantitative strength at 78/100 (B+).

Ticker / Company	Roarable Grade	RQD Score	Trailing P/E	Gross Margin	ROIC	1D Change	Market Cap	Head-to-Head
FAST ACTIVE Fastenal Company	B+	78/100	47.9x	45.0%	27.1%	+1.23%	$59.56B	Benchmark Subject
SHW Sherwin-Williams Company	C-	60/100	31.0x	48.8%	18.1%	+5.94%	$80.35B	/shw-vs-fast →
LOW Lowe's Companies Inc.	C+	67/100	17.5x	33.5%	50.1%	+4.34%	$117.30B	/low-vs-fast →
TSCO Tractor Supply Company	B-	70/100	16.0x	36.4%	27.9%	+4.04%	$17.68B	/tsco-vs-fast →
QXO QXO Inc.	E	26/100	—	23.0%	-1.9%	+5.80%	$11.45B	/qxo-vs-fast →

2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)

SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0000815556 ↗

In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Fastenal Company (FAST) reported GAAP revenue of $8.20B (+8.7% vs. FY2024 revenue of $7.55B , and +11.6% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $1.26B, operating cash flow of $1.30B, and free cash flow of $1.05B (+11.0% YoY). On the balance sheet, FAST closed FY2025 with $5.05B in total assets against $100.0M in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 19.35, Piotroski F-Score: 9/9).

Fiscal Period	Filing Date	Revenue	Net Income	Operating Cash Flow	Free Cash Flow	Total Assets	Total Debt
FY2025 (FY)	2025-12-31	$8.20B	$1.26B	$1.30B	$1.05B	$5.05B	$100.0M
FY2024 (FY)	2024-12-31	$7.55B	$1.15B	$1.17B	$946.8M	$4.70B	$125.0M
FY2023 (FY)	2023-12-31	$7.35B	$1.16B	$1.43B	$1.10B	$33.16B	$7.76B

3. FAST Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)

✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLED

Is FAST stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

How does FAST compare to SHW and LOW in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for FAST?

Where is FAST trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?

FAST last traded at $52.55 (+1.23% on volume of 6,287,633 shares), positioning the stock +3.94% above its 50-day simple moving average ($50.56) and +10.98% above its 200-day simple moving average ($47.35). Across its 52-week range of $38.97 to $53.30, FAST sits at the 94.8% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 53.2 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±5.9% ($49.45 to $55.65).

Direct Sub-Reports: FAST RQD Cockpit FAST 12M Forecast FAST Earnings & Move FAST Dividends & DRIP FAST Insiders & 13F FAST Whale Options FAST Profit Sankey FAST News & Why

ROARABLE RATING BRIEF • RQD 78/100 (B+) ✓ SEC XBRL & RQD VERIFIED

FAST — Fastenal Company: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor

Methodology: RQD v6.2 Deterministic 5-Pillar & SEC XBRL Audit

Updated: 2025-12-31

1. Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor

Fastenal Company (FAST) earns a live Roarable RQD composite score of 78/100, corresponding to a B+ letter grade (Roarable Buy) at a spot price of $52.55 (+1.23% 1D, market capitalization $59.56B).

Fundamental Cash Engine (18/20): Anchored by return on invested capital (ROIC) of 27.1%, gross margin of 45.0%, operating margin of 20.2%, and free cash flow yield of 1.74%.
Whale 13F & Options Flow (15/20) + Insider Conviction (13/20): Tracks institutional 13F accumulation, CBOE options call/put positioning, and SEC Form 4 / Congressional PTR filings.
Macro Regime Fit (14/20) + Forensic Balance Sheet (18/20): Incorporates a 1.02x equity beta, Altman Z-Score of 19.35, Piotroski F-Score of 9/9, and Debt/Equity of 0.03x.

2. Business Model, Unit Margins & SEC Financial Trajectory

Fastenal Company is a NASDAQ-listed issuer classified in the Consumer Discretionary sector and the RETAIL: Building Materials industry. Per the market data, the company reports a gross margin of 45%, an operating margin of 20.2%, and a net margin of 15.3%.

In its latest audited SEC EDGAR 10-K filing for FY2025 (filed 2025-12-31), Fastenal Company (FAST) reported $8.20B in annual revenue (up from $7.55B in FY2024, +8.7% YoY) and $1.26B in GAAP net income. Over the multi-year SEC filing window from FY2023 ($7.35B revenue, $1.16B net income) through FY2025, FAST scaled operating cash flow to $1.30B and free cash flow to $1.05B, backed by $5.05B in total assets against $100.0M in total debt.

3. Institutional Bull vs. Bear Thesis & Valuation Tradeoff

🐂 Primary Bull Case (B+ • RQD 78/100): Strong cash generator (45.0% gross margin)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks. Big institutional funds and options desks are actively positioning on the bullish side. With Fundamental Cash Engine at 18/20 and Institutional Whale Flow at 15/20, sustained execution supports upside toward the upper end of the $38.97 – $53.30 52-week range.
🐻 Primary Bear Case & Valuation Risk: Priced at 48x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter. Investors must weigh 47.9x trailing P/E and 32.2x EV/EBITDA against 20.2% operating margins and a 1.02x macro beta.

4. 2nd-Order Butterfly Ripples & Key Questions to Watch

The only sector-level input is the classification (Consumer Discretionary; RETAIL: Building Materials) and the Macro Regime Fit pillar at 14/20.

Key Question #1: Can FAST sustain or expand its 20.2% operating margin and 27.1% ROIC against RETAIL: Building Materials peers over the next 4 quarters?
Key Question #2: Following FY2025 revenue of $8.20B and free cash flow of $1.05B, how will capital allocation balance growth reinvestment against $100.0M in total debt?
Key Question #3: How sensitive is FAST's 44.5x forward P/E multiple to Consumer Discretionary capital spending cycles and macro interest-rate shifts (Beta 1.02x)?

FAST Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire

Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Fastenal Company (FAST) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below

💬 Jump to FAST Debate Forum (3) ↓

🟡 MARKET WIRE Yahoo! Finance Canada • 23h ago

Fastenal Company (FAST) Stock Price, News, Quote & History

Yahoo! Finance Canada report covering Fastenal Company (FAST) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🔴 RISK WATCH Seeking Alpha • 1d ago

Fastenal stock falls as margins face pressure (FAST:NASDAQ)

Seeking Alpha report covering Fastenal Company (FAST) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Simply Wall St • 1d ago

Fastenal (Nasdaq:FAST) - Stock Analysis

Simply Wall St report covering Fastenal Company (FAST) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Yahoo Finance • 1d ago

What is Fastenal’s (FAST) Economic Moat, and is it Widening or Narrowing?

Yahoo Finance report covering Fastenal Company (FAST) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟢 CATALYST TradingView • 1d ago

Fastenal Company Stock 12‑Month Price Target Raised to $51.58, Implies 2% Upside

TradingView report covering Fastenal Company (FAST) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE MarketBeat • 1d ago

Fastenal (FAST) Stock Forecast and Price Target 2026 $FAST

MarketBeat report covering Fastenal Company (FAST) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🔴 RISK WATCH Benzinga • 1d ago

Fastenal Analyst Cuts Estimates After Q3 Results

Benzinga report covering Fastenal Company (FAST) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Seeking Alpha • 1d ago

Fastenal: I See No Reason To Pay A Higher Premium (NASDAQ:FAST)

Seeking Alpha report covering Fastenal Company (FAST) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🔥 THE ROAR PIT • LIVE COMMUNITY DEBATE 3 Active Posts & Replies

FAST Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $52.55?

🐂 67% BULLISH CONVICTION COMMUNITY TUG-OF-WAR ON FAST 🐻 33% BEARISH CONVICTION

BR BreakoutHunter RQD DEBATE OPENER • Swing & Catalyst Trader 🐂 BULLISH 🎯 Target: $61.25 (+18.0%)

📌 Pinned Debate

Per the RQD rating, a 27.1% ROIC, Piotroski F 9/9, and Debt/Equity of 0.03 indicate a high-return, low-leverage cash engine.

Here is why I am bullish on FAST here at $51.91: Per the RQD rating, a 27.1% ROIC, Piotroski F 9/9, and Debt/Equity of 0.03 indicate a high-return, low-leverage cash engine.. Compare FAST's 20.2% operating margin and 27.1% ROIC against the rest of RETAIL: Building Materials. As long as cash conversion holds up, dips toward $49.31 are getting bought.

SectorRotator 🐂 BULL

@SkepticalCFA Fair point on 47.9x trailing P/E, but you're ignoring the forward operating leverage in RETAIL: Building Materials. If gross margin (45.0%) holds, EPS grows into the multiple faster than bears think.

SK SkepticalCFA RQD DEBATE OPENER • Fundamental Contrarian 🐻 BEARISH 🎯 Target: $42.05 (-19.0%)

Spot @ $51.91

At P/E (TTM) 47.9 and an FCF yield of 1.74%, valuation leaves limited cushion if the margin pressure flagged in the news feed persists.

Careful chasing FAST at $51.91. At P/E (TTM) 47.9 and an FCF yield of 1.74%, valuation leaves limited cushion if the margin pressure flagged in the news feed persists.. Gross margin is 45.0%, but operating margin is 20.2%, which shows SG&A and reinvestment are eating into bottom-line EPS. Target $42.05 on multiple compression.