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FAST vs GWW
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Fastenal (FAST) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both FAST and GWW have delivered year-to-date gains of approximately 12-15%, reflecting resilience in the industrial distribution sector amid varying economic signals.
- FAST posted strong first-quarter sales growth of 12.4% year-over-year, driven by contracts and pricing, though shares experienced a post-earnings pullback.
- GWW shows slightly stronger recent momentum with positive expectations for upcoming earnings, including 3.5% EPS (earnings per share) growth.
- FAST emphasizes fasteners and onsite vending, while GWW offers broader MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) products via e-commerce.
- Relative performance highlights trade-offs: FAST's efficiency versus GWW's scale and diversification.
- Market sentiment favors stability in both, with no major risk divergences in recent weeks.
Introduction
Fastenal (FAST) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) stand as leading industrial distributors, serving manufacturing, construction, and maintenance sectors with essential supplies. This stock comparison analyzes their recent performance, business models, and market positioning, aiding investors tracking industrial cyclicality and supply chain dynamics. Traders focused on relative strength in a volatile environment, or those evaluating sector exposure, will find insights into momentum, growth drivers, and head-to-head metrics relevant for portfolio decisions.
FAST Overview and Recent Performance
Fastenal Company (FAST) is North America's largest fastener distributor, offering MRO products through a network of branches, onsite locations, and vending machines. Its business model integrates high-tech inventory management with localized service, emphasizing point-of-use replenishment for industrial clients.
In recent market activity, FAST shares have traded around $45, reflecting year-to-date gains near 12%. First-quarter results showed daily sales up 12.4% year-over-year to $34.9 million, fueled by contract wins, pricing actions, and favorable currency effects. Despite meeting EPS estimates, shares dipped post-earnings due to margin pressures and broader sector rotation. Sentiment remains supported by operational efficiency and vending growth, though short-term volatility persists amid economic uncertainty.
GWW Overview and Recent Performance
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) operates as a broad-line distributor of MRO supplies, serving businesses across North America and Japan via branches, e-commerce, and high-touch solutions. Its model balances endless assortment for small orders with customized services for complex needs.
Recently, GWW shares have hovered near $1,150, with year-to-date returns around 14%. Over the past month, performance edged higher by about 3%, outperforming peers amid anticipation for quarterly earnings projecting 3.5% EPS growth and 6.1% revenue increase. Positive drivers include e-commerce expansion and pricing discipline, though shares faced minor pullbacks from valuation concerns. Overall sentiment underscores scale advantages and steady demand in core markets.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
FAST and GWW compete in industrial distribution but differ in focus: FAST specializes in fasteners and vending for efficiency, while GWW provides wider MRO variety via e-commerce scale. Growth drivers contrast with FAST's onsite momentum versus GWW's digital sales.
Recent momentum favors GWW's steadier gains, though FAST shows superior sales acceleration. Risk factors are balanced—cyclical exposure to manufacturing, with FAST lower leverage aiding resilience. Sector ties to industrials amplify trade-offs: FAST for niche stability, GWW for diversification. Sentiment leans toward GWW on valuation, per recent analyses.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward GWW, citing superior year-to-date momentum, upcoming earnings catalysts, and broader market positioning. While FAST excels in sales growth and efficiency, GWW's stability and relative outperformance suggest higher probability of near-term upside in the current environment.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is FAST is a StrongBuy and GWW is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
FAST’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileGWW’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
- FAST’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- GWW’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
FAST’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while GWW’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- FAST’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- GWW’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
FAST (@Electronics Distributors) experienced а -0.47% price change this week, while GWW (@Electronics Distributors) price change was +1.22% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronics Distributors industry was +1.44%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +4.16%, and the average quarterly price growth was +6.01%.
Reported Earning Dates
FAST is expected to report earnings on Jul 13, 2026.
GWW is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronics Distributors (+1.44% weekly)Electronics distributors are companies that are involved in distribution of one or more of the following: electronic components, computer products/ peripherals and software products & services. Several electronics distributors are also becoming the point of contact for technical/pre- & post-sale support in many cases, in an attempt to bolster their position in the market. Tariffs and/or cross-border trade barriers are some of the potential threats to the electronics supply chain, but that could also potentially lead to re-directing to markets where tariffs/restrictions are lower depending on demand. The industry is also vulnerable in the event of economic slowdowns. Arrow Electronics, Inc., SYNNEX Corporation and Versum Materials, Inc. are some of the major electronics distributors in the U.S.
| FAST | GWW | FAST / GWW | |
| Capitalization | 53.5B | 62.1B | 86% |
| EBITDA | 1.9B | 2.88B | 66% |
| Gain YTD | 17.312 | 30.918 | 56% |
| P/E Ratio | 41.21 | 35.38 | 116% |
| Revenue | 8.44B | 18.4B | 46% |
| Total Cash | 309M | 695M | 44% |
| Total Debt | 446M | 2.78B | 16% |
FAST | GWW | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 28 | 23 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 85 Overvalued | 88 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 64 | 12 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 30 | 20 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 30 | 19 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 53 | 30 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
FAST's Valuation (85) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as GWW (88). This means that FAST’s stock grew similarly to GWW’s over the last 12 months.
GWW's Profit vs Risk Rating (12) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for FAST (64). This means that GWW’s stock grew somewhat faster than FAST’s over the last 12 months.
GWW's SMR Rating (20) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as FAST (30). This means that GWW’s stock grew similarly to FAST’s over the last 12 months.
GWW's Price Growth Rating (19) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as FAST (30). This means that GWW’s stock grew similarly to FAST’s over the last 12 months.
GWW's P/E Growth Rating (30) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as FAST (53). This means that GWW’s stock grew similarly to FAST’s over the last 12 months.
| FAST | GWW | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 49% | 2 days ago 38% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 47% | 2 days ago 46% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 66% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 63% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 61% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 60% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 6 days ago 60% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 50% | 3 days ago 49% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 47% | 2 days ago 48% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 41% | 2 days ago 45% |
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