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Stock Comparison · Industry comparison · Industrial Distribution

Fastenal Company vs W.W. Grainger: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Fastenal Company carrying a narrow edge on growth. The remaining gap is narrow enough that the comparison remains open to different readings. The market setup is broadly comparable for both — no clear directional signal from price behavior. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

The comparison is mainly decided in growth, with the rest of the profile carrying less weight.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Industrial Distribution

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. FAST and GWW share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how Fastenal Company and W.W. Grainger each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
FAST
Fastenal Company
66
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
vs
GWW
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
62
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The clearest separation appears in growth.

Dimension spread: FAST vs GWW Profitability 79 76 Stability 71 78 Valuation 47 55 Growth 70 34 FAST GWW
Gap Ranking
#1 Growth +36
#2 Valuation +8
#3 Stability +7
#4 Profitability +3
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for FAST and GWW Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer FASTGWW Relative valuation Structural strength

Fastenal Company still looks stronger overall, though current pricing looks more supportive for W.W. Grainger, Inc..

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Growth
On growth, Fastenal Company ranks near the top of the group; W.W. Grainger, Inc. sits in the weaker half.
Valuation
On valuation, the edge still sits with W.W. Grainger, Inc., even though both profiles look solid.
Growth — Dominant Gap
FAST
70
GWW
34
Gap+36in favour of FAST

The clearest distance comes from a stronger growth profile.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Absolute pricing still looks more supportive for W.W. Grainger, with a forward P/E that is 11.2 turns lower there.

What this means for the comparison

The main read on growth is clearer than the broader score gap.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the FAST vs GWW comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Similar growth-driven comparisons

Explore how FAST and GWW each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.