FASTENAL CO (FAST)

Consumer Discretionary · Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply · Price $51.14
Updated: Aug 28, 2026
Net Income (TTM)
$1.4B
Trailing 12 Months
Growth Rate
6.47%
Log-Linear Regression (16Q)
Price/Earnings
29.7x
Valuation Multiple
EPS (Diluted)
$1.72
Net Income / Shares
Net Margin
15.45%
Profitability

📈 Net Income History (16 Quarters)

🧮 FAST Net Income Breakdown

Net Income = Revenue - All Expenses - Taxes - Interest
Revenue (Top Line) $8.7B
Less: Cost of Revenue → Gross Profit $3.9B
Less: Operating Expenses → Operating Income $1.8B
Less: Interest Expense $4.3M
Less: Income Tax Expense $423.8M
Equals: Net Income (Bottom Line) $1.4B

Understanding Net Income

Net income, also called the "bottom line" or net profit, is the money a company keeps after paying all expenses including cost of goods, operating costs, interest, and taxes. For FAST, the trailing twelve month net income is $1.4B.

Why Net Income Matters

Net income is the ultimate measure of accounting profitability. It determines earnings per share (EPS), affects stock valuations through the P/E ratio, and represents the theoretical amount available to shareholders. However, net income can be influenced by accounting choices, which is why value investors often look at cash flow metrics alongside it.

FAST's net income growth rate of 6.47% (based on log-linear regression of 16 quarters) indicates modest positive profit growth.

Net Income vs Cash Flow Metrics

Free Cash Flow: $1.2B →

Actual cash generated after capital expenditures. FCF often differs from net income due to depreciation, working capital changes, and capex timing.

Owner Earnings: $1.2B →

Buffett's preferred metric that adds back depreciation but subtracts maintenance capex. Often considered more accurate than net income.

EPS (Diluted): $1.72 →

Net income divided by diluted shares outstanding. The primary driver of the P/E ratio used in valuations.

Revenue: $8.7B →

The top line that net income is derived from. Net margin shows what percentage of revenue becomes profit.

P/E Ratio Analysis

FAST's P/E ratio of 29.7x means investors pay $29.73 for every $1 of annual earnings. A P/E between 25-40 suggests investors expect above-average earnings growth.

Net Margin: Profitability Efficiency

Net margin of 15.45% shows what percentage of FAST's revenue converts to profit after all costs. Net margins between 10-20% are solid and typical of well-managed businesses.

Summary: FAST Net Income Trend

FASTENAL CO (FAST) has a net margin of 15.45%, which Zyberno classifies as excellent — above the 15% threshold Zyberno applies to businesses across industries. Net income grew at 6.47% annually — positive but below the 10% level Zyberno considers strong growth. For complete financial analysis, view the full FAST stock report on Zyberno.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FAST's current net income?

FASTENAL CO's TTM net income is $1.4B, growing at 6.47% annually — positive but below the 10% level Zyberno considers strong growth.

Is FAST's net income growing?

FASTENAL CO (FAST) has a net margin of 15.45%, which Zyberno classifies as excellent — above the 15% threshold Zyberno applies to businesses across industries. Net income grew at 6.47% annually — positive but below the 10% level Zyberno considers strong growth.

What is FAST's net profit margin?

FASTENAL CO (FAST) has a net margin of 15.45%, which Zyberno classifies as excellent — above the 15% threshold Zyberno applies to businesses across industries. Net income grew at 6.47% annually — positive but below the 10% level Zyberno considers strong growth.

What is FAST's P/E ratio?

FAST's P/E ratio is 29.7x, meaning the market values the company at 29.7 times its annual earnings.

How does net income differ from free cash flow?

Net income is an accounting measure that includes non-cash items like depreciation, while free cash flow shows actual cash generated. FAST's net income is $1.4B versus free cash flow of $1.2B. Large differences often indicate significant capital expenditures or working capital changes.

📊 Valuation Trilogy
Three interconnected metrics built on Owner Earnings
💎
Intrinsic Value
DCF Fair Value
$13.15
🛡️
Margin of Safety
Valuation Gap
-100.0%
🎯
Expected Return
Projected Annual
-23.6%
Click any metric for full methodology and detailed analysis

📊 Full FAST Stock Report

See FAST's intrinsic value, margin of safety, DCF valuation, and complete financial analysis with 250+ metrics.

💵 FAST Free Cash Flow

Compare to Free Cash Flow which subtracts all capital expenditures, not just maintenance CapEx.

💰 FAST Owner Earnings

Compare to Buffett's Owner Earnings metric which uses maintenance CapEx instead of total capital expenditures.

📈 FAST Earnings Per Share

Analyze EPS trends, P/E ratio, earnings yield, and per-share profitability metrics.

🎯 FAST Earnings Surprise (SUE)

See whether FAST is beating or missing its own earnings trend — Standardized Unexpected Earnings and post-earnings drift.

📊 FAST Revenue

Analyze revenue trends, growth rate, P/S ratio, and top-line sales performance.

💰 FAST Net Income

Analyze the bottom-line profit, P/E ratio, and net profit margin trends.

🔶 FAST Operating Income

Analyze EBIT, operating margin, and core business profitability before interest and taxes.

💜 FAST Gross Profit

Analyze gross margin, pricing power, and profitability before operating expenses.

View Full FAST Report Find More Quality Stocks
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