Aspen Aerogels (ASPN) vs Fastenal (FAST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Fastenal (FAST) has outperformed Aspen Aerogels (ASPN) over the past year, gaining 5.0% versus a loss of 28.3%. Over five years, FAST leads with a +78.8% price change compared with -88.3% for ASPN. Fastenal is the larger company by market cap ($57.18 billion vs $479.7 million), about 119.2 times the size.
Fastenal pays a dividend yielding 1.85%, while Aspen Aerogels does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ASPN | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $5.78 | $49.83 |
| Market cap | $479.68M | $57.18B |
| 1-day change | -1.53% | -1.93% |
| YTD return | +104.24% | +24.17% |
| 1-year return | -28.29% | +5.02% |
| 5-year return | -88.32% | +78.79% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 42.59 |
| Forward P/E | — | 35.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.53 | $1.17 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.85% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.92 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $8.20B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +8.67% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $1.26B |
| Gross margin | — | 45.01% |
| Operating margin | — | 20.19% |
| Net margin | — | 15.35% |
| 52-week high | $9.35 | $52.92 |
| 52-week low | $2.30 | $38.97 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -38.17% | -5.84% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +34.08% | -1.99% |
| Average volume | 1.14M | 7.51M |
| Shares outstanding | 82.99M | 1.15B |
| Employees | 854 | 22,230 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | RETAIL: Building Materials | RETAIL: Building Materials |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Fastenal is about 119.2 times larger than Aspen Aerogels by market value ($57.18B vs $479.68M).
- FAST has outperformed ASPN by 33.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Fastenal offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.85% vs 0.00%).
About Aspen Aerogels
ASPN stock →Aspen Aerogels, Inc., an aerogel technology company, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aerogel materials primarily for use in the energy industrial, sustainable insulation materials, and electric vehicle (EV) markets in the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. It operates through two segments: Thermal Barrier and Energy Industrial.
Consumer Discretionary · RETAIL: Building Materials · 854 employees
About Fastenal
FAST stock →Fastenal Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the wholesale distribution of industrial and construction supplies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. It offers fasteners, and related industrial and construction supplies under the Fastenal name.
Consumer Discretionary · RETAIL: Building Materials · 22,230 employees
ASPN vs FAST FAQ
Which is bigger, Aspen Aerogels or Fastenal?
Fastenal (FAST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $57.18B compared with $479.68M for Aspen Aerogels (ASPN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASPN or FAST?
FAST returned +5.02% over the past 12 months, compared with -28.29% for ASPN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Aspen Aerogels or Fastenal?
Fastenal pays a dividend yielding 1.85%, while Aspen Aerogels does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Aspen Aerogels and Fastenal in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the RETAIL: Building Materials industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.