Builders FirstSource (BLDR) 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 Builders FirstSource (BLDR) over the past year, gaining 5.0% versus a loss of 57.8%. Over five years, FAST leads with a +78.8% price change compared with -6.2% for BLDR. Fastenal is the larger company by market cap ($58.14 billion vs $5.81 billion), about 10.0 times the size.
On valuation, Builders FirstSource trades at a lower forward P/E (13.0x vs 36.2x for Fastenal). Fastenal pays a dividend yielding 1.82%, while Builders FirstSource does not currently pay one. Fastenal converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 15.3% versus 2.9%.
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 | BLDR | FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $54.04 | $50.67 |
| Market cap | $5.81B | $58.14B |
| 1-day change | +0.92% | +1.69% |
| YTD return | -47.95% | +24.17% |
| 1-year return | -57.79% | +5.02% |
| 5-year return | -6.17% | +78.79% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 58.74 | 43.31 |
| Forward P/E | 13.03 | 36.19 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.92 | $1.17 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.82% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.92 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $15.19B | $8.20B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -7.38% | +8.67% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $435.20M | $1.26B |
| Gross margin | 30.39% | 45.01% |
| Operating margin | 5.18% | 20.19% |
| Net margin | 2.86% | 15.35% |
| 52-week high | $131.50 | $52.92 |
| 52-week low | $52.08 | $38.97 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -58.90% | -4.25% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +43.32% | -3.61% |
| Average volume | 2.64M | 7.50M |
| Shares outstanding | 107.60M | 1.15B |
| Employees | 28,000 | 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 10.0 times larger than Builders FirstSource by market value ($58.14B vs $5.81B).
- FAST has outperformed BLDR by 62.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Builders FirstSource trades at a higher earnings multiple (58.7x vs 43.3x trailing P/E).
- Fastenal offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.82% vs 0.00%).
- Fastenal is more profitable, keeping 15.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 2.9 cents for Builders FirstSource.
- Fastenal grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+8.67% vs -7.38%).
About Builders FirstSource
BLDR stock →Builders FirstSource, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides building materials for professional builders in new residential construction and repair, and remodeling in the United States. It offers manufactured products, such as factory-built substitutes for job-site framing, wood floor and roof trusses, wall panels, and engineered wood; Ready-Frame, a whole house framing solution; manufactured and semi-custom modular homes, and built in a temperature-controlled facility under its Pine Grove Homes and Pleasant Valley Homes brand names; manufactured housing plans including ranch, community, and single-section homes; manufacturing, assembly, and distribution of windows; and the assembly and distribution of interior and exterior door units.
Consumer Discretionary · RETAIL: Building Materials · 28,000 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
BLDR vs FAST FAQ
Which is bigger, Builders FirstSource or Fastenal?
Fastenal (FAST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $58.14B compared with $5.81B for Builders FirstSource (BLDR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BLDR or FAST?
FAST returned +5.02% over the past 12 months, compared with -57.79% for BLDR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BLDR or FAST?
FAST has the lower trailing P/E at 43.3, versus 58.7 for BLDR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Builders FirstSource or Fastenal?
Fastenal pays a dividend yielding 1.82%, while Builders FirstSource does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Builders FirstSource and Fastenal in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the RETAIL: Building Materials industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.