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Side-by-side financial comparison of Ameren (AEE) and Fastenal (FAST). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

Fastenal is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($2.0B vs $1.8B, roughly 1.1× Ameren). Fastenal runs the higher net margin — 14.5% vs 14.2%, a 0.3% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Fastenal posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (3.5% vs -8.2%). Fastenal produced more free cash flow last quarter ($308.2M vs $-54.0M). Over the past eight quarters, Fastenal's revenue compounded faster (2.9% CAGR vs -0.9%).

Ameren Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. It operates through four segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission. The company engages in the rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution activities; and rate-regulated natural gas distribution and transmission businesses. It primarily generates electricity through coal, nucle...

Fastenal Company is an American publicly traded company based in Winona, Minnesota, founded in 1967. Fastenal is a major distributor of industrial and construction supplies, and the largest fastener distributor in North America. Fastenal provides supply chain solutions including bin stock, vending machines, inventory management, and logistics services.

AEE vs FAST — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
FAST
FAST
1.1× larger
FAST
$2.0B
$1.8B
AEE
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
FAST
FAST
+11.7% gap
FAST
3.5%
-8.2%
AEE
Higher net margin
FAST
FAST
0.3% more per $
FAST
14.5%
14.2%
AEE
More free cash flow
FAST
FAST
$362.2M more FCF
FAST
$308.2M
$-54.0M
AEE
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
FAST
FAST
Annualised
FAST
2.9%
-0.9%
AEE

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q1 FY2026

Metric
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Revenue
$1.8B
$2.0B
Net Profit
$253.0M
$293.9M
Gross Margin
44.3%
Operating Margin
20.2%
18.9%
Net Margin
14.2%
14.5%
Revenue YoY
-8.2%
3.5%
Net Profit YoY
21.6%
-1.6%
EPS (diluted)
$0.92
$-0.01

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$2.0B
Q4 25
$1.8B
$2.0B
Q3 25
$2.7B
$2.1B
Q2 25
$2.2B
$2.1B
Q1 25
$2.1B
$2.0B
Q4 24
$1.9B
$1.8B
Q3 24
$2.2B
$1.9B
Q2 24
$1.7B
$1.9B
Net Profit
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$293.9M
Q4 25
$253.0M
$293.9M
Q3 25
$641.0M
$335.5M
Q2 25
$277.0M
$330.3M
Q1 25
$290.0M
$298.7M
Q4 24
$208.0M
$262.1M
Q3 24
$457.0M
$298.1M
Q2 24
$260.0M
$292.7M
Gross Margin
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
44.3%
Q4 25
44.3%
Q3 25
45.3%
Q2 25
45.3%
Q1 25
45.1%
Q4 24
44.8%
Q3 24
44.9%
Q2 24
45.1%
Operating Margin
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
18.9%
Q4 25
20.2%
18.9%
Q3 25
30.6%
20.7%
Q2 25
18.5%
21.0%
Q1 25
20.5%
20.1%
Q4 24
10.2%
18.9%
Q3 24
27.0%
20.3%
Q2 24
21.3%
20.2%
Net Margin
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
14.5%
Q4 25
14.2%
14.5%
Q3 25
23.7%
15.7%
Q2 25
12.5%
15.9%
Q1 25
13.8%
15.2%
Q4 24
10.7%
14.4%
Q3 24
21.0%
15.6%
Q2 24
15.4%
15.3%
EPS (diluted)
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$-0.01
Q4 25
$0.92
$-0.01
Q3 25
$2.35
$0.29
Q2 25
$1.01
$0.29
Q1 25
$1.07
$0.52
Q4 24
$0.77
$0.45
Q3 24
$1.70
$0.52
Q2 24
$0.97
$0.51

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$13.0M
$276.8M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$19.4B
$125.0M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$13.4B
$3.9B
Total Assets
$48.5B
$5.1B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
1.45×
0.03×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$276.8M
Q4 25
$13.0M
$276.8M
Q3 25
$9.0M
$288.1M
Q2 25
$11.0M
$237.8M
Q1 25
$23.0M
$231.8M
Q4 24
$7.0M
$255.8M
Q3 24
$17.0M
$292.2M
Q2 24
$19.0M
$255.5M
Total Debt
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$125.0M
Q4 25
$19.4B
$125.0M
Q3 25
$195.0M
Q2 25
$230.0M
Q1 25
$200.0M
Q4 24
$17.8B
$200.0M
Q3 24
$240.0M
Q2 24
$235.0M
Stockholders' Equity
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$3.9B
Q4 25
$13.4B
$3.9B
Q3 25
$12.8B
$3.9B
Q2 25
$12.3B
$3.8B
Q1 25
$12.2B
$3.7B
Q4 24
$12.1B
$3.6B
Q3 24
$11.8B
$3.6B
Q2 24
$11.5B
$3.5B
Total Assets
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$5.1B
Q4 25
$48.5B
$5.1B
Q3 25
$47.4B
$5.1B
Q2 25
$46.6B
$5.0B
Q1 25
$45.7B
$4.9B
Q4 24
$44.6B
$4.7B
Q3 24
$43.3B
$4.7B
Q2 24
$42.3B
$4.6B
Debt / Equity
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
0.03×
Q4 25
1.45×
0.03×
Q3 25
0.05×
Q2 25
0.06×
Q1 25
0.05×
Q4 24
1.47×
0.06×
Q3 24
0.07×
Q2 24
0.07×

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$956.0M
$368.2M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$-54.0M
$308.2M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
-3.0%
15.2%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
56.7%
3.0%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
3.78×
1.25×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$-775.0M
$1.2B

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$368.2M
Q4 25
$956.0M
$368.2M
Q3 25
$1.1B
$386.9M
Q2 25
$862.0M
$278.6M
Q1 25
$431.0M
$262.2M
Q4 24
$817.0M
$282.8M
Q3 24
$897.0M
$296.9M
Q2 24
$557.0M
$258.0M
Free Cash Flow
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
$308.2M
Q4 25
$-54.0M
$308.2M
Q3 25
$116.0M
$326.6M
Q2 25
$-204.0M
$209.3M
Q1 25
$-633.0M
$206.5M
Q4 24
$-473.0M
$222.6M
Q3 24
$-240.0M
$237.5M
Q2 24
$-445.0M
$201.9M
FCF Margin
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
15.2%
Q4 25
-3.0%
15.2%
Q3 25
4.3%
15.3%
Q2 25
-9.2%
10.1%
Q1 25
-30.2%
10.5%
Q4 24
-24.4%
12.2%
Q3 24
-11.0%
12.4%
Q2 24
-26.3%
10.5%
Capex Intensity
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
3.0%
Q4 25
56.7%
3.0%
Q3 25
36.6%
2.8%
Q2 25
48.0%
3.3%
Q1 25
50.7%
2.8%
Q4 24
66.5%
3.3%
Q3 24
52.3%
3.1%
Q2 24
59.2%
2.9%
Cash Conversion
AEE
AEE
FAST
FAST
Q1 26
1.25×
Q4 25
3.78×
1.25×
Q3 25
1.72×
1.15×
Q2 25
3.11×
0.84×
Q1 25
1.49×
0.88×
Q4 24
3.93×
1.08×
Q3 24
1.96×
1.00×
Q2 24
2.14×
0.88×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

AEE
AEE

Segment breakdown not available.

FAST
FAST

Reportable Segment Aggregation Before Other Operating Segment$1.8B90%
Other$211.2M10%

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