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Side-by-side financial comparison of Fastenal (FAST) and Global Payments (GPN). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Fastenal is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($2.0B vs $1.3B, roughly 1.5× Global Payments). Global Payments runs the higher net margin — 16.4% vs 14.5%, a 1.9% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Fastenal posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (3.5% vs -47.1%). Global Payments produced more free cash flow last quarter ($347.0M vs $308.2M). Over the past eight quarters, Fastenal's revenue compounded faster (2.9% CAGR vs -25.9%).
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.
Global Payments Inc. is an American multinational financial technology company that provides payment technology and services to merchants, issuers and consumers. In June 2021, the company was named to the Fortune 500. The company processes payments made through credit cards, debit cards, and digital and contactless payments.
FAST vs GPN — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2.0B | $1.3B |
| Net Profit | $293.9M | $217.5M |
| Gross Margin | 44.3% | 89.7% |
| Operating Margin | 18.9% | 5.9% |
| Net Margin | 14.5% | 16.4% |
| Revenue YoY | 3.5% | -47.1% |
| Net Profit YoY | -1.6% | -61.6% |
| EPS (diluted) | $-0.01 | $0.91 |
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.
| Q1 26 | $2.0B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $2.0B | $1.3B | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.1B | $2.0B | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.1B | $2.0B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.0B | $2.4B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.8B | $2.5B | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.9B | $2.6B | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.9B | $2.6B |
| Q1 26 | $293.9M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $293.9M | $217.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $335.5M | $635.2M | ||
| Q2 25 | $330.3M | $241.6M | ||
| Q1 25 | $298.7M | $305.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $262.1M | $567.2M | ||
| Q3 24 | $298.1M | $315.1M | ||
| Q2 24 | $292.7M | $374.8M |
| Q1 26 | 44.3% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 44.3% | 89.7% | ||
| Q3 25 | 45.3% | 72.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 45.3% | 74.5% | ||
| Q1 25 | 45.1% | 61.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 44.8% | 62.1% | ||
| Q3 24 | 44.9% | 63.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 45.1% | 63.5% |
| Q1 26 | 18.9% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 18.9% | 5.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | 20.7% | 38.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | 21.0% | 21.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | 20.1% | 19.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | 18.9% | 33.1% | ||
| Q3 24 | 20.3% | 18.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 20.2% | 22.3% |
| Q1 26 | 14.5% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 14.5% | 16.4% | ||
| Q3 25 | 15.7% | 31.6% | ||
| Q2 25 | 15.9% | 12.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 15.2% | 12.7% | ||
| Q4 24 | 14.4% | 22.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | 15.6% | 12.1% | ||
| Q2 24 | 15.3% | 14.6% |
| Q1 26 | $-0.01 | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $-0.01 | $0.91 | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.29 | $2.64 | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.29 | $0.99 | ||
| Q1 25 | $0.52 | $1.24 | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.45 | $2.23 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.52 | $1.24 | ||
| Q2 24 | $0.51 | $1.47 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $276.8M | $8.3B |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $125.0M | $19.5B |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $3.9B | $22.9B |
| Total Assets | $5.1B | $53.3B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 0.03× | 0.85× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $276.8M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $276.8M | $8.3B | ||
| Q3 25 | $288.1M | $2.6B | ||
| Q2 25 | $237.8M | $2.6B | ||
| Q1 25 | $231.8M | $2.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $255.8M | $2.5B | ||
| Q3 24 | $292.2M | $2.9B | ||
| Q2 24 | $255.5M | $2.1B |
| Q1 26 | $125.0M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $125.0M | $19.5B | ||
| Q3 25 | $195.0M | $13.3B | ||
| Q2 25 | $230.0M | $14.2B | ||
| Q1 25 | $200.0M | $15.0B | ||
| Q4 24 | $200.0M | $15.2B | ||
| Q3 24 | $240.0M | $15.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $235.0M | $15.6B |
| Q1 26 | $3.9B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $3.9B | $22.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.9B | $22.7B | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.8B | $22.6B | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.7B | $22.2B | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.6B | $22.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | $3.6B | $22.8B | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.5B | $22.4B |
| Q1 26 | $5.1B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $5.1B | $53.3B | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.1B | $48.0B | ||
| Q2 25 | $5.0B | $48.5B | ||
| Q1 25 | $4.9B | $47.6B | ||
| Q4 24 | $4.7B | $46.9B | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.7B | $50.0B | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.6B | $50.8B |
| Q1 26 | 0.03× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 0.03× | 0.85× | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.05× | 0.59× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.06× | 0.63× | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.05× | 0.67× | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.06× | 0.68× | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.07× | 0.67× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.07× | 0.70× |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $368.2M | $515.2M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $308.2M | $347.0M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 15.2% | 26.1% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 3.0% | 12.7% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 1.25× | 2.37× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $1.2B | $2.0B |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $368.2M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $368.2M | $515.2M | ||
| Q3 25 | $386.9M | $768.7M | ||
| Q2 25 | $278.6M | $817.5M | ||
| Q1 25 | $262.2M | $555.1M | ||
| Q4 24 | $282.8M | $653.4M | ||
| Q3 24 | $296.9M | $1.7B | ||
| Q2 24 | $258.0M | $736.9M |
| Q1 26 | $308.2M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $308.2M | $347.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $326.6M | $598.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $209.3M | $665.4M | ||
| Q1 25 | $206.5M | $427.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $222.6M | $469.4M | ||
| Q3 24 | $237.5M | $1.6B | ||
| Q2 24 | $201.9M | $557.7M |
| Q1 26 | 15.2% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 15.2% | 26.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | 15.3% | 29.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | 10.1% | 34.0% | ||
| Q1 25 | 10.5% | 17.7% | ||
| Q4 24 | 12.2% | 18.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 12.4% | 60.0% | ||
| Q2 24 | 10.5% | 21.7% |
| Q1 26 | 3.0% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 3.0% | 12.7% | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.8% | 8.5% | ||
| Q2 25 | 3.3% | 7.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.8% | 5.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 3.3% | 7.3% | ||
| Q3 24 | 3.1% | 6.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.9% | 7.0% |
| Q1 26 | 1.25× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 1.25× | 2.37× | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.15× | 1.21× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.84× | 3.38× | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.88× | 1.82× | ||
| Q4 24 | 1.08× | 1.15× | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.00× | 5.48× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.88× | 1.97× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
FAST
| Reportable Segment Aggregation Before Other Operating Segment | $1.8B | 90% |
| Other | $211.2M | 10% |
GPN
| Integrated And Embedded Solutions | $869.3M | 65% |
| Point Of Sale And Software Solutions | $281.7M | 21% |
| Other | $178.4M | 13% |
