vs
Side-by-side financial comparison of Fastenal (FAST) and Hershey Company (The) (HSY). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Hershey Company (The) is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($3.1B vs $2.0B, roughly 1.5× Fastenal). Fastenal runs the higher net margin — 14.5% vs 10.4%, a 4.1% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Hershey Company (The) posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (7.0% vs 3.5%). Hershey Company (The) produced more free cash flow last quarter ($788.5M vs $308.2M). Over the past eight quarters, Fastenal's revenue compounded faster (2.9% CAGR vs -2.5%).
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.
The Hershey Company, often called just Hershey or Hershey's, is an American multinational confectionery company headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World. The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world; it also manufactures baked products, such as cookies and cakes, and sells beverages like milkshakes, as well as other products. The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hers...
FAST vs HSY — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2.0B | $3.1B |
| Net Profit | $293.9M | $320.0M |
| Gross Margin | 44.3% | 37.0% |
| Operating Margin | 18.9% | 14.4% |
| Net Margin | 14.5% | 10.4% |
| Revenue YoY | 3.5% | 7.0% |
| Net Profit YoY | -1.6% | -59.8% |
| EPS (diluted) | $-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.
| Q1 26 | $2.0B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $2.0B | $3.1B | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.1B | $3.2B | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.1B | $2.6B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.0B | $2.8B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.8B | $2.9B | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.9B | $3.0B | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.9B | $2.1B |
| Q1 26 | $293.9M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $293.9M | $320.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $335.5M | $276.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $330.3M | $62.7M | ||
| Q1 25 | $298.7M | $224.2M | ||
| Q4 24 | $262.1M | $796.6M | ||
| Q3 24 | $298.1M | $446.3M | ||
| Q2 24 | $292.7M | $180.9M |
| Q1 26 | 44.3% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 44.3% | 37.0% | ||
| Q3 25 | 45.3% | 32.6% | ||
| Q2 25 | 45.3% | 30.5% | ||
| Q1 25 | 45.1% | 33.7% | ||
| Q4 24 | 44.8% | 54.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | 44.9% | 41.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 45.1% | 40.2% |
| Q1 26 | 18.9% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 18.9% | 14.4% | ||
| Q3 25 | 20.7% | 13.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 21.0% | 7.4% | ||
| Q1 25 | 20.1% | 13.2% | ||
| Q4 24 | 18.9% | 32.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | 20.3% | 20.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | 20.2% | 13.9% |
| Q1 26 | 14.5% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 14.5% | 10.4% | ||
| Q3 25 | 15.7% | 8.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 15.9% | 2.4% | ||
| Q1 25 | 15.2% | 8.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 14.4% | 27.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 15.6% | 14.9% | ||
| Q2 24 | 15.3% | 8.7% |
| Q1 26 | $-0.01 | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $-0.01 | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.29 | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.29 | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $0.52 | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.45 | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.52 | — | ||
| Q2 24 | $0.51 | — |
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 | — |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $125.0M | $4.7B |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $3.9B | $4.6B |
| Total Assets | $5.1B | $13.7B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 0.03× | 1.01× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $276.8M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $276.8M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $288.1M | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $237.8M | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $231.8M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $255.8M | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $292.2M | — | ||
| Q2 24 | $255.5M | — |
| Q1 26 | $125.0M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $125.0M | $4.7B | ||
| Q3 25 | $195.0M | $4.7B | ||
| Q2 25 | $230.0M | $5.2B | ||
| Q1 25 | $200.0M | $5.2B | ||
| Q4 24 | $200.0M | $3.2B | ||
| Q3 24 | $240.0M | $3.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $235.0M | $3.5B |
| Q1 26 | $3.9B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $3.9B | $4.6B | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.9B | $4.6B | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.8B | $4.5B | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.7B | $4.7B | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.6B | $4.7B | ||
| Q3 24 | $3.6B | $4.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.5B | $4.0B |
| Q1 26 | $5.1B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $5.1B | $13.7B | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.1B | $13.6B | ||
| Q2 25 | $5.0B | $13.6B | ||
| Q1 25 | $4.9B | $14.0B | ||
| Q4 24 | $4.7B | $12.9B | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.7B | $12.6B | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.6B | $12.4B |
| Q1 26 | 0.03× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 0.03× | 1.01× | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.05× | 1.02× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.06× | 1.15× | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.05× | 1.11× | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.06× | 0.68× | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.07× | 0.76× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.07× | 0.87× |
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 | $926.6M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $308.2M | $788.5M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 15.2% | 25.5% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 3.0% | 4.5% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 1.25× | 2.90× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $1.2B | $1.8B |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $368.2M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $368.2M | $926.6M | ||
| Q3 25 | $386.9M | $841.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $278.6M | $112.2M | ||
| Q1 25 | $262.2M | $396.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $282.8M | $941.6M | ||
| Q3 24 | $296.9M | $695.3M | ||
| Q2 24 | $258.0M | $325.6M |
| Q1 26 | $308.2M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $308.2M | $788.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $326.6M | $756.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $209.3M | $27.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $206.5M | $251.2M | ||
| Q4 24 | $222.6M | $807.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $237.5M | $567.3M | ||
| Q2 24 | $201.9M | $195.5M |
| Q1 26 | 15.2% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 15.2% | 25.5% | ||
| Q3 25 | 15.3% | 23.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | 10.1% | 1.0% | ||
| Q1 25 | 10.5% | 9.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 12.2% | 28.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | 12.4% | 19.0% | ||
| Q2 24 | 10.5% | 9.4% |
| Q1 26 | 3.0% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 3.0% | 4.5% | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.8% | 2.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 3.3% | 3.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.8% | 5.2% | ||
| Q4 24 | 3.3% | 4.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 3.1% | 4.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.9% | 6.3% |
| Q1 26 | 1.25× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 1.25× | 2.90× | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.15× | 3.05× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.84× | 1.79× | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.88× | 1.77× | ||
| Q4 24 | 1.08× | 1.18× | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.00× | 1.56× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.88× | 1.80× |
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% |
HSY
| Other | $1.8B | 59% |
| North America Salty Snacks Segment | $1.3B | 41% |
