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Side-by-side financial comparison of Fastenal (FAST) and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Intercontinental Exchange is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($3.1B vs $2.0B, roughly 1.5× Fastenal). Intercontinental Exchange runs the higher net margin — 27.1% vs 14.5%, a 12.6% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Intercontinental Exchange posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (3.7% vs 3.5%). Intercontinental Exchange produced more free cash flow last quarter ($1.1B vs $308.2M). Over the past eight quarters, Intercontinental Exchange's revenue compounded faster (5.9% CAGR vs 2.9%).
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.
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) is an American multinational financial services company formed in 2000 that operates global financial exchanges and clearing houses and provides mortgage technology, data and listing services. Listed on the Fortune 500, S&P 500, and Russell 1000, the company owns exchanges for financial and commodity markets, and operates 12 regulated exchanges and marketplaces. This includes ICE futures exchanges in the United States, Canada, and Europe; the Liffe future...
FAST vs ICE — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2.0B | $3.1B |
| Net Profit | $293.9M | $851.0M |
| Gross Margin | 44.3% | — |
| Operating Margin | 18.9% | 39.4% |
| Net Margin | 14.5% | 27.1% |
| Revenue YoY | 3.5% | 3.7% |
| Net Profit YoY | -1.6% | 21.9% |
| EPS (diluted) | $-0.01 | $1.49 |
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 | $3.0B | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.1B | $3.3B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.0B | $3.2B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.8B | $3.0B | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.9B | $3.0B | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.9B | $2.9B |
| Q1 26 | $293.9M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $293.9M | $851.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $335.5M | $816.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $330.3M | $851.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $298.7M | $797.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $262.1M | $698.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $298.1M | $657.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $292.7M | $632.0M |
| 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% | — |
| Q1 26 | 18.9% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 18.9% | 39.4% | ||
| Q3 25 | 20.7% | 39.0% | ||
| Q2 25 | 21.0% | 39.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | 20.1% | 37.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 18.9% | 35.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | 20.3% | 36.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 20.2% | 36.8% |
| Q1 26 | 14.5% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 14.5% | 27.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | 15.7% | 27.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | 15.9% | 26.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 15.2% | 24.7% | ||
| Q4 24 | 14.4% | 23.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | 15.6% | 21.7% | ||
| Q2 24 | 15.3% | 21.8% |
| Q1 26 | $-0.01 | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $-0.01 | $1.49 | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.29 | $1.42 | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.29 | $1.48 | ||
| Q1 25 | $0.52 | $1.38 | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.45 | $1.21 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.52 | $1.14 | ||
| Q2 24 | $0.51 | $1.10 |
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 | $837.0M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $125.0M | — |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $3.9B | $28.9B |
| Total Assets | $5.1B | $136.9B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 0.03× | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $276.8M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $276.8M | $837.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $288.1M | $850.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $237.8M | $1.0B | ||
| Q1 25 | $231.8M | $783.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $255.8M | $844.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $292.2M | $755.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $255.5M | $885.0M |
| Q1 26 | $125.0M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $125.0M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $195.0M | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $230.0M | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $200.0M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $200.0M | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $240.0M | — | ||
| Q2 24 | $235.0M | — |
| Q1 26 | $3.9B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $3.9B | $28.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.9B | $28.6B | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.8B | $28.4B | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.7B | $28.0B | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.6B | $27.6B | ||
| Q3 24 | $3.6B | $27.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.5B | $26.7B |
| Q1 26 | $5.1B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $5.1B | $136.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.1B | $140.9B | ||
| Q2 25 | $5.0B | $144.2B | ||
| Q1 25 | $4.9B | $142.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $4.7B | $139.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.7B | $135.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.6B | $137.7B |
| Q1 26 | 0.03× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 0.03× | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.05× | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.06× | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.05× | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 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 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $368.2M | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $308.2M | $1.1B |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 15.2% | 35.3% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 3.0% | 5.3% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 1.25× | 1.50× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $1.2B | $4.3B |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $368.2M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $368.2M | $1.3B | ||
| Q3 25 | $386.9M | $915.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $278.6M | $1.5B | ||
| Q1 25 | $262.2M | $966.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $282.8M | $1.5B | ||
| Q3 24 | $296.9M | $898.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $258.0M | $1.2B |
| Q1 26 | $308.2M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $308.2M | $1.1B | ||
| Q3 25 | $326.6M | $853.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $209.3M | $1.4B | ||
| Q1 25 | $206.5M | $881.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $222.6M | $1.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | $237.5M | $819.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $201.9M | $1.1B |
| Q1 26 | 15.2% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 15.2% | 35.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | 15.3% | 28.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 10.1% | 44.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 10.5% | 27.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 12.2% | 43.3% | ||
| Q3 24 | 12.4% | 27.0% | ||
| Q2 24 | 10.5% | 38.7% |
| Q1 26 | 3.0% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 3.0% | 5.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.8% | 2.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | 3.3% | 1.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.8% | 2.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | 3.3% | 6.4% | ||
| Q3 24 | 3.1% | 2.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.9% | 2.6% |
| Q1 26 | 1.25× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 1.25× | 1.50× | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.15× | 1.12× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.84× | 1.77× | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.88× | 1.21× | ||
| Q4 24 | 1.08× | 2.16× | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.00× | 1.37× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.88× | 1.89× |
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% |
ICE
| Other | $1.9B | 60% |
| Fixed Income Data And Analytics | $318.0M | 10% |
| Exchange Data | $266.0M | 8% |
| Origination Technology | $188.0M | 6% |
| Financial Futures And Options | $155.0M | 5% |
| Listings | $125.0M | 4% |
| OT Cand Other Transactions | $97.0M | 3% |
| Closing Solutions | $60.0M | 2% |
| Fixed Income Execution | $29.0M | 1% |
| Product And Service Net Interest Income | $26.0M | 1% |
