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Side-by-side financial comparison of Fastenal (FAST) and Steris (STE). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Fastenal is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($2.0B vs $1.5B, roughly 1.4× Steris). Fastenal runs the higher net margin — 14.5% vs 12.9%, a 1.6% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Steris posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (9.2% vs 3.5%). Fastenal produced more free cash flow last quarter ($308.2M vs $199.5M). Over the past eight quarters, Steris's revenue compounded faster (15.8% 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.
Steris plc is an American-Irish-based medical equipment company specializing in sterilization and surgical products for the US healthcare system. Steris is operationally headquartered in Mentor, Ohio, and has been legally registered in Dublin, Ireland, for tax purposes since 2018. Previously the company was registered in the United Kingdom from 2014 to 2018.
FAST vs STE — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q3 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2.0B | $1.5B |
| Net Profit | $293.9M | $192.9M |
| Gross Margin | 44.3% | 43.8% |
| Operating Margin | 18.9% | 18.3% |
| Net Margin | 14.5% | 12.9% |
| Revenue YoY | 3.5% | 9.2% |
| Net Profit YoY | -1.6% | 11.2% |
| EPS (diluted) | $-0.01 | $1.96 |
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 | $1.5B | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.1B | $1.5B | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.1B | $1.4B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.0B | $1.5B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.8B | $1.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.9B | $1.3B | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.9B | $1.3B |
| Q1 26 | $293.9M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $293.9M | $192.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $335.5M | $191.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $330.3M | $177.4M | ||
| Q1 25 | $298.7M | $145.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $262.1M | $173.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $298.1M | $150.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $292.7M | $145.4M |
| Q1 26 | 44.3% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 44.3% | 43.8% | ||
| Q3 25 | 45.3% | 44.2% | ||
| Q2 25 | 45.3% | 45.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 45.1% | 43.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 44.8% | 44.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | 44.9% | 43.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 45.1% | 44.7% |
| Q1 26 | 18.9% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 18.9% | 18.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | 20.7% | 18.2% | ||
| Q2 25 | 21.0% | 17.7% | ||
| Q1 25 | 20.1% | 14.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | 18.9% | 17.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | 20.3% | 16.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | 20.2% | 14.5% |
| Q1 26 | 14.5% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 14.5% | 12.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | 15.7% | 13.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | 15.9% | 12.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | 15.2% | 9.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 14.4% | 12.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 15.6% | 11.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| Q1 26 | $-0.01 | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $-0.01 | $1.96 | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.29 | $1.94 | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.29 | $1.79 | ||
| Q1 25 | $0.52 | $1.48 | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.45 | $1.75 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.52 | $1.51 | ||
| Q2 24 | $0.51 | $1.46 |
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 | $423.7M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $125.0M | $1.9B |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $3.9B | $7.2B |
| Total Assets | $5.1B | $10.6B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 0.03× | 0.27× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $276.8M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $276.8M | $423.7M | ||
| Q3 25 | $288.1M | $319.2M | ||
| Q2 25 | $237.8M | $279.7M | ||
| Q1 25 | $231.8M | $171.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $255.8M | $155.2M | ||
| Q3 24 | $292.2M | $172.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $255.5M | $198.3M |
| Q1 26 | $125.0M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $125.0M | $1.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $195.0M | $1.9B | ||
| Q2 25 | $230.0M | $1.9B | ||
| Q1 25 | $200.0M | $1.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $200.0M | $2.0B | ||
| Q3 24 | $240.0M | $2.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $235.0M | $2.2B |
| Q1 26 | $3.9B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $3.9B | $7.2B | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.9B | $7.0B | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.8B | $7.0B | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.7B | $6.6B | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.6B | $6.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $3.6B | $6.6B | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.5B | $6.4B |
| Q1 26 | $5.1B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $5.1B | $10.6B | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.1B | $10.4B | ||
| Q2 25 | $5.0B | $10.4B | ||
| Q1 25 | $4.9B | $10.1B | ||
| Q4 24 | $4.7B | $10.0B | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.7B | $10.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.6B | $10.1B |
| Q1 26 | 0.03× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 0.03× | 0.27× | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.05× | 0.27× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.06× | 0.27× | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.05× | 0.29× | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.06× | 0.32× | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.07× | 0.33× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.07× | 0.35× |
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 | $298.2M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $308.2M | $199.5M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 15.2% | 13.3% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 3.0% | 6.6% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 1.25× | 1.55× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $1.2B | $917.1M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $368.2M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $368.2M | $298.2M | ||
| Q3 25 | $386.9M | $287.8M | ||
| Q2 25 | $278.6M | $420.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $262.2M | $260.8M | ||
| Q4 24 | $282.8M | $332.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $296.9M | $250.7M | ||
| Q2 24 | $258.0M | $303.7M |
| Q1 26 | $308.2M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $308.2M | $199.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $326.6M | $201.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $209.3M | $326.4M | ||
| Q1 25 | $206.5M | $189.9M | ||
| Q4 24 | $222.6M | $243.6M | ||
| Q3 24 | $237.5M | $148.8M | ||
| Q2 24 | $201.9M | $195.7M |
| Q1 26 | 15.2% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 15.2% | 13.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | 15.3% | 13.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | 10.1% | 23.5% | ||
| Q1 25 | 10.5% | 12.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 12.2% | 17.8% | ||
| Q3 24 | 12.4% | 11.2% | ||
| Q2 24 | 10.5% | 15.3% |
| Q1 26 | 3.0% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 3.0% | 6.6% | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.8% | 5.9% | ||
| Q2 25 | 3.3% | 6.7% | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.8% | 4.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 3.3% | 6.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | 3.1% | 7.7% | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.9% | 8.4% |
| Q1 26 | 1.25× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 1.25× | 1.55× | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.15× | 1.50× | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.84× | 2.37× | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.88× | 1.79× | ||
| Q4 24 | 1.08× | 1.92× | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.00× | 1.67× | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.88× | 2.09× |
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% |
STE
| Servicerevenues | $404.7M | 27% |
| Consumablerevenues | $387.1M | 26% |
| Applied Sterilization Technologies | $286.6M | 19% |
| Capitalequipmentrevenues | $272.1M | 18% |
| Life Science | $145.8M | 10% |
