Fastenal CoFAST +1.43%99 Pretax Margin % is 20.36% as of Mar. 2026, which is 2% above its 10-year median of 20.03. GuruFocus rates FAST with a GF Score™ of 99/100 and a GF Value™ of $43.20 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 157 Industrial Distribution companies, Fastenal Co ranks better than 97.45% on this metric.
Pre-Tax margin is calculated as Pre-Tax Income divided by its Revenue. Fastenal Co's Pre-Tax Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $448 Mil. Fastenal Co's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $2,202 Mil. Therefore, Fastenal Co's pretax margin for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 20.36%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Fastenal Co's Pretax Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
FAST'
s Pretax Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 19.57 Med: 20.03 Max: 20.72
Current: 20.26
FAST's Pretax Margin % is ranked better than 97.45% of 157
companies
in the Industrial Distribution industry
Industry Median: 4.03
vs FAST: 20.26
Fastenal Co (NAS:FAST) Pretax Margin % Explanation
The pretax margin, as know as pretax profit margin, is widely used to measure the operating efficiency of a company before deducting taxes.
The pretax margin is sometimes preferred over the net margin as tax expenditures can make profitability comparisons between companies misleading.
It is a useful tool to compare companies operating in the same sector and less effective when comparing companies from other sectors as each industry generally has different operating expenses and sales patterns.
The long term trend of the pretax margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
Fastenal Co Pretax Margin % Related Terms
Fastenal Co Pretax Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Fastenal Co's Pretax Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
FAST vs FERG, GWW, WCC: Pretax Margin % Comparison
For the Industrial Distribution subindustry, Fastenal Co's Pretax Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Pretax Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Fastenal Co Pretax Margin % vs Industrial Distribution Industry
For the Industrial Distribution industry and Industrials sector, Fastenal Co's Pretax Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Fastenal Co's Pretax Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Fastenal Co (FAST) has a Pretax Margin % of 20.36% as of Mar. 2026. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on Fastenal Co and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 20.03. Over the past decade, Fastenal Co's Pretax Margin % has ranged from 19.57 to 20.72. According to the industry distribution chart, Fastenal Co ranks #4 out of 157 companies in the Industrial Distribution industry, placing it in the top 2.5%.
Is Fastenal Co's Pretax Margin % too high?
Fastenal Co's current Pretax Margin % of 20.36% is near median its 10-year median of 20.03. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 19.57 to a high of 20.72. The Industrial Distribution industry median Pretax Margin % is 4.03. Fastenal Co's value of 20.36% is 405.2% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Fastenal Co ranks #4 out of 157 companies in the Industrial Distribution industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Fastenal Co has a GF Score™ of 99/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Fastenal Co's Pretax Margin % compare to FERG and GWW?
According to the Industrial Distribution industry distribution chart, Fastenal Co ranks #4 out of 157 companies for Pretax Margin %. This places Fastenal Co in the top 3% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Pretax Margin % is 4.03. Fastenal Co's value of 20.36% is 405.2% above this benchmark. Historically, Fastenal Co's own Pretax Margin % has ranged from 19.57 to 20.72 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 20.03 vs. the industry median of 4.03, Fastenal Co has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Pretax Margin % for an Industrial Distribution company?
The median Pretax Margin % among Industrial Distribution companies is 4.03, based on 157 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Pretax Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Pretax Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Fastenal Co's current Pretax Margin % of 20.36% is 405.2% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Pretax Margin % mean?
A high Pretax Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on Fastenal Co and its competitors. For the Industrial Distribution industry, the median Pretax Margin % is 4.03 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Fastenal Co's current Pretax Margin % is 20.36%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 20.03. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Fastenal Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Fastenal Co (FAST) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $43.20, compared to a current price of $46.26 — trading 7.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Pretax Margin % is 20.36%, which is near median its 10-year median of 20.03 and 405.2% above the Industrial Distribution industry median of 4.03. Fastenal Co's overall GF Score™ is 99/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Pretax Margin % calculated?
Pretax Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Fastenal Co (FAST), the current Pretax Margin % is 20.36% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Fastenal Co (FAST) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Fastenal Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $46.26 is trading 7.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of $43.20.
GuruFocus considers Fastenal Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for FAST:
Pretax Margin %: 20.36% (near median its 10-year median of 20.03)
GF Value™: $43.20 vs. price of $46.26 (7.1% above fair value)
Industry Position: 405.2% above the Industrial Distribution median (#4 of 157)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FAST stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Fastenal began as an industrial retailer, expanding its product portfolio from nuts and bolts to cutting tools, safety equipment, and janitorial supplies. It transitioned into a distributor by building out a dense network of branches close to its business customers. Once a customer becomes large enough, Fastenal installs vending machines and its own personnel on-site. Today, these on-site locations exceed Fastenal's branch count and remain the firm's main focus for expansion. Fastenal acts as a one-stop outsourcing partner for its industrial customers, offering value-added services along with a wide breadth of maintenance, repair, and operations supplies.
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