FAST vs GWW: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

Same yardstick, side by side (as of October 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.

Reading it: GWW is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.

The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. FAST and GWW share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.

This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined FAST and GWW exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.

Fastenal is a leading industrial distributor that supplies fasteners (bolts, nuts, screws) and a broad range of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products such as tools, safety equipment, cutting tools, fluids, and janitorial supplies to manufacturers, construction firms, and other businesses. While fasteners are its heritage and namesake, the company today derives a majority of revenue from non-fastener industrial and MRO products. Fastenal's competitive edge comes from being physically close to its customers: it operates thousands of branches and, increasingly, on-site locations placed directly inside customers' facilities, plus a fast-growing network of industrial vending machines that dispense supplies right on the shop floor. This high-touch, high-service model creates sticky relationships and recurring revenue, since customers rely on Fastenal to keep production lines stocked. The company makes money on the markup between what it pays suppliers and what it charges customers, with vending, on-site programs, and e-commerce deepening those relationships. Fastenal is headquartered in Winona, Minnesota, employs about 21,700 people, and is a member of the S&P 500.

Full FAST guide

W.W. Grainger, founded in 1928 and based in Lake Forest, Illinois, sells the unglamorous products that keep factories, hospitals, warehouses, schools and government buildings running: safety gear, motors, fasteners, lighting, plumbing parts, janitorial supplies and tools. It reports two segments. High-Touch Solutions North America (Grainger.com, branches, distribution centers, onsite inventory services and sales reps in the US, Canada and Mexico) serves large and mid-size customers with complex needs and makes up roughly three quarters of sales. Endless Assortment covers Zoro in the US and MonotaRO, the Japanese online MRO seller in which Grainger holds a controlling stake, and targets smaller buyers who order online from a catalog of millions of items. Grainger exited the UK in 2025 by selling Cromwell and closing Zoro UK.

Full GWW guide

Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.

• FAST drivers: On-site and vending growth; Sticky distribution model.
• GWW drivers: Share gains in High-Touch Solutions; Endless Assortment scaling toward double-digit margins.

A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: Fastenal's revenue is closely tied to industrial production, manufacturing activity, and the broader economy, so recessions or manufacturing slowdowns directly pressure sales and same-store growth. For GWW, the largest risk is valuation.

Pick FAST if you believe its drivers more; GWW if you believe its. Many investors hold both, but since they share themes, that is a concentrated bet, not diversification. Decide deliberately and check overlap. For the full detail, see the FAST and GWW guides.

FAST. Fastenal trades at a premium multiple for an industrial distributor, about 41 times trailing and 36 times forward earnings as of October 2026, a premium earned by its consistent execution, high returns on capital, sticky on-site and vending model, and reliable dividend growth. With the stock up about 25 percent this year and the mean analyst target near the current price, the valuation already assumes growth stays in the low-to-mid teens. Consensus calls for EPS of about $1.27 in 2026 and $1.40 in 2027.

GWW. Trailing revenue combines full-year 2025 sales (~$17.9B) with first-half 2026 growth of ~$0.9B. Trailing reported EPS of ~$39.20 includes 2025 charges tied to the UK exit; adjusted 2025 EPS was ~$39.48. On the midpoint of 2026 guidance (~$46.40), the stock trades near ~29x forward earnings. The dividend of $2.49 a quarter yields ~0.7%. Figures are approximate as of late October 2026 and will change when third-quarter 2026 results, expected within days, are published.

Headline figures (approximate, October 2026): FAST shows revenue (ttm) ~$9.1B, q3 2026 revenue ~$2.46B (up 15.5% YoY), q3 2026 eps $0.35 vs $0.34 estimate, operating / net margin ~21.5% / ~15.6%; GWW shows share price ~$1,362, market cap ~$64B, revenue (ttm) ~$18.8B, diluted eps (ttm, reported) ~$39.20.

FAST and GWW are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined FAST and GWW exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.