FAST vs VRT: How Fastenal and Vertiv Holdings Compare (2026)

Same yardstick, side by side (as of July 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: VRT 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 VRT 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 VRT 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, and is a member of the S&P 500.

Full FAST guide

Vertiv Holdings designs and manufactures the power and cooling infrastructure inside data centers. The company's products include uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units (PDUs), busways and rack power, computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units, liquid cooling systems, and increasingly the integrated thermal management solutions required to cool AI training racks at high density.

Full VRT 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.
• VRT drivers: AI rack power and cooling; Liquid cooling adoption.

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 VRT, hyperscaler AI capex concentration is the primary risk.

Growth-minded investors who believe the theme has years to run tend to accept the richer multiple for more upside; value-minded investors lean toward the cheaper forward earnings and steadier profile. Pick FAST if you believe its drivers more; VRT 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 VRT guides.

FAST. Fastenal trades at a premium multiple for an industrial distributor, reflecting its consistent execution, high returns on capital, sticky on-site and vending model, and reliable dividend growth. The market pays up for the quality and recurring nature of its revenue, which makes the valuation sensitive to any slowdown in industrial activity or same-customer growth.

VRT. Vertiv trades at a premium reflecting the AI buildout tailwind, the demonstrated operating leverage, and the visibility from order backlog. The multiple is sensitive to AI capex cycle expectations; would compress on any hyperscaler pause.

Headline figures (approximate, early 2026): FAST shows revenue (ttm) ~$7.5-8 billion, operating margin ~20%, revenue growth Mid-single-digit, cyclical with industry, return on invested capital High, consistently strong; VRT shows revenue (ttm) ~$9 billion, operating margin ~18% (improving), net income (ttm) ~$1 billion, eps (ttm) ~$2.50.

FAST and VRT 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 VRT exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.