Fastenal Company (FAST) vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL)
UAL leads on 11 of 16 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Fastenal Company and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 18, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
FAST
Fastenal Company
$44.88Industrials
UAL
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
$115.83Industrials
Total return — FAST vs UAL
growth of $100 · last 20yFAST +804.8%UAL +266.9%FAST compounded faster
FAST UAL
FAST vs UAL: by the numbers
- •FAST is the larger company ($51.52B vs $38.77B market cap).
- •UAL trades at the lower earnings multiple (10.34 vs 39.37 P/E).
- •FAST converts more revenue to profit (15.39% vs 6.06% net margin).
- •UAL grew revenue faster over the past five years (41.67% vs 8.19% CAGR).
- •FAST pays a dividend (2.05% yield) while UAL does not currently pay one.
Which is better, FAST or UAL?
Metric tally: FAST 5 · UAL 11It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueUAL(lower P/E)
GrowthUAL(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
QualityFAST(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | FAST | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 39.37 | 10.34● |
| Forward P/E | 36.08 | 8.04● |
| P/S ratio | 6.12 | 0.63● |
| P/B ratio | 12.95 | 2.38● |
| PEG ratio | 3.66 | 1.66● |
| EV / EBITDA | 27.36 | 7.01● |
| FCF yield | 2.25% | 8.47%● |
Profitability
| Metric | FAST | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 44.89% | 64.24%● |
| Operating margin | 20.25%● | 8.44% |
| Net margin | 15.39%● | 6.06% |
| ROE | 32.58%● | 23.09% |
| ROIC | 28.17%● | 6.63% |
Dividends
| Metric | FAST | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.05% | — |
| Payout ratio | 83.64% | — |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | FAST | UAL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 8.19% | 41.67%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 7.96%● | -2.15% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 3.42% | 61.78%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 15.01% | 16.84%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, FAST or UAL?
- It depends on your goal. value: UAL (lower P/E); growth: UAL (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: FAST (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, UAL leads 11 to 5.
- Is FAST or UAL cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, UAL is cheaper: FAST trades at a 39.37 P/E and UAL at 10.34.
- Which has grown faster, FAST or UAL?
- Over the past five years, UAL grew revenue faster — FAST at a 8.19% CAGR versus UAL at 41.67%.
- Does FAST or UAL pay a bigger dividend?
- FAST pays a dividend (2.05% yield) while UAL does not currently pay one.
- Is FAST or UAL more profitable?
- FAST runs the higher net margin — FAST at 15.39% versus UAL at 6.06%.
- Which has been the better investment, FAST or UAL?
- Over the past 10-year, FAST delivered the higher annualized total return — FAST at 18.03% versus UAL at 10.87%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Fastenal P/E ratioUnited Airlines P/E ratioFastenal dividend yieldUnited Airlines dividend yieldFastenal ROEUnited Airlines ROEFastenal operating marginUnited Airlines operating marginFastenal revenue growthUnited Airlines revenue growthFastenal free cash flowUnited Airlines free cash flow
Fastenal & United Airlines appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 18, 2026.