FAST vs. BF-B
FAST (Fastenal Company) and BF-B (Brown-Forman Corporation) are both stocks. FAST operates in Industrial Distribution (Industrials), while BF-B operates in Beverages - Wineries & Distilleries (Consumer Defensive). Over the past 10 years, FAST returned 19.47%/yr vs -1.14%/yr for BF-B. Their 0.28 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
FAST vs. BF-B - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FAST achieves a 20.84% return, which is significantly higher than BF-B's 12.23% return. Over the past 10 years, FAST has outperformed BF-B with an annualized return of 19.47%, while BF-B has yielded a comparatively lower -1.14% annualized return.
FAST
- 1D
- 2.25%
- 1M
- -1.29%
- 6M
- 11.23%
- YTD
- 20.84%
- 1Y
- 7.28%
- 3Y*
- 20.68%
- 5Y*
- 14.47%
- 10Y*
- 19.47%
- ALL TIME*
- 18.81%
BF-B
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- 9.82%
- 6M
- 6.86%
- YTD
- 12.23%
- 1Y
- 3.33%
- 3Y*
- -24.13%
- 5Y*
- -14.68%
- 10Y*
- -1.14%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.92%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $72.42M | $68.61M | $81.20M | |
FAST Fastenal Company | $378.10M | $419.64M | $355.81M |
FAST vs. BF-B - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAST Fastenal Company | 20.84% | 13.98% | 13.53% | 41.31% | -24.34% | 34.06% | 36.60% | 45.08% | -1.61% | 19.66% |
BF-B Brown-Forman Corporation | 12.23% | -29.29% | -32.23% | -11.91% | -8.86% | -6.07% | 18.67% | 43.78% | -10.98% | 55.01% |
Correlation
The correlation between FAST and BF-B is 0.23, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.23 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.24 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.33 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.35 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 26, 1990 | 0.28 |
The correlation between FAST and BF-B shifts across timeframes, from 0.23 (1 year) to 0.35 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
FAST:
$54.75B
BF-B:
$13.40B
FAST:
$1.18
BF-B:
$1.71
FAST:
40.60
BF-B:
16.83
FAST:
4.77
BF-B:
20.91
FAST:
6.27
BF-B:
3.47
FAST:
$8.75B
BF-B:
$3.91B
FAST:
$3.91B
BF-B:
$2.32B
FAST:
$1.91B
BF-B:
$1.19B
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Return for Risk
FAST vs. BF-B — Risk / Return Rank
FAST
BF-B
FAST vs. BF-B - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Fastenal Company (FAST) and Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| FAST | BF-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.15 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.09 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.06 | 1.05 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.26 | 0.12 | +0.14 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.51 | 0.25 | +0.26 |
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Drawdowns
FAST vs. BF-B - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FAST drawdown since its inception was -63.43%, smaller than the maximum BF-B drawdown of -68.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FAST and BF-B.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FAST | BF-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.43% | -68.96% | +5.53% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -21.90% | -25.48% | +3.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.90% | -65.52% | +43.62% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.71% | -68.31% | +37.60% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -30.71% | -68.96% | +38.25% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.26% | -60.54% | +57.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.14% | -11.78% | -0.36% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.17% | 11.96% | -0.79% |
Volatility
FAST vs. BF-B - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Fastenal Company (FAST) is 8.04%, while Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) has a volatility of 11.93%. This indicates that FAST experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BF-B based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FAST | BF-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.04% | 11.93% | -3.89% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.42% | 32.16% | -12.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.49% | 38.81% | -13.32% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.53% | 30.48% | -5.95% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.80% | 28.31% | -1.51% |
Dividends
FAST vs. BF-B - Dividend Comparison
FAST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.01%, less than BF-B's 3.20% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BF-B Brown-Forman Corporation | 3.20% | 3.49% | 2.32% | 1.46% | 1.17% | 2.37% | 0.88% | 0.99% | 3.10% | 1.09% | 1.54% | 1.29% |
FAST Fastenal Company | 2.01% | 2.18% | 2.17% | 2.75% | 2.62% | 1.75% | 2.87% | 2.35% | 2.95% | 2.34% | 2.55% | 2.74% |
Financials
FAST vs. BF-B - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Fastenal Company and Brown-Forman Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
FAST vs. BF-B - Profitability Comparison
FAST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Fastenal Company reported a gross profit of 1.06B and revenue of 2.39B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 44.6%.
BF-B - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Brown-Forman Corporation reported a gross profit of 640.00M and revenue of 1.06B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 60.6%.
FAST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Fastenal Company reported an operating income of 501.80M and revenue of 2.39B, resulting in an operating margin of 21.0%.
BF-B - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Brown-Forman Corporation reported an operating income of 343.00M and revenue of 1.06B, resulting in an operating margin of 32.5%.
FAST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Fastenal Company reported a net income of 382.80M and revenue of 2.39B, resulting in a net margin of 16.0%.
BF-B - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Brown-Forman Corporation reported a net income of 267.00M and revenue of 1.06B, resulting in a net margin of 25.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAST and BF-B have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BF-B has higher volatility (11.93%) compared to FAST (8.04%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FAST dropped -63.43% vs BF-B's -68.96%.
FAST currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.22 vs 0.08), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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