FAST vs. HWM
FAST (Fastenal Company) and HWM (Howmet Aerospace Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Industrials sector — FAST in Industrial Distribution, HWM in Specialty Industrial Machinery. Over the past 10 years, FAST returned 18.29%/yr vs 31.79%/yr for HWM. At a 0.33 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
FAST vs. HWM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FAST achieves a 15.88% return, which is significantly lower than HWM's 20.38% return. Over the past 10 years, FAST has underperformed HWM with an annualized return of 18.29%, while HWM has yielded a comparatively higher 31.79% annualized return.
FAST
- 1D
- -1.69%
- 1M
- 4.14%
- YTD
- 15.88%
- 6M
- 13.97%
- 1Y
- 11.66%
- 3Y*
- 21.78%
- 5Y*
- 14.55%
- 10Y*
- 18.29%
HWM
- 1D
- -2.12%
- 1M
- -8.87%
- YTD
- 20.38%
- 6M
- 27.45%
- 1Y
- 40.91%
- 3Y*
- 75.58%
- 5Y*
- 48.17%
- 10Y*
- 31.79%
FAST vs. HWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAST Fastenal Company | 15.88% | 13.98% | 13.53% | 41.31% | -24.34% | 34.06% | 36.60% | 45.08% | -1.61% | 19.66% |
HWM Howmet Aerospace Inc. | 20.38% | 87.95% | 102.71% | 37.84% | 24.16% | 11.67% | 21.03% | 83.54% | -37.43% | 48.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between FAST and HWM is 0.25, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 26, 1990 | 0.33 |
The correlation between FAST and HWM shifts across timeframes, from 0.25 (1 year) to 0.38 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
FAST:
$52.94B
HWM:
$99.36B
FAST:
$1.13
HWM:
$4.31
FAST:
40.72
HWM:
57.22
FAST:
4.78
HWM:
0.97
FAST:
6.27
HWM:
11.57
FAST:
13.27
HWM:
17.99
FAST:
$8.44B
HWM:
$8.62B
FAST:
$3.79B
HWM:
$2.81B
FAST:
$1.80B
HWM:
$2.66B
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Return for Risk
FAST vs. HWM — Risk / Return Rank
FAST
HWM
FAST vs. HWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Fastenal Company (FAST) and Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM). 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.
| FAST | HWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.87 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.21 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.10 | 1.24 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.53 | 2.59 | -2.05 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.07 | 7.37 | -6.30 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FAST | HWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 | 1.34 | -0.87 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.60 | 1.51 | -0.91 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.69 | 0.80 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.53 | 0.21 | +0.31 |
Drawdowns
FAST vs. HWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FAST drawdown since its inception was -63.43%, smaller than the maximum HWM drawdown of -88.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FAST and HWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FAST | HWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.43% | -88.30% | +24.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -21.90% | -15.89% | -6.01% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.90% | -19.41% | -2.49% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.71% | -22.40% | -8.31% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -30.71% | -64.81% | +34.10% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.24% | -9.88% | +2.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.17% | -31.01% | +18.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 10.94% | 5.58% | +5.36% |
Volatility
FAST vs. HWM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Fastenal Company (FAST) is 6.42%, while Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) has a volatility of 7.62%. This indicates that FAST experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than HWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FAST | HWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.42% | 7.62% | -1.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.37% | 24.08% | -4.71% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.92% | 30.70% | -5.78% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.31% | 32.04% | -7.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.78% | 39.78% | -13.00% |
Dividends
FAST vs. HWM - Dividend Comparison
FAST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.00%, more than HWM's 0.19% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAST Fastenal Company | 2.00% | 2.18% | 2.17% | 2.75% | 2.62% | 1.75% | 2.87% | 2.35% | 2.95% | 2.34% | 2.55% | 2.74% |
HWM Howmet Aerospace Inc. | 0.19% | 0.21% | 0.24% | 0.31% | 0.25% | 0.13% | 0.05% | 0.39% | 1.42% | 0.88% | 40.49% | 1.22% |
Financials
FAST vs. HWM - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Fastenal Company and Howmet Aerospace Inc.. 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. HWM - Profitability Comparison
FAST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Fastenal Company reported a gross profit of 982.90M and revenue of 2.20B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 44.6%.
HWM - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Howmet Aerospace Inc. reported a gross profit of 854.00M and revenue of 2.31B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 36.9%.
FAST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Fastenal Company reported an operating income of 447.60M and revenue of 2.20B, resulting in an operating margin of 20.3%.
HWM - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Howmet Aerospace Inc. reported an operating income of 734.00M and revenue of 2.31B, resulting in an operating margin of 31.7%.
FAST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Fastenal Company reported a net income of 339.80M and revenue of 2.20B, resulting in a net margin of 15.4%.
HWM - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Howmet Aerospace Inc. reported a net income of 580.00M and revenue of 2.31B, resulting in a net margin of 25.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAST and HWM have a correlation of 0.25, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
HWM has higher volatility (7.62%) compared to FAST (6.42%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FAST dropped -63.43% vs HWM's -88.30%.
HWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.34 vs 0.47), 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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