NTRS vs. FAST
NTRS (Northern Trust Corporation) and FAST (Fastenal Company) are both stocks. NTRS operates in Asset Management (Financial Services), while FAST operates in Industrial Distribution (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, NTRS returned 13.58%/yr vs 18.55%/yr for FAST. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NTRS vs. FAST - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NTRS achieves a 35.19% return, which is significantly higher than FAST's 12.75% return. Over the past 10 years, NTRS has underperformed FAST with an annualized return of 13.58%, while FAST has yielded a comparatively higher 18.55% annualized return.
NTRS
- 1D
- -1.03%
- 1M
- 6.20%
- 6M
- 26.85%
- YTD
- 35.19%
- 1Y
- 46.12%
- 3Y*
- 36.44%
- 5Y*
- 13.32%
- 10Y*
- 13.58%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.61%
FAST
- 1D
- -1.60%
- 1M
- -2.46%
- 6M
- 3.45%
- YTD
- 12.75%
- 1Y
- -0.79%
- 3Y*
- 18.30%
- 5Y*
- 13.23%
- 10Y*
- 18.55%
- ALL TIME*
- 18.60%
NTRS vs. FAST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NTRS Northern Trust Corporation | 35.19% | 36.92% | 25.63% | -1.02% | -23.82% | 31.65% | -9.29% | 30.59% | -14.68% | 14.18% |
FAST Fastenal Company | 12.75% | 13.98% | 13.53% | 41.31% | -24.34% | 34.06% | 36.60% | 45.08% | -1.61% | 19.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between NTRS and FAST is 0.32, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 26, 1990 | 0.36 |
The correlation between NTRS and FAST shifts across timeframes, from 0.32 (1 year) to 0.43 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NTRS:
$33.82B
FAST:
$51.39B
NTRS:
$9.15
FAST:
$1.18
NTRS:
19.97
FAST:
38.09
NTRS:
1.57
FAST:
4.47
NTRS:
2.43
FAST:
5.89
NTRS:
$14.30B
FAST:
$8.75B
NTRS:
$8.09B
FAST:
$3.91B
NTRS:
$3.21B
FAST:
$1.91B
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Return for Risk
NTRS vs. FAST — Risk / Return Rank
NTRS
FAST
NTRS vs. FAST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) and Fastenal Company (FAST). 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.
| NTRS | FAST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.92 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.51 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.02 | +0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.74 | -0.04 | +3.78 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.38 | -0.07 | +10.45 |
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Drawdowns
NTRS vs. FAST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NTRS drawdown since its inception was -67.67%, which is greater than FAST's maximum drawdown of -63.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NTRS and FAST.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NTRS | FAST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.67% | -63.43% | -4.24% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.39% | -21.90% | +9.51% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.21% | -21.90% | -3.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -50.03% | -30.71% | -19.32% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -50.03% | -30.71% | -19.32% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.37% | -9.74% | +5.37% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.90% | -12.15% | -8.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.46% | 11.13% | -6.67% |
Volatility
NTRS vs. FAST - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) is 6.27%, while Fastenal Company (FAST) has a volatility of 7.41%. This indicates that NTRS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FAST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NTRS | FAST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.27% | 7.41% | -1.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.39% | 19.71% | -0.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.64% | 25.32% | -0.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 29.36% | 24.47% | +4.89% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 30.22% | 26.78% | +3.44% |
Dividends
NTRS vs. FAST - Dividend Comparison
NTRS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.75%, less than FAST's 2.06% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAST Fastenal Company | 2.06% | 2.18% | 2.17% | 2.75% | 2.62% | 1.75% | 2.87% | 2.35% | 2.95% | 2.34% | 2.55% | 2.74% |
NTRS Northern Trust Corporation | 1.75% | 2.27% | 2.93% | 3.56% | 3.28% | 2.34% | 3.01% | 2.45% | 2.32% | 1.60% | 1.66% | 1.96% |
Financials
NTRS vs. FAST - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Northern Trust Corporation and Fastenal Company. 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
NTRS vs. FAST - Profitability Comparison
NTRS - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Northern Trust Corporation reported a gross profit of 2.12B and revenue of 3.61B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 58.8%.
FAST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 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%.
NTRS - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Northern Trust Corporation reported an operating income of 625.80M and revenue of 3.61B, resulting in an operating margin of 17.3%.
FAST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Fastenal Company reported an operating income of 501.80M and revenue of 2.39B, resulting in an operating margin of 21.0%.
NTRS - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Northern Trust Corporation reported a net income of 466.00M and revenue of 3.61B, resulting in a net margin of 12.9%.
FAST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Fastenal Company reported a net income of 382.80M and revenue of 2.39B, resulting in a net margin of 16.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NTRS and FAST have a correlation of 0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FAST has higher volatility (7.41%) compared to NTRS (6.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NTRS dropped -67.67% vs FAST's -63.43%.
NTRS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs -0.03), 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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