WallStSmart

BlueLinx Holdings Inc (BXC)vsFastenal Company (FAST)

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Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Fastenal Company generates 191% more annual revenue ($8.75B vs $3.01B). FAST leads profitability with a 15.4% profit margin vs -0.1%. BXC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.19. FAST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 62/100 (C+).

BXC

Buy

53

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 5.3Profit: 3.0Value: 4.7Quality: 7.0
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 3.44

FAST

Buy

62

out of 100

Grade: C+

Growth: 6.0Profit: 9.0Value: 5.3Quality: 9.0
Piotroski: 5/9Altman Z: 6.57
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

Intrinsic value data unavailable for BXC.

FASTUndervalued (+51.6%)

Margin of Safety

+51.6%

Fair Value

$104.85

Current Price

$50.43

$54.42 discount

UndervaluedFair: $104.85Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

BXC3 strengths · Avg: 10.0/10
Price/BookValuation
1.0x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

EPS GrowthGrowth
50.0%10/10

Earnings expanding 50.0% YoY

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
3.4410/10

Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk

FAST5 strengths · Avg: 9.2/10
Return on EquityProfitability
33.2%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 33 in profit

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
6.5710/10

Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk

Market CapQuality
$58.21B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

Debt/EquityHealth
0.119/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

Operating MarginProfitability
21.0%8/10

Strong operational efficiency at 21.0%

Areas to Watch

BXC4 concerns · Avg: 3.5/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.194/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Revenue GrowthGrowth
4.4%4/10

4.4% revenue growth

Market CapQuality
$641.97M3/10

Smaller company, higher risk/reward

Operating MarginProfitability
2.4%3/10

Operating margin of 2.4%

FAST3 concerns · Avg: 2.7/10
Price/BookValuation
14.2x4/10

Trading at 14.2x book value

PEG RatioValuation
3.392/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

P/E RatioValuation
43.4x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : BXC

The strongest argument for BXC centers on Price/Book, EPS Growth, Altman Z-Score.

Bull Case : FAST

The strongest argument for FAST centers on Return on Equity, Altman Z-Score, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.4% and operating margin at 21.0%. Revenue growth of 14.7% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : BXC

The primary concerns for BXC are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Market Cap.

Bear Case : FAST

The primary concerns for FAST are Price/Book, PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 43.4x leaves little room for execution misses.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

BXC profiles as a turnaround stock while FAST is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.

BXC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.45 — expect wider price swings.

FAST is growing revenue faster at 14.7% — sustainability is the question.

FAST generates stronger free cash flow (78M), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

FAST scores higher overall (62/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 15.4% margins and 14.7% revenue growth. Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

BlueLinx Holdings Inc

INDUSTRIALS · INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION · USA

BlueLinx Holdings Inc. distributes residential and commercial construction products in the United States. The company is headquartered in Marietta, Georgia.

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Fastenal Company

INDUSTRIALS · INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION · USA

Fastenal Company is an American company based in Winona, Minnesota. Fastenal's service model centers on approximately 3,200 in-market locations, each providing custom inventory, and a dedicated sales team to support local businesses. Fastenal offers companies supply chain solutions that help business reduce inventory touches, and supply chain waste.

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