VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

BlackRock, Inc. vs Fastenal Company

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

BlackRock, Inc.

BLK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$168.1B
Gross margin (TTM)51.6%
Operating margin (TTM)32.6%
Net margin (TTM)26.6%
SectorFinancials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
59/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into BlackRock, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BLK analysis

Fastenal Company

FAST · Nasdaq Stock Market

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorIndustrials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
60/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Fastenal Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View FAST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Fastenal Company leads (60 / 100 vs 59 / 100 for BlackRock, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: BlackRock, Inc. has 7 segments (33% in iShares ETFs & ETPs); Fastenal Company has 3 segments (54.5% in Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: BlackRock, Inc. has 10 moat types across 2 domains; Fastenal Company has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

BlackRock, Inc.

iShares ETFs & ETPs

Market

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded products (ETPs)

Geography

Global

Customer

Institutional and retail (via intermediaries)

Role

ETF sponsor / asset manager

Revenue share

33%

Fastenal Company

Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)

Market

Industrial & construction supplies distribution (MRO/OEM consumables) via local branches

Geography

North America (primary) + select international

Customer

B2B

Role

Distributor / MRO supplier

Revenue share

54.5%

Side-by-side metrics

BlackRock, Inc.
Fastenal Company
Ticker / Exchange
BLK - New York Stock Exchange
FAST - Nasdaq Stock Market
Market cap (USD)
$168.1B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
51.6%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
32.6%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
26.6%
n/a
Sector
Financials
Industrials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
iShares ETFs & ETPs
Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
28.3% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
59 / 100
60 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-31
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Operational ExcellenceSwitching Costs GeneralScope EconomiesData Workflow Lockin

BlackRock, Inc. strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostBrand TrustDistribution ControlSuite BundlingProcurement InertiaLong Term Contracts

Fastenal Company strengths

Physical Network Density

Segment mix

BlackRock, Inc. segments

Full profile >

iShares ETFs & ETPs

Oligopoly

33%

Institutional Index Mandates (Non-ETF)

Oligopoly

5.7%

Active & Multi-Asset (Public Markets)

Competitive

27.5%

Alternatives & Private Markets

Oligopoly

13.5%

Cash Management (MMFs & cash solutions)

Competitive

5.1%

Aladdin & Technology Services

Oligopoly

7.9%

Distribution & Advisory Services

Competitive

7.3%

Fastenal Company segments

Full profile >

Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)

Competitive

54.5%

Onsite solutions (embedded customer locations)

Competitive

42.4%

Other / non-traditional sales (services & custom manufacturing)

Competitive

3.1%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.