VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Fastenal Company vs The Home Depot, Inc.

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

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

The Home Depot, Inc.

HD · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$345.9B
Gross margin (TTM)33.4%
Operating margin (TTM)13%
Net margin (TTM)8.8%
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
69/ 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 The Home Depot, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HD analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Home Depot, Inc. leads (69 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Fastenal Company).
  • Segment focus: Fastenal Company has 3 segments (54.5% in Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)); The Home Depot, Inc. has 2 segments (96% in Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)).
  • Moat breadth: Fastenal Company has 5 moat types across 2 domains; The Home Depot, Inc. has 4 across 2.

Primary market context

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%

The Home Depot, Inc.

Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)

Market

Home improvement retail (omnichannel)

Geography

North America (US, Canada, Mexico)

Customer

DIY homeowners and professional contractors

Role

Retailer

Revenue share

96%

Side-by-side metrics

Fastenal Company
The Home Depot, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
FAST - Nasdaq Stock Market
HD - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$345.9B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
33.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
13%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
8.8%
Sector
Industrials
Consumer
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)
Market structure
Competitive
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Weak
Moat score
60 / 100
69 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network Density

Fastenal Company strengths

Operational ExcellenceSwitching Costs GeneralData Workflow LockinScope Economies

The Home Depot, Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlProcurement InertiaScale Economies Unit Cost

Segment mix

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%

The Home Depot, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)

Competitive

96%

Other - Specialty trade distribution (SRS: roofing, landscape, pool)

Competitive

4%

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.