Illinois Tool Works
ITW
$254.45
+1.71%
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) is a diversified industrial manufacturer operating across seven distinct segments, including automotive OEM components, food equipment, welding, and specialty products, serving a broad range of end markets. The company is a well-established industrial conglomerate known for its decentralized operating model and focus on proprietary, customer-back innovation. The current investor narrative centers on the company's ability to navigate a potential industrial slowdown, as evidenced by recent analyst downgrades and a focus on its stable dividend, while debates persist over whether its premium valuation is justified by its consistent margin profile and cash generation.…
ITW
Illinois Tool Works
$254.45
Related headlines
ITW 12-Month Price Forecast
Wall Street consensus
Most Wall Street analysts maintain a constructive view on Illinois Tool Works's 12-month outlook, with a consensus price target around $330.78 and implied upside of +30.0% versus the current price.
Average Target
$330.78
4 analysts
Implied Upside
+30.0%
vs. current price
Analyst Count
4
covering this stock
Price Range
$204 - $331
Analyst target range
Analyst coverage for ITW appears limited in the provided dataset, with only 4 analysts cited for EPS estimates, and no consensus price target or recommendation distribution is available. This suggests either a data gap or that the stock, despite its large market cap, may have concentrated or less frequently updated coverage from major firms, which can sometimes lead to higher volatility due to less frequent price discovery. The available institutional ratings show a distinctly bearish tilt, with recent actions from firms like Evercore ISI (Underperform), Barclays (Underweight), Wells Fargo (Underweight), and Goldman Sachs (Sell). The lack of bullish calls and the pattern of reiterations at underweight/neutral levels signals strong skepticism among covering analysts about near-term outperformance, likely driven by valuation and cyclical concerns.
ITW Technical Analysis
The stock is in a pronounced downtrend, having declined 9.40% over the past three months and currently trading at $251.12, which is just 5.1% above its 52-week low of $238.82. This positioning near the bottom of its annual range suggests the stock is in a state of technical weakness, potentially offering a value entry point but also signaling significant bearish momentum that could test the lows. Recent momentum is decisively negative, with the stock down 1.35% over the past month, starkly underperforming the S&P 500's 4.6% gain, as indicated by a relative strength reading of -5.95. This divergence from the broader market's strength underscores specific company or sector-related headwinds pressuring ITW. Key technical levels are clearly defined, with immediate support at the 52-week low of $238.82 and resistance at the 52-week high of $303.16. A breakdown below support could trigger further selling, while a sustained move above the recent downtrend would be needed to signal a reversal. The stock's beta of 1.06 indicates its volatility is roughly in line with the market, suggesting its recent underperformance is driven by idiosyncratic factors rather than amplified market moves.
Beta
1.03
1.03x market volatility
Max Drawdown
-17.9%
Largest decline past year
52-Week Range
$239-$303
Price range past year
Annual Return
+3.2%
Cumulative gain past year
| Period | ITW Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | +1.2% | -0.1% |
| 3m | -4.7% | +11.4% |
| 6m | -1.4% | +8.2% |
| 1y | +3.2% | +22.7% |
| ytd | +2.0% | +8.2% |
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ITW Fundamental Analysis
Revenue growth has been modest but is showing signs of deceleration; Q4 2025 revenue of $4.093 billion grew 4.1% year-over-year, but this marks a slowdown from the stronger growth seen in prior quarters of 2025. Segment data reveals the Test & Measurement and Electronics segment ($789M) and Automotive OEM segment ($827M) as the largest revenue contributors, though the overall multi-quarter trend points to a plateauing top line amidst a challenging industrial environment. Profitability remains a core strength, with the company generating net income of $790 million in Q4 2025 and maintaining a robust gross margin of 44.2%. The operating margin for the quarter was 26.5%, demonstrating the company's ability to preserve healthy profitability through its enterprise strategy, even as revenue growth moderates. The balance sheet and cash flow picture is solid but carries notable financial leverage; the company generated strong free cash flow of $2.707 billion TTM, supporting its dividend and share buybacks. However, the debt-to-equity ratio of 2.78 is elevated, indicating a leveraged capital structure, though this is mitigated by a current ratio of 1.21 and the consistent cash generation, providing adequate liquidity to service obligations.
Quarterly Revenue
$4.1B
2025-12
Revenue YoY Growth
+0.04%
YoY Comparison
Gross Margin
+0.44%
Latest Quarter
Free Cash Flow
$2.7B
Last 12 Months
Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)
Revenue Breakdown
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Valuation Analysis: Is ITW Overvalued?
Given a positive net income of $790 million, the primary valuation metric is the P/E ratio. The trailing P/E stands at 23.5x, while the forward P/E is 20.6x, indicating the market expects modest earnings growth, with the forward multiple pricing in a 12% earnings expansion. The gap between trailing and forward multiples suggests expectations are for improved profitability, but the compression is not dramatic, indicating cautious optimism. Compared to sector averages, ITW trades at a significant premium; its trailing P/E of 23.5x and EV/EBITDA of 17.2x are well above typical industrial machinery multiples, which often range in the mid-teens. This premium is likely justified by investors for ITW's superior margins, high return on equity of 95.1%, and consistent free cash flow generation, which are hallmarks of its quality industrial business model. Historically, the stock's current trailing P/E of 23.5x sits below its own 5-year peak observed in recent quarters (e.g., 27.4x at the end of 2023) but is above the lows seen in 2022 (around 18.6x). This positioning in the mid-to-upper range of its historical band suggests the market is still attributing a quality multiple, though not at peak optimism, reflecting concerns about growth deceleration.
PE
23.5x
Latest Quarter
vs. Historical
Mid-Range
5-Year PE Range 17x~32x
vs. Industry Avg
N/A
Industry PE ~N/A*
EV/EBITDA
17.2x
Enterprise Value Multiple

