Bull case
ITW would need investors to value it at roughly 34x earnings — about 11x more generous than today's 23x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
Wall Street verdict, consensus price target, and analyst rating breakdown — everything needed to frame the risk/reward at today's price.
Three scenarios for where ITW stock could go
ITW would need investors to value it at roughly 34x earnings — about 11x more generous than today's 23x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
This is close to how the market is already pricing ITW — at roughly 26x forward earnings. No dramatic re-rating needed, just steady execution on the core business.
If investor confidence fades or macro conditions deteriorate, a 7x multiple contraction could push ITW down roughly 30% from where it trades now.
Not financial advice. Model confidence reflects internal scenario assumptions, not a guarantee of returns. Past performance does not predict future results.

Illinois Tool Works is a diversified industrial manufacturer that produces specialized equipment and components across multiple industrial sectors. It generates revenue through seven main segments—Automotive OEM (~25%), Food Equipment (~15%), Test & Measurement (~15%), Welding (~15%), Polymers & Fluids (~15%), Construction Products (~10%), and Specialty Products (~5%)—selling everything from automotive fasteners to commercial kitchen equipment. Its competitive advantage lies in deep engineering expertise across niche industrial applications and a decentralized operating model that allows individual business units to maintain leadership in their specialized markets.
Quarterly beat-or-miss track record against analyst estimates, plus forward revenue and EPS outlook for the next two fiscal years.
| Quarter | EPS (Actual / Est) | EPS Surprise | Revenue (Actual / Est) | Rev Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $2.58/$2.56 | +0.8% | $4.1B/$4.0B | +0.7% |
| Q4 2025 | $2.81/$2.75 | +2.2% | $4.1B/$4.1B | -0.5% |
| Q1 2026 | $2.72/$2.69 | +1.1% | $4.1B/$4.1B | +0.7% |
| Q2 2026 | $2.66/$2.57 | +3.5% | $4.0B/$4.0B | +0.2% |
ITW beat EPS estimates in 4 of 4 tracked quarters. A perfect track record raises the bar for the upcoming report.
Product and geographic revenue mix from the latest annual disclosure, with year-over-year growth by segment.
Latest annual revenue by segment or product family
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Latest annual revenue by reported region
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Current multiples compared to the S&P 500, the company's sector, and its own five-year average.
Fair value est. $348 — implies +31.8% from today's price.
| Metric | ITW | S&P 500 | Industrials | 5Y Avg ITW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward PE | 23.4x | 18.8x+24% | 21.2x+10% | — |
| Trailing PE | 25.2x | 24.4x | 25.6x | 24.7x |
| PEG Ratio | 2.62x | 1.66x+58% | 1.65x+59% | — |
| EV/EBITDA | 18.3x | 15.2x+20% | 13.9x+32% | 18.9x |
| Price/FCF | 28.1x | 20.7x+36% | 20.0x+40% | 29.8x |
| Price/Sales | 4.7x | 3.1x+53% | 1.6x+204% | 4.8x |
| Dividend Yield | 2.31% | 1.91% | 1.21% | 2.18% |
Forward P/E and PEG reflect analyst consensus estimates. Historical averages use trailing ratios where forward data is unavailable.S&P 500 and sector benchmarks both use trailing median P/E — similar readings indicate the broader index and sector are priced alike.
Open valuation toolITW generates $2.2B in free cash flow at a 13.6% margin — 29.0% ROIC signals a durable competitive advantage · returns 4.3% of market cap to shareholders annually.
Revenue, margins, and cash generation
ROIC, leverage, and debt serviceability
~3.7 years to full repayment at current FCF run-rate
* Elevated by buyback-compressed equity — compare ROIC (29.0%) for an undistorted picture of capital efficiency.
How capital is returned to owners
All figures from the trailing twelve months. ROIC uses invested capital (equity + net debt). ROE marked * where buyback-compressed equity base may inflate the figure.
Open full ratios pageKey factors that could pressure the stock price, compress the multiple, or weigh on future results.
AI analysis · updated June 17, 2026
ITW's FY 2026 earnings guidance, with EPS and revenue projections slightly below consensus estimates, resulted in a bearish market movement.
Investors pushed back due to excellent margins and steady earnings but insufficient organic growth, leading to a stock decline.
ITW stock has lost about 5% due to mixed Q1 2026 earnings reception and muted organic growth.
Illinois Tool Works disclosed 17 risk factors in its most recent earnings report, indicating potential challenges.
These are risk mechanisms, not predictions. The key question is which would force a cut to earnings estimates or a lower multiple than the market currently prices in.
Structural drivers behind the upside case and why the stock could outperform over the next 12 months.
AI analysis · updated June 17, 2026
ITW reported higher sales and increased earnings per share in Q4 2025, with full-year revenue reaching $16.04 billion.
The company provided 2026 guidance expecting modest revenue growth and higher GAAP EPS, indicating confidence in future performance.
ITW completed a $3.01 billion buyback, demonstrating commitment to returning capital to shareholders.
The Board declared a Q2 2026 dividend of $1.61 per share, maintaining its track record of shareholder returns.
Wall Street consensus price target of $271.29 suggests a 5.4% upside from current trading levels.
Despite recent stock price decline, ITW maintains excellent margins and steady earnings, a key bullish point.
A real bull case compounds — each driver matters most when it strengthens margins, supports capital returns, and keeps the company above the market's minimum growth bar simultaneously.
52-week range context and price returns across multiple time horizons. Dividend contribution is shown separately in the Capital Return section.
Range context matters because valuation compression and earnings misses rarely hit from the same starting point. A stock already far below its high can still fall, but it is no longer carrying the same embedded optimism as one pressing a fresh peak.
Valuation, growth, and margin comparison against the closest publicly traded peers for this company.
| Company | Mkt Cap | Fwd PE | Rev Grw | Margin | Rating | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITW ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc. | $76.1B | 23.4x | +2.8% | 19.3% | Hold | +2.7% |
EMR EMR Emerson Electric Co. | $84.4B | 23.2x | +3.4% | 13.3% | Buy | +7.7% |
ETN ETN Eaton Corporation plc | $163.8B | 31.6x | +10.7% | 14.0% | Buy | -1.2% |
HON HON Honeywell International Inc. | $145.1B | 21.8x | +5.7% | 11.2% | Buy | +9.0% |
ROK ROK Rockwell Automation, Inc. | $53.2B | 36.6x | +1.5% | 12.4% | Hold | +0.3% |
PH PH Parker-Hannifin Corporation | $120.3B | 30.5x | +3.1% | 16.6% | Buy | +9.9% |
This peer comparison reflects companies with similar business models, product lines, or market positioning, supplemented by industry grouping when direct matches are limited.
ITW returns 4.3% total yield, led by a 2.31% dividend, raised 38 consecutive years. Buybacks add another 2.0%.
Yield, cadence, and growth quality
How much per-share support comes from repurchases
| Year | Div / Share | YoY Grw | BB Yield | Total Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $3.22 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | $6.22 | +7.2% | 2.1% | 4.6% |
| 2024 | $5.80 | +7.0% | 2.0% | 4.2% |
| 2023 | $5.42 | +7.1% | 1.9% | 3.9% |
| 2022 | $5.06 | +7.2% | 2.6% | 4.8% |
Common questions answered from live analyst data and company financials.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) is rated Hold by Wall Street analysts as of 2026. Of 28 analysts covering the stock, 6 rate it Buy or Strong Buy, 13 rate it Hold, and 9 rate it Sell or Strong Sell. The consensus 12-month price target is $271, implying +2.7% from the current price of $264. The bear case scenario is $185 and the bull case is $387.
The Wall Street consensus price target for ITW is $271 based on 28 analyst estimates. The high-end target is $285 (+7.9% from today), and the low-end target is $254 (-3.8%). The base case model target is $294.
ITW trades at 23.4x times forward earnings. The stock's valuation is broadly in line with the broader market. Based on current multiples versus the peer group, the relative model signals cheap versus peers. Whether the stock is over or undervalued ultimately depends on whether consensus earnings estimates are achievable.
The primary risks for ITW in 2026 are: (1) Earnings Miss — ITW's FY 2026 earnings guidance, with EPS and revenue projections slightly below consensus estimates, resulted in a bearish market movement. (2) Organic Growth Concerns — Investors pushed back due to excellent margins and steady earnings but insufficient organic growth, leading to a stock decline. (3) Market Sentiment — ITW stock has lost about 5% due to mixed Q1 2026 earnings reception and muted organic growth. Each factor has the potential to pressure earnings or compress the stock's valuation multiple.
Analyst consensus estimates ITW will report consensus revenue of $16.7B (+2.8% year-over-year) and EPS of $11.32 (+4.4% year-over-year) for the upcoming fiscal year. The following year, analysts project $17.2B in revenue.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. is expected to report its next earnings on approximately 2026-07-29. Consensus expects EPS of $2.80 and revenue of $4.2B. Over recent quarters, ITW has beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) generated $2.2B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months — a free cash flow margin of 13.6%. ITW returns capital to shareholders through dividends (2.3% yield) and share repurchases ($1.5B TTM).