Illinois Tool Works operates a high-quality industrial franchise with 19% operating margins and a Piotroski F-Score of 7 out of 9 — among the best in its peer group — and has delivered 4 consecutive EPS beats. The stock is currently trading above its near-term take-profit target, producing an unfavorable asymmetry; the quality thesis is intact, but the current price setup rewards patience rather than new commitment.
Thesis pillars
- Best In Class Margins And Quality→Stable
- Consistent Earnings Delivery↑Improving
- Stock Above Take Profit Target→Stable
- +1 more pillar — see the Why tab for full reasoning
Pillars as of Jul 3, 2026, based on the 10-K filed Feb 13, 2026
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) Stock Analysis
Industrials · Specialty Industrial Machinery
Sell if holding. Analyst target reached at $281.40 — A.R:R is negative (-1.1) — price has exceeded the analyst target. Reward from here is too thin for a buy — the engine flags exit. Additional concerns: Sector modifier (Industrials): -0.7.
The Company's ticker symbol is ITW. The Company is a global manufacturer of a diversified range of industrial products and equipment with 88 divisions in 49 countries. As of December 31, 2025, the Company employed approximately 43,000 people.
Sell if holding. Analyst target reached at $281.40 — A.R:R is negative (-1.1) — price has exceeded the analyst target. Reward from here is too thin for a buy — the engine flags exit. Additional concerns: Sector modifier (Industrials): -0.7. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Score 5.3/10, high confidence.
Passes 7/8 gates (positive momentum, clean insider activity, no SEC red flags, news events none recent, earnings proximity 94d clear, semi cycle peak clear, materials cycle peak clear). Fails on favorable risk/reward ratio. Suitability: moderate.
Recent developments
updated 2026-10-30Recent Developments — Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Latest news
- NEWS Illinois Tool Works Inc - Google — Google neutral
- NEWS Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Is Up 8.5% After Raising 2026 Guidance And Boosting Share Buybacks - Yahoo Finance UK — Yahoo Finance UK positive
- NEWS Earnings To Watch: Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Reports Q1 Results Tomorrow - StockStory — StockStory neutral
- NEWS Illinois Tool Works: Shares Don't Justify An Upgrade Even With Continued Growth (NYSE:ITW) - Seeking Alpha — Seeking Alpha neutral
- NEWS Here's Why Illinois Tool Works Stock Popped Higher Today (Hint: The U.S. Manufacturing Sector is in Growth Mode) - The M — The Motley Fool positive
Generated 2026-10-30T11:22:45Z.
Upcoming dated catalysts
Thesis
Key Metrics
Quality Signals
Options Flow
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results. How we score · Editorial policy
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Rating Breakdown
2 floor-breakers
Technicals below the gate floor. Component breakdown shows what dragged the score down.static
Growth below the gate floor. Component breakdown shows what dragged the score down.static
Price Targets
Position Sizing
Risk Alerts
Earnings
Verdict History
Frequently Asked Questions
Sell if holding. Analyst target reached at $281.40 — A.R:R is negative (-1.1) — price has exceeded the analyst target. Reward from here is too thin for a buy — the engine flags exit. Additional concerns: Sector modifier (Industrials): -0.7. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Prior stop was $269.38. Score 5.3/10, high confidence.
Analyst target $256.21 reached (−8.9% from $281.40); no take-profit level is published. Prior stop was $269.38. Stop-loss: $269.38.
Analyst target reached - limited upside remaining; Sector modifier (Industrials): -0.7; Leverage penalty (D/E 3.0): -1.5.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at a P/E of 25.1 (forward 22.8). TrendMatrix value score: 4.5/10. Verdict: Sell.
24 analysts cover ITW with a consensus score of 2.7/5. Average price target: $295.
What does Illinois Tool Works Inc. do?The Company's ticker symbol is ITW. The Company is a global manufacturer of a diversified range of industrial products...
The Company's ticker symbol is ITW. The Company is a global manufacturer of a diversified range of industrial products and equipment with 88 divisions in 49 countries. As of December 31, 2025, the Company employed approximately 43,000 people.