Skip to main content
ITWIllinois Tool Works Inc.Sell5.4·$252.72+0.64%
ITW · Why this verdict

Why Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Show full disclosure ▾

About TrendMatrix. TrendMatrix is a publisher of general securities research and market commentary. We publish on a regular schedule. All content is the same for every subscriber in a tier — we do not provide personalized investment advice and we do not take into account any individual subscriber's financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, tax situation, or holdings.

Not investment advice. TrendMatrix is not a registered investment adviser. Our content is for informational and educational purposes only. Consult your own licensed investment adviser, broker, or tax professional before making any investment decision.

Conflicts and positions. The TrendMatrix editorial team frequently holds personal long-term positions in securities discussed. We disclose positions held at the time of publication on each piece. We maintain a trading-window policy: we do not initiate or close positions in the same direction as a TrendMatrix publication within 24 hours before or 72 hours after publication.

No paid promotion. TrendMatrix does not accept payment from any issuer, broker, or third party in exchange for coverage of any security. Our sole compensation is subscription revenue.

No fiduciary duty. No fiduciary, advisory, or agency relationship is created between you and TrendMatrix by reading our content or subscribing to our service.

Performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance figures reflect the published model only and do not reflect any individual subscriber's actual results.

Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score5.4/10
ConfidenceHIGH
MacroRISK_OFF

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

4.8/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E5.5
P/S7.3
EV/EBITDA1.7
Fwd P/E6.2
PEG4.0
Analyst target4.0
  • Forward P/E: 20.8x
  • PEG: 2.50

Quality

7.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE10.0
ROA10.0
Gross margin4.8
Op margin10.0
Net margin9.7
Current ratio4.6
FCF quality5.4
Moat5.6
Piotroski F7.8
  • Excellent ROE: 97%
  • Strong margins: 19%
  • Earnings quality warning: 71% FCF/NI
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9

Growth

4.1/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth3.7
EPS growth4.4

Momentum

6.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI3.9
MACD10.0
OBV10.0
MA position5.0
Volume4.5
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Below 200-MA (recent, shallow — too early to call)

Sentiment

5.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating5.0
Price target6.3
erm sentiment5.0

Insider

5.0/10data confidence 50%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change5.1
  • Negligible insider buying — $199,880 (0.000% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.3/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank4.9
quality rank9.3
growth rank2.8
  • Superior ROE vs peers
  • Best-in-class margins

Technical

3.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger1.9
support resistance3.0
52w position6.8

Risk (lower is worse)

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest8.4
days to cover3.2
volatility8.3
put call9.0
implied vol6.5
beta6.9
debt equity2.2

Catalyst

6.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history10.0
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg3.6
dividend safety6.5
  • Perfect beat streak: 4Q
  • Dividend: 255.0%

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_SELL
Passed (6)
  • MOMENTUM:6.7>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:51d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:-0.5=NEGATIVE
Warning (1)
  • 8K_FLAG:1.02
Reward-to-Risk
-0.45
Upside
-2.2%
Downside
5.0%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupUNKNOWN No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityMODERATE Balanced profile

Investment implication

The F-path SELL output reflects an overall score of 3.4 below the 5.6 soft trigger — multiple weakening dimensions accumulated rather than a single hard-floor breach. The strongest dimension ( Quality at 7.5) was not enough to lift the adjusted overall above the threshold. Co-occurring failed gates ( ASYMMETRY:-0.5=NEGATIVE) reinforce the read. Current asymmetry R:R is -0.45 — supplementary context, not the trigger for this path.

The strongest dimensions are Quality at 7.5, Momentum at 6.7, and Risk (lower is worse) at 6.4; the weakest are Technical at 3.9, Growth at 4.1, and Peer rank at 4.3. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.45 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

Home Stocks ITW Why this verdict