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CAT vs ITW

CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$735.35
Market Cap
$344.13B
Sector
Industrials
AI Confidence
90%
ITW
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$243.97
Market Cap
$71.16B
Sector
Industrials
AI Confidence
72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
CAT
39.01
ITW
23.64
Forward P/E
CAT
26.48
ITW
22.8
P/B Ratio
CAT
16.05
ITW
22.06
P/S Ratio
CAT
5.09
ITW
4.48
EV/EBITDA
CAT
26.1
ITW
17.16

Profitability

Gross Margin
CAT
28.79%
ITW
43.93%
Operating Margin
CAT
16.02%
ITW
27.67%
Profit Margin
CAT
13.14%
ITW
19.05%
ROE
CAT
43.53%
ITW
91.68%
ROA
CAT
7.89%
ITW
16.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth
CAT
18.0%
ITW
2.3%
Earnings Growth
CAT
-11.4%
ITW
-28.1%

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
CAT
2.07
ITW
2.79
Current Ratio
CAT
1.44
ITW
1.53
Quick Ratio
CAT
0.87
ITW
1.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield
CAT
0.85%
ITW
2.64%
Payout Ratio
CAT
31.05%
ITW
59.26%

AI Verdict

CAT NEUTRAL

CAT shows neutral fundamentals based on deterministic rules. Financial strength is stable (F-Score 4/9). Mixed signals with both opportunities and risks present.

Strengths
Strong revenue growth of 18.0%
Strong ROE of 43.5%
Risks
High valuation with P/E of 39.0
Premium vs Graham Number ($139.4)
High debt burden with D/E of 2.07
ITW NEUTRAL

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) trades at a premium valuation with solid long-term profitability and a disciplined capital allocation track record, but near-term earnings contraction and weakening growth momentum present headwinds. Despite a robust ROE of 91.68% and gross margins above 43%, YoY earnings have declined by 28.1%, and insider selling activity over the past six months signals caution at current levels. The stock is down 7.4% over the past year, underperforming key peers like 3M and Northrop Grumman, while trading below the analyst consensus target of $259.00. Relative to the industrials sector, ITW exhibits stronger margins and return metrics but faces elevated leverage and tepid revenue growth of just 2.3%, limiting near-term upside potential.

Strengths
Exceptional profitability with ROE of 91.68% — significantly above sector average of 35.76% and peer group
High operating leverage evidenced by 27.67% operating margin and 43.93% gross margin, among the best in the industrials sector
Consistent earnings beat record: 3 out of last 4 quarters beat estimates, with a strong historical surprise average of +4.5% over the last 10 quarters
Risks
Earnings under pressure with YoY decline of 28.1% and Q/Q drop of 29.2%, indicating near-term profitability weakness
Revenue growth lags peers at only 2.3% YoY vs sector average of 7.02%, raising concerns about top-line resilience
High debt/equity ratio of 2.79 — above sector average of 1.77 and even riskier than leveraged peers like Lockheed Martin (3.59)

Compare Another Pair

CAT vs ITW: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) across key fundamental metrics including valuation ratios, profitability margins, growth rates, financial health indicators, and dividend metrics. Each metric highlights the better-performing stock so you can quickly identify relative strengths and weaknesses.

Our AI engine independently analyzes each company's financials, competitive position, and market conditions to produce a verdict (Bullish, Neutral, or Bearish) along with key strengths and risks. Use this comparison alongside your own research to make informed investment decisions.

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