Illinois Tool Works Stock: Is ITW Underperforming the Industrial Sector?

Company Overview - Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, and manufactures engineered fasteners, components, equipment, consumables, and specialty products for diverse industries [1] - The company operates in automotive OEM, welding, food equipment, test and measurement, polymers and fluids, construction products, and specialty segments across more than 50 countries [1] - ITW has a market capitalization of $72.32 billion, classifying it as a "large-cap" stock [1] Stock Performance - ITW's stock reached a 52-week low of $214.66 in April but has increased by 16.1% since then [2] - Over the past three months, the stock has declined by 6.2% due to weaker-than-expected topline results, while the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) has gained marginally [2] - The stock has underperformed over the longer term, declining by 9.7% over the past 52 weeks but gaining 2.2% over the past six months, compared to the Industrial Select Sector ETF which gained 7.3% and 7.8% over the same periods [3] Financial Results - On October 24, ITW reported mixed third-quarter 2025 results, with operating revenue growing modestly by 2.3% year-over-year (YOY) to $4.06 billion, missing the $4.08 billion estimate from Wall Street analysts [4] - The company's net income per share dropped 28.1% annually to $2.81, although this exceeded the Wall Street analysts' estimate of $2.69 [5] - Excluding divestiture gains from the prior year's period of $1.26, EPS grew 6% YOY [5] Comparative Analysis - ITW's performance is compared with Emerson Electric Co. (EMR), which has seen a marginal increase over the past 52 weeks and an 11.4% gain over the past six months, indicating that ITW has underperformed Emerson Electric during these periods [6] Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street analysts have a consensus rating of "Hold" for ITW's stock, with a mean price target of $263 indicating a 5.5% upside compared to current levels [7] - The highest price target from analysts is $287, suggesting a 15.1% upside [7]