Core Viewpoint - Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is positioned well to potentially beat earnings estimates in its upcoming quarterly report, supported by a solid history of performance in this regard [1][5]. Group 1: Earnings Performance - Illinois Tool Works has a strong track record of exceeding earnings estimates, particularly in the last two quarters, with an average surprise of 1.25% [2]. - In the last reported quarter, the company achieved earnings of $2.58 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.56 per share, resulting in a surprise of 0.78% [3]. - For the previous quarter, ITW was expected to report earnings of $2.34 per share but delivered $2.38 per share, yielding a surprise of 1.71% [3]. Group 2: Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Recent changes in earnings estimates for Illinois Tool Works have been favorable, with a positive Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) indicating a strong likelihood of an earnings beat [5][8]. - The current Earnings ESP for Illinois Tool Works is +0.84%, suggesting that analysts have recently become more optimistic about the company's earnings prospects [8]. - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) indicates a high probability of another earnings beat, with historical data showing that such combinations lead to positive surprises nearly 70% of the time [6][8].