American Superconductor (AMSC) vs Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) has outperformed American Superconductor (AMSC) over the past year, gaining 2.1% versus a loss of 43.9%. Over five years, AMSC leads with a +89.5% price change compared with +16.9% for ITW. Illinois Tool Works is the larger company by market cap ($74.38 billion vs $1.54 billion), about 48.4 times the size.
On valuation, Illinois Tool Works trades at a lower forward P/E (21.1x vs 23.4x for American Superconductor). Illinois Tool Works pays a dividend yielding 2.47%, while American Superconductor does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AMSC | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $31.74 | $261.15 |
| Market cap | $1.54B | $74.38B |
| 1-day change | -0.35% | -2.24% |
| YTD return | +10.28% | +6.03% |
| 1-year return | -43.87% | +2.11% |
| 5-year return | +89.49% | +16.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.69 | 23.68 |
| Forward P/E | 23.42 | 21.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.97 | $11.03 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.47% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $6.44 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $16.04B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +0.92% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $3.07B |
| Gross margin | — | 52.90% |
| Operating margin | — | 26.28% |
| Net margin | — | 19.11% |
| 52-week high | $70.49 | $303.16 |
| 52-week low | $24.87 | $238.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -54.97% | -13.86% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +94.55% | +14.80% |
| Average volume | 707.70K | 1.31M |
| Shares outstanding | 48.44M | 284.80M |
| Employees | 1,195 | 43,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Specialty Industrial Machinery | Specialty Industrial Machinery |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Illinois Tool Works is about 48.4 times larger than American Superconductor by market value ($74.38B vs $1.54B).
- ITW has outperformed AMSC by 46.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Illinois Tool Works trades at a higher earnings multiple (23.7x vs 10.7x trailing P/E).
- Illinois Tool Works offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 0.00%).
About American Superconductor
AMSC stock →American Superconductor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides megawatt-scale power resiliency solutions worldwide. The company operates through two segments: Grid and Wind segments.
Industrials · Specialty Industrial Machinery · 1,195 employees
About Illinois Tool Works
ITW stock →Illinois Tool Works Inc. provides industrial products and equipment in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and South America.
Industrials · Specialty Industrial Machinery · 43,000 employees
AMSC vs ITW FAQ
Which is bigger, American Superconductor or Illinois Tool Works?
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $74.38B compared with $1.54B for American Superconductor (AMSC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AMSC or ITW?
ITW returned +2.11% over the past 12 months, compared with -43.87% for AMSC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AMSC or ITW?
AMSC has the lower trailing P/E at 10.7, versus 23.7 for ITW. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Superconductor or Illinois Tool Works?
Illinois Tool Works pays a dividend yielding 2.47%, while American Superconductor does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Superconductor and Illinois Tool Works in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Specialty Industrial Machinery industry within the Industrials sector.