Bloom Energy (BE) vs Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Bloom Energy (BE) has outperformed Illinois Tool Works (ITW) over the past year, gaining 238.5% versus a gain of 2.4%. Over five years, BE leads with a +1278.6% price change compared with +16.9% for ITW. Bloom Energy is the larger company by market cap ($85.79 billion vs $74.38 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Illinois Tool Works trades at a lower forward P/E (21.1x vs 58.9x for Bloom Energy). Illinois Tool Works pays a dividend yielding 2.47%, while Bloom Energy does not currently pay one. Illinois Tool Works converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.1% versus -4.3%.
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 | BE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $291.29 | $261.15 |
| Market cap | $85.79B | $74.38B |
| 1-day change | -1.52% | -2.24% |
| YTD return | +235.24% | +6.31% |
| 1-year return | +238.47% | +2.38% |
| 5-year return | +1278.56% | +16.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 383.28 | 23.68 |
| Forward P/E | 58.94 | 21.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.76 | $11.03 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.47% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $6.44 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.02B | $16.04B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +37.33% | +0.92% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-87.14M | $3.07B |
| Gross margin | 29.02% | 52.90% |
| Operating margin | 3.60% | 26.28% |
| Net margin | -4.31% | 19.11% |
| 52-week high | $351.28 | $303.16 |
| 52-week low | $75.70 | $238.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.08% | -13.86% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | -2.58% | +14.80% |
| Average volume | 15.60M | 1.31M |
| Shares outstanding | 294.53M | 284.80M |
| Employees | 2,214 | 43,000 |
| Sector | Energy | Industrials |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Industrial Machinery/Components |
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
- BE has outperformed ITW by 236.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Bloom Energy trades at a higher earnings multiple (383.3x vs 23.7x trailing P/E).
- Illinois Tool Works offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 0.00%).
- Illinois Tool Works is more profitable, keeping 19.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -4.3 cents for Bloom Energy.
- Bloom Energy grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+37.33% vs +0.92%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Bloom Energy in Energy and Illinois Tool Works in Industrials.
About Bloom Energy
BE stock →Bloom Energy Corporation designs, manufactures, sells, and installs solid oxide fuel cell systems for on-site power generation in the United States and internationally. It offers Bloom Energy Server, an energy server platform to convert fuel, such as natural gas, biogas, hydrogen, or a blend of these fuels, into electricity through a non-combustion electrochemical process.
Energy · Industrial Machinery/Components · 2,214 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 · Industrial Machinery/Components · 43,000 employees
BE vs ITW FAQ
Which is bigger, Bloom Energy or Illinois Tool Works?
Bloom Energy (BE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $85.79B compared with $74.38B for Illinois Tool Works (ITW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BE or ITW?
BE returned +238.47% over the past 12 months, compared with +2.38% for ITW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BE or ITW?
ITW has the lower trailing P/E at 23.7, versus 383.3 for BE. 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, Bloom Energy or Illinois Tool Works?
Illinois Tool Works pays a dividend yielding 2.47%, while Bloom Energy does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Bloom Energy and Illinois Tool Works in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Energy sector.