Eaton (ETN) 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
Eaton (ETN) has outperformed Illinois Tool Works (ITW) over the past year, gaining 16.3% versus a gain of 2.1%. Over five years, ETN leads with a +167.2% price change compared with +16.9% for ITW. Eaton is the larger company by market cap ($167.53 billion vs $74.38 billion), about 2.3 times the size.
On valuation, Illinois Tool Works trades at a lower forward P/E (21.1x vs 26.5x for Eaton). Illinois Tool Works offers the higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 0.99%). Illinois Tool Works converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.1% versus 14.9%.
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 | ETN | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $431.33 | $261.15 |
| Market cap | $167.53B | $74.38B |
| 1-day change | -3.09% | -2.24% |
| YTD return | +35.42% | +6.03% |
| 1-year return | +16.28% | +2.11% |
| 5-year return | +167.16% | +16.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 45.26 | 24.23 |
| Forward P/E | 26.55 | 21.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $9.53 | $10.78 |
| Dividend yield | 0.99% | 2.47% |
| Annual dividend | $4.28 | $6.44 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $27.45B | $16.04B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.33% | +0.92% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $4.09B | $3.07B |
| Gross margin | 37.59% | 52.90% |
| Operating margin | — | 26.28% |
| Net margin | 14.89% | 19.11% |
| 52-week high | $478.00 | $303.16 |
| 52-week low | $311.92 | $238.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.76% | -13.86% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.64% | +14.80% |
| Average volume | 2.08M | 1.31M |
| Shares outstanding | 388.40M | 284.80M |
| Employees | 97,303 | 43,000 |
| Sector | Technology | Industrials |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | 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
- Eaton is about 2.3 times larger than Illinois Tool Works by market value ($167.53B vs $74.38B).
- ETN has outperformed ITW by 14.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Eaton trades at a higher earnings multiple (45.3x vs 24.2x trailing P/E).
- Illinois Tool Works offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 0.99%).
- Eaton grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+10.33% vs +0.92%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Eaton in Technology and Illinois Tool Works in Industrials.
About Eaton
ETN stock →Eaton Corporation plc operates as a power management company in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through Electrical Americas, Electrical Global, Aerospace, Vehicle, and eMobility segments.
Technology · Industrial Machinery/Components · 97,303 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
ETN vs ITW FAQ
Which is bigger, Eaton or Illinois Tool Works?
Eaton (ETN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $167.53B compared with $74.38B for Illinois Tool Works (ITW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ETN or ITW?
ETN returned +16.28% over the past 12 months, compared with +2.11% for ITW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ETN or ITW?
ITW has the lower trailing P/E at 24.2, versus 45.3 for ETN. 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, Eaton or Illinois Tool Works?
Illinois Tool Works has the higher yield at 2.47%, compared with 0.99% for Eaton.
Are Eaton and Illinois Tool Works in the same industry?
No. Eaton is in the Technology sector, while Illinois Tool Works is in Industrials.