Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) has outperformed Illinois Tool Works (ITW) over the past year, gaining 22.8% versus a gain of 2.1%. Over five years, ITW leads with a +16.9% price change compared with +13.7% for TMO. Thermo Fisher Scientific is the larger company by market cap ($244.79 billion vs $74.38 billion), about 3.3 times the size.
On valuation, Illinois Tool Works trades at a lower forward P/E (21.1x vs 24.0x for Thermo Fisher Scientific). Illinois Tool Works offers the higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 0.27%). Illinois Tool Works converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.1% versus 15.0%.
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 | ITW | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $261.15 | $662.06 |
| Market cap | $74.38B | $244.79B |
| 1-day change | -2.24% | +0.83% |
| YTD return | +6.03% | +14.26% |
| 1-year return | +2.11% | +22.79% |
| 5-year return | +16.86% | +13.68% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.68 | 35.63 |
| Forward P/E | 21.09 | 24.02 |
| EPS (TTM) | $11.03 | $18.58 |
| Dividend yield | 2.47% | 0.27% |
| Annual dividend | $6.44 | $1.80 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $16.04B | $44.56B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.92% | +3.91% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $3.07B | $6.70B |
| Gross margin | 52.90% | — |
| Operating margin | 26.28% | 17.38% |
| Net margin | 19.11% | 15.05% |
| 52-week high | $303.16 | $694.33 |
| 52-week low | $238.82 | $435.27 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.86% | -4.65% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.80% | +0.47% |
| Average volume | 1.31M | 2.07M |
| Shares outstanding | 284.80M | 369.75M |
| Employees | 43,000 | 125,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | 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
- Thermo Fisher Scientific is about 3.3 times larger than Illinois Tool Works by market value ($244.79B vs $74.38B).
- TMO has outperformed ITW by 20.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific trades at a higher earnings multiple (35.6x vs 23.7x trailing P/E).
- Illinois Tool Works offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 0.27%).
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
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
TMO stock →Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services internationally.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 125,000 employees
ITW vs TMO FAQ
Which is bigger, Illinois Tool Works or Thermo Fisher Scientific?
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $244.79B compared with $74.38B for Illinois Tool Works (ITW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ITW or TMO?
TMO returned +22.79% 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, ITW or TMO?
ITW has the lower trailing P/E at 23.7, versus 35.6 for TMO. 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, Illinois Tool Works or Thermo Fisher Scientific?
Illinois Tool Works has the higher yield at 2.47%, compared with 0.27% for Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Are Illinois Tool Works and Thermo Fisher Scientific in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.