Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs Xylem (XYL)
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 Xylem (XYL) over the past year, gaining 2.1% versus a loss of 31.3%. Over five years, ITW leads with a +16.9% price change compared with -18.3% for XYL. Illinois Tool Works is the larger company by market cap ($75.33 billion vs $23.83 billion), about 3.2 times the size, while Xylem is growing revenue faster (+5.5% vs +0.9%).
On valuation, Xylem trades at a lower forward P/E (16.4x vs 21.4x for Illinois Tool Works). Illinois Tool Works offers the higher dividend yield (2.43% vs 1.63%). Illinois Tool Works converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.1% versus 10.6%.
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 | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $264.50 | $102.07 |
| Market cap | $75.33B | $23.83B |
| 1-day change | +1.28% | +0.25% |
| YTD return | +6.03% | -25.23% |
| 1-year return | +2.11% | -31.26% |
| 5-year return | +16.86% | -18.34% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.98 | 24.30 |
| Forward P/E | 21.36 | 16.39 |
| EPS (TTM) | $11.03 | $4.20 |
| Dividend yield | 2.43% | 1.63% |
| Annual dividend | $6.44 | $1.66 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $16.04B | $9.04B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.92% | +5.52% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $3.07B | $957.00M |
| Gross margin | 52.90% | 38.46% |
| Operating margin | 26.28% | 13.54% |
| Net margin | 19.11% | 10.59% |
| 52-week high | $303.16 | $154.27 |
| 52-week low | $238.82 | $98.58 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.75% | -33.84% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.34% | +48.24% |
| Average volume | 1.31M | 2.20M |
| Shares outstanding | 284.80M | 233.49M |
| Employees | 43,000 | 22,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Fluid Controls |
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 3.2 times larger than Xylem by market value ($75.33B vs $23.83B).
- ITW has outperformed XYL by 33.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Illinois Tool Works is more profitable, keeping 19.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.6 cents for Xylem.
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 Xylem
XYL stock →Xylem Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and servicing of engineered products and solutions for utility, industrial, and residential and commercial building services settings worldwide. It operates through Water Infrastructure; Applied Water; Measurement and Control Solutions; and Water Solutions and Services segments.
Industrials · Fluid Controls · 22,000 employees
ITW vs XYL FAQ
Which is bigger, Illinois Tool Works or Xylem?
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $75.33B compared with $23.83B for Xylem (XYL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ITW or XYL?
ITW returned +2.11% over the past 12 months, compared with -31.26% for XYL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ITW or XYL?
ITW has the lower trailing P/E at 24.0, versus 24.3 for XYL. 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 Xylem?
Illinois Tool Works has the higher yield at 2.43%, compared with 1.63% for Xylem.
Are Illinois Tool Works and Xylem in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Industrial Machinery/Components for Illinois Tool Works and Fluid Controls for Xylem.