A O Smith Corp vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $60.68 (market cap $8.33B), while Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $270.17 (market cap $77.34B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is far larger — about 9.3× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and Illinois Tool Works Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.4%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | ITW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.33B | $77.34B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $299.60 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $241.07 |
Enterprise Value | $8.78B | $85.66B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 2.4% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A.O. Smith (AOS) trades at $60.44, up 2.41% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent leadership changes. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates at $0.85 versus $0.94 expected, while maintaining solid profitability with a 13.84% net margin. Cash flow trends show improving operations, and the stock offers a dividend with a recent $0.36 payout announced.
The outlook is cautious due to earnings volatility and bearish technicals, but valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 16.12. Risks include China market weakness and competitive pressures, while analyst consensus leans hold with a $68 price target suggesting modest upside potential from current levels.
ITW trades at $268.81, up 1.25% with a bullish technical signal and strong profitability metrics including 19.32% net margin and 96.88% ROE. Recent earnings beats and a $1.61 dividend payment reflect operational strength, though cash flow trends show slight volatility. The stock is near resistance at $268 with analyst consensus target of $284.50.
Outlook remains positive with consistent earnings outperformance and margin expansion from enterprise initiatives. Risks include construction sector weakness and currency exposure. Wall Street shows mixed sentiment with 21% buy ratings, suggesting cautious optimism amid near-term headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →Illinois Tool Works is a diversified global manufacturer that produces specialized industrial equipment, consumables, and related services. The firm operates 87 global divisions through seven distinct operating segments: automotive OEM, construction products, food equipment, specialty products, test/measurement and electronics, polymers and fluids, and welding. About half of its revenue comes from its operations in North America, with the remainder originating from international markets. ITW takes a bottom-up and decentralized approach to portfolio management, with the exception that each segment must apply its 80/20 operating process modeled on the Pareto principle.
Read more on ITW →