Baxter International Inc vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. — how do they compare? Baxter International Inc trades at $22.16 (market cap $11.26B), while Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $269.93 (market cap $78.33B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is far larger — about 7× Baxter International Inc's market cap, and Illinois Tool Works Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.37%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BAX | ITW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.26B | $78.33B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $29.22 | $299.60 |
52-Week Low | $15.80 | $241.07 |
Enterprise Value | $18.93B | $86.66B |
Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 2.37% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) trades at $271.50, up 1.0% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $288.25. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, including Q1 2026 EPS of $2.66 versus $2.57 expected, and maintains strong profitability with a net income margin of 19.32% and ROE of 96.88%. Recent news highlights segment strength and a declared quarterly dividend of $1.61.
The outlook for ITW is positive, supported by earnings momentum and operational efficiency, though risks include construction sector weakness and currency headwinds. The stock offers a balanced opportunity with solid fundamentals and a dividend, but investors should weigh high valuation multiples against growth prospects.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Baxter offers a variety of medical instruments and supplies to caregivers. It enhanced its portfolio of hospital-focused offerings by acquiring Hillrom in late 2021. Legacy Baxter offers tools to help patients with acute and chronic kidney failure. It also sells a variety of injectable therapies for use in care settings, such as IV pumps, and administrative sets.
Read more on BAX →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.
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