Digital Realty Trust, Inc. vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. — how do they compare? Digital Realty Trust, Inc. trades at $191.45 (market cap $70.79B), while Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $293.28 (market cap $83.88B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Digital Realty Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.55%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DLR | ITW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $70.79B | $83.88B |
Sector | Real Estate | Industrials |
52-Week High | $203.91 | $299.60 |
52-Week Low | $147.93 | $241.07 |
Enterprise Value | $89.50B | $92.73B |
Dividend Yield | 2.55% | 2.34% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Digital Realty Trust (DLR) trades at $193.80, up 0.64% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support at $192. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with core FFO of $2.13 per share, driven by record leasing and a $1.9 billion backlog. The company raised its 2026 guidance, reflecting strong AI-driven data center demand. Valuation ratios are elevated, with a P/E of 245.32 and P/S of 25.47, indicating premium pricing relative to earnings and sales.
DLR's outlook is positive due to robust AI infrastructure demand and raised guidance, but high valuation and interest rate sensitivity pose risks. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $216.56 price target, though net cash flow turned negative in 2025. Investors should weigh growth potential against execution risks in a competitive sector.
ITW trades at $296.66, up 0.67% with a bullish technical outlook and strong support at $292. The company maintains robust profitability with 19.39% net margins and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent positive developments include a 7% dividend increase and $6 billion share repurchase authorization announced August 7, 2026.
While valuation metrics appear elevated (P/E 26.87, P/B 29.19), ITW's consistent earnings performance and shareholder-friendly actions support upside to the $316 consensus target. Key risks include construction sector exposure and currency headwinds, but operational strength and margin discipline provide stability.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Digital Realty owns and operates nearly 300 data centers worldwide. It has more than 35 million rentable square feet across five continents. Digital's offerings range from retail co-location, where an enterprise may rent a single cabinet and rely on Digital to provide all the accommodations, to cold shells, where hyperscale cloud service providers can simply rent much, or all, of a barren, power-connected building. In recent years, Digital Realty has de-emphasized cold shells and now primarily provides higher-level service to tenants, which outsource their related IT needs to Digital. Digital Realty has also moved more into the co-location business, increasingly serving enterprises and facilitating network connections. Digital Realty operates as a real estate investment trust.
Read more on DLR →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 →