F5 Inc vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. — how do they compare? F5 Inc trades at $400.39 (market cap $23.79B), while Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $282.36 (market cap $78.08B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is far larger — about 3.3× F5 Inc's market cap, and Illinois Tool Works Inc. pays a 2.37% dividend while F5 Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| FFIV | ITW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.79B | $78.08B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $431.26 | $299.60 |
52-Week Low | $223.99 | $241.07 |
Enterprise Value | $22.60B | $86.41B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.37% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
F5 (FFIV) trades at $403.30, down 6.48% on the day, yet maintains a bullish technical trend with strong fundamental performance. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $3.90 surpassing the $3.46 expectation. Revenue growth is steady, reaching $3.09 billion in 2025, supported by strategic expansions into AI security, including the acquisition of SurePath AI and new platform launches.
The outlook is positive, driven by robust profitability and strategic positioning in application security. However, risks include high valuation multiples and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is a 'Hold' with a $397 price target, slightly below the current price, indicating cautious optimism amid growth initiatives.
ITW trades at $280.84, up 3.14% with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings beats. The company maintains robust profitability with a 19.32% net margin and 96.88% ROE. Recent Q1 2026 results exceeded expectations with EPS of $2.66, and the upcoming Q2 report on July 28, 2026, is highly anticipated. Dividend payments continue steadily, reinforcing shareholder returns amid modest revenue growth projections.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $288.25, though risks include construction sector weakness and currency headwinds. The stock's high valuation multiples (P/E 25.2) require sustained earnings growth to justify further upside, while analyst sentiment is mixed with only 21% buy ratings.
Trailing returns across standard periods
F5 is a market leader in the application delivery controller market. The company sells products for networking traffic, security, and policy management. Its products ensure applications are safely routed in efficient manners within on-premises data centers and across cloud environments. More than half of its revenue is based on providing services, and its three customer verticals are enterprises, service providers, and government entities. The Seattle-based firm was incorporated in 1996 and generates sales globally.
Read more on FFIV →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 →