Compare General Dynamics Corporation (GD) vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
General Dynamics Corporation vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. — how do they compare? General Dynamics Corporation trades at $367.17 (market cap $98.88B), while Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $280.82 (market cap $78.08B). The key difference: General Dynamics Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Illinois Tool Works Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.37%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| GD | ITW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $98.88B | $78.08B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $376.88 | $299.60 |
52-Week Low | $297.05 | $241.07 |
Enterprise Value | $105.06B | $86.41B |
Dividend Yield | 1.74% | 2.37% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
General Dynamics (GD) trades at $366.40, down 0.84% on the day, with strong technical momentum indicated by bullish moving averages and oscillators. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with Q1 2026 EPS beating expectations at $4.10 versus $3.67, continuing a trend of earnings outperformance. Revenue growth has been consistent, reaching $52.55 billion in 2025 with an 8.07% net income margin. Analyst sentiment remains positive with a $395.83 consensus price target and 53% buy ratings.
The outlook for GD is favorable given strong defense spending tailwinds and a growing $130.8 billion backlog, particularly in marine systems. However, risks include execution challenges on large contracts and potential defense budget volatility. The stock's current valuation at 23x P/E appears reasonable relative to earnings growth prospects, positioning it as a core defense holding for long-term investors.
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.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About General Dynamics Corporation
General Dynamics is a defense contractor and business jet manufacturer. The firm's segments include aerospace, combat systems, marine, and technologies. The company's aerospace segment creates Gulfstream business jets. Combat system produces land-based combat vehicles, such as the M1 Abrams tank. The marine subsegment creates nuclear-powered submarines, among other things. The technologies segment contains two main units, an IT business that primarily serves the government market and a mission systems business that focuses on products that provide command, control, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to the military.
Read more on GD →About Illinois Tool Works Inc.
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 →
