Illinois Tool Works Inc. vs Kroger Co — how do they compare? Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $263.26 (market cap $74.38B), while Kroger Co trades at $61.26 (market cap $34.99B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is far larger — about 2.1× Kroger Co's market cap, and Kroger Co is more actively traded (8,938,607 versus 1,125,477). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Illinois Tool Works Inc. for 67 Days and Kroger Co for 108 Days on average.
| ITW | KR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $74.38B | $34.99B |
Volume | 1,125,477 | 8,938,607 |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $299.60 | $75.60 |
52-Week Low | $241.07 | $55.53 |
Typical Hold Time | 67 Days | 108 Days |
Enterprise Value | $83.23B | $56.41B |
Dividend Yield | 2.63% | 2.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ITW trades at $264.71, down 0.91% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong fundamentals with 19.39% net margins and 104.65% ROE, though valuation multiples appear elevated. Recent dividend increase to $1.72 reinforces its Dividend King status with 59 years of consecutive growth. Operating cash flow remains robust at $3.13B, supporting continued shareholder returns.
Outlook remains mixed with analyst consensus target of $280.14 offering 5.8% upside, but technical indicators signal near-term pressure. The company faces headwinds in automotive and foodservice segments while maintaining strong organic growth prospects. Debt levels have increased to 55.54% of assets, requiring monitoring amid rising interest rates.
Kroger (KR) trades at $61.41, up 5.14% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows strong fundamentals with $147.12B in revenue, though net margins remain thin at 0.73%. Recent earnings show mixed results with Q2 2026 beating expectations but Q1 2026 missing. The company maintains positive cash flow generation and continues dividend payments while facing competitive pressures in the grocery sector.
Kroger presents a balanced investment case with attractive valuation metrics (P/S 0.25) and analyst consensus pointing to 15% upside to $70.62 target. However, risks include integration challenges from acquisitions, margin pressure from price competition, and softer 2026 sales guidance. The stock offers value characteristics with dividend yield support amid ongoing digital transformation efforts.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Kroger is the leading American grocer, with 2,726 supermarkets operating under several banners throughout the country as of the end of fiscal 2021. Around 83% of stores have pharmacies, while nearly 60% also sell fuel. The company also operates roughly 120 fine jewelry stores. Kroger features a leading private-label offering and manufactures around 30% of its own-brand units (and more than 40% of its grocery own-label assortment) itself, in 33 food production plants nationwide. Kroger is a top-two grocer in most of its major markets (as of early 2021, according to company data). Virtually all of Kroger's sales come from the United States.
Read more on KR →