Illinois Tool Works Inc. vs Nasdaq Inc — how do they compare? Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $292.35 (market cap $83.49B), while Nasdaq Inc trades at $95.36 (market cap $53.11B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Illinois Tool Works Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.35%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ITW | NDAQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $83.49B | $53.11B |
Sector | Industrials | Financials |
52-Week High | $299.60 | $100.98 |
52-Week Low | $241.07 | $76.85 |
Enterprise Value | $92.34B | $59.57B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 1.22% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ITW trades at $293.66, down 0.29% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company maintains strong profitability with 19.39% net income margin and 104.65% ROE, though valuations appear elevated at P/E 26.55 and P/B 28.85. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations at $2.84 EPS, and management raised full-year guidance amid manufacturing sector recovery. The company announced a 7% dividend increase and $6 billion share repurchase program in August 2026.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus target of $314.25 offering 7% upside potential. Key catalysts include continued manufacturing recovery and margin expansion from the 80/20 program. Risks include premium valuation concerns and potential organic sales declines masked by currency gains. Institutional sentiment is mixed with 21% buy ratings versus 32% sell recommendations.
Nasdaq (NDAQ) trades at $95.26, down 0.38% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong fundamental performance. Revenue grew to $8.26B in 2025, with net income reaching $1.79B and a profit margin of 21.64%. The company has beaten EPS estimates in recent quarters and announced the acquisition of LeveL Markets to expand its market infrastructure. Analyst consensus is strongly positive, with a $109.20 price target indicating ~15% upside.
Outlook remains favorable driven by earnings growth and strategic acquisitions, though risks include market volatility and integration challenges. The stock offers value through consistent profitability and dividend payments, supported by institutional confidence. Investors should weigh execution risks against the potential for continued expansion in financial services technology.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Founded in 1971, Nasdaq is primarily known for its equity exchange, but in addition to its market-services business (about 35% of sales), the company sells and distributes market data as well as offers Nasdaq-branded indexes to asset managers and investors through its information-services segment (30%). Nasdaq's corporate-services business (20%) offers listing services and related investor relations products to publicly traded companies and through the company's market technology group (15%), Nasdaq facilitates the exchange operations of other exchanges throughout the world and provides financial compliance services.
Read more on NDAQ →