Illinois Tool Works Inc. vs Smith & Nephew plc — how do they compare? Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $273.3 (market cap $78.17B), while Smith & Nephew plc trades at $30.98 (market cap $12.64B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is far larger — about 6.2× Smith & Nephew plc's market cap, and Smith & Nephew plc pays the higher dividend (2.57%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ITW | SNN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.17B | $12.64B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $299.60 | $38.70 |
52-Week Low | $241.07 | $28.73 |
Enterprise Value | $86.49B | $15.41B |
Dividend Yield | 2.37% | 2.57% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ITW trades at $271.58, down 1.62% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company maintains strong profitability with a 19.32% net income margin and has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights mixed sentiment, with some analysts citing premium valuation concerns while others note growth prospects from enterprise initiatives and a potential bullish chart pattern.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $288.25 offering ~6% upside. Key risks include valuation sensitivity, organic sales pressure in some segments, and macroeconomic headwinds. The upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on July 28, 2026, will be critical for validating growth trajectory amid analyst divergence.
Smith & Nephew (SNN) trades at $30.43, down 0.54% on the day, with mixed technical signals showing a neutral overall stance. The company demonstrates improving fundamentals with 2024 revenue of $5.81 billion and net income of $412 million, representing a 7.09% margin. Recent product launches including the LYNX COBLATION Wand and CORI XT robotics platform highlight ongoing innovation. Cash flow trends show strong operational performance with $987 million from operations in 2024.
SNN presents a balanced investment case with improving profitability and product innovation offset by recent earnings misses. The stock trades at reasonable valuations (P/E 21.36, P/S 2.17) with analyst consensus leaning Hold (68%). Key risks include execution challenges and competitive pressures, while catalysts include robotics expansion and wound care leadership. The $500 million buyback program supports shareholder returns.
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 →Smith & Nephew designs, manufactures, and markets orthopedic devices, sports medicine and arthroscopic technologies, and wound-care solutions. Roughly 42% of the U.K.-based firm's revenue comes from orthopedic products, and another 30% is sports medicine and ENT. The remaining 28% of revenue is from the advanced wound therapy segment. Roughly half of Smith & Nephew's total revenue comes from the United States, just over 30% is from other developed markets, and emerging markets account for the remainder.
Read more on SNN →