Illinois Tool Works Inc. vs Unilever plc — how do they compare? Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $263.26 (market cap $74.38B), while Unilever plc trades at $61.77 (market cap $132.07B). The key difference: Unilever plc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Unilever plc pays the higher dividend (3.48%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Illinois Tool Works Inc. for 67 Days and Unilever plc for 112 Days on average.
| ITW | UL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $74.38B | $132.07B |
Volume | 1,125,477 | 2,873,862 |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $299.60 | $74.59 |
52-Week Low | $241.07 | $55.05 |
Typical Hold Time | 67 Days | 112 Days |
Enterprise Value | $83.23B | $157.21B |
Dividend Yield | 2.63% | 3.48% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ITW trades at $261.15, down 2.24% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company demonstrates strong profitability with a 19.39% net income margin and has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights its status as a Dividend King, having raised its dividend to $1.72 per share, with a forward yield of approximately 2.57%.
The outlook is mixed; strong fundamentals and a consensus price target of $280.14 suggest upside potential, but a high P/E ratio of 23.65 and bearish technical indicators indicate near-term pressure. Key risks include economic sensitivity and rising debt levels, while institutional buying provides some support.
Unilever (UL) trades at $60.98, up 0.3% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal and mixed earnings performance. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.83, narrowly missing the $1.84 estimate, continuing a trend of recent misses. Financially, UL maintains strong profitability with an 18.32% net income margin and 54.56% ROE, though revenue declined to $50.5B in 2025. Analyst sentiment is divided with a Hold consensus, while news highlights strategic shifts including the planned food business merger with McCormick.
The outlook balances high profitability and emerging market exposure against execution risks from portfolio restructuring and recent earnings misses. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 21.32 appears reasonable relative to historical margins, but investor caution is warranted given the bearish technical trend and regulatory scrutiny of the McCormick deal. Upside potential hinges on successful integration and volume growth sustainability.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
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 →Unilever is a diversified personal product (42% of 2021 sales by value), home care (20%), and packaged food (38%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Lipton teas, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemme haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years
Read more on UL →