FIX vs. ITW: Comfort Systems USA vs. Illinois Tool Works Stock Comparison
How do Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FIX is classified in Construction & Engineering while ITW is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Comfort Systems USA Inc. | Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Construction & Engineering | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Construction & Engineering | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 35.81 billion USD | 79.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 27, 1997 | March 13, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 15.31% | 20.29% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 81.62% | 10.62% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 62.48% | 6.67% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 60.97% | 22.16% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.68 | 0.91 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -53.28% | -28.05% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 471.64K | 1.27M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.18 | 0.72 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.25 | 1.12 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 58.61% and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 101.65% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
58.61%
- FIX
- 58.61%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
101.65%
- ITW
- 101.65%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 13.01% and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 19.39% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
13.01%
- Max
- 27.47%
- FIX
- 13.01%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
19.39%
- Max
- 27.47%
- ITW
- 19.39%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 28.05% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 16.47%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
16.47%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- FIX
- 16.47%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
28.05%
- Max
- 36.60%
- ITW
- 28.05%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 58.61% | 101.65% |
| ROA (TTM) | 16.88% | 17.13% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 13.01% | 19.39% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 16.47% | 28.05% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 25.70% | 44.32% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 29.52% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 0.92% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 97.81% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at -10.42% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for FIX.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 29.52% | 0.92% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 30.03% | 0.23% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 97.81% | -10.42% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 61.78% | 2.40% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 1.15 and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 1.29 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
1.15
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- FIX
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.36
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
1.29
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- ITW
- 1.29
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 0.11 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.98 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
0.11
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- FIX
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.00
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
2.98
- ITW
- 2.98
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.15 | 1.29 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.11 | 2.98 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.81 | 1.76 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.29% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 0.31% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ITW the richer one.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
0.31%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- FIX
- 0.31%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
2.29%
- Max
- 2.66%
- ITW
- 2.29%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 6.48% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 58.43% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
6.48%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- FIX
- 6.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
58.43%
- Max
- 67.39%
- ITW
- 58.43%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.31% | 2.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.48% | 58.43% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 21.98 and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.06 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
21.98
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- FIX
- 21.98
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
25.06
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- ITW
- 25.06
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 2.85 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 4.80 sits in the pricier quartile — ITW costs more per dollar of sales.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
2.85
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- FIX
- 2.85
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
4.80
- Max
- 7.54
- ITW
- 4.80
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 10.66 and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.42 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
10.66
- FIX
- 10.66
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
ITW
Capital Goods industry group
25.42
- ITW
- 25.42
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | FIX | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.98 | 25.06 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.85 | 4.80 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.66 | 25.42 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.94% | 2.89% |