GE vs. ITW: GE Aerospace vs. Illinois Tool Works Stock Comparison
How do GE Aerospace (GE) 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
GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GE is classified in Industrial Conglomerates while ITW is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | General Electric Company | Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Industrial Conglomerates | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Conglomerates | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 335.38 billion USD | 79.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | March 13, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 9.16% | 20.29% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 55.50% | 10.62% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 37.59% | 6.67% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.52% | 22.16% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.39 | 0.91 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.94% | -28.05% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.48M | 1.27M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.14 | 0.72 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.20 | 1.12 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 50.17% 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.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
50.17%
- GE
- 50.17%
- 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 GE Aerospace (GE) at 17.31% 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.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
17.31%
- Max
- 27.47%
- GE
- 17.31%
- 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)
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 18.49% and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 28.05% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
18.49%
- Max
- 36.60%
- GE
- 18.49%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- 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 | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 50.17% | 101.65% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.06% | 17.13% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.31% | 19.39% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.49% | 28.05% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 30.07% | 44.32% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
GE Aerospace (GE) at 18.48% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 0.92% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
GE Aerospace (GE) at 35.89% 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 GE.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 18.48% | 0.92% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.32% | 0.23% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 35.89% | -10.42% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 446.03% | 2.40% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.98 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.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
0.98
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- GE
- 0.98
- 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)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but ITW is more stretched: GE Aerospace (GE) at 1.16 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.98 is above its industry benchmark range.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
1.16
- Max
- 2.33
- GE
- 1.16
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- 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 | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.98 | 1.29 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.16 | 2.98 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.93 | 1.76 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.29% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.56% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ITW the richer one.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
0.56%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- GE
- 0.56%
- 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)
GE Aerospace (GE) at 20.23% 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.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
20.23%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- GE
- 20.23%
- Median
- 6.86%
- 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 | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.56% | 2.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 20.23% | 58.43% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.06 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 36.94 sits in the richer quartile — GE needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
36.94
- Max
- 59.38
- GE
- 36.94
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- 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)
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 6.38 and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 4.80 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
6.38
- Max
- 7.54
- GE
- 6.38
- Q3
- 3.76
- 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 GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.06 and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.42 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
19.06
- GE
- 19.06
- 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 | GE | ITW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 36.94 | 25.06 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.38 | 4.80 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 19.06 | 25.42 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.89% | 2.89% |