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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.

Company profile comparison for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Profile ItemGEITW
NameGeneral Electric CompanyIllinois Tool Works Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryIndustrial ConglomeratesMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial ConglomeratesIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization385.54 billion USD77.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962March 13, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GE
ITW
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
MetricGEITW
Total Return (1Y)47.79%11.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GE
ITW
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
MetricGEITW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)31.70%20.78%
Beta (5Y)1.330.98
Avg. Volume (3M)5.85M1.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GE and ITW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 96.85% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; GE Aerospace (GE) at 45.43% also sits in the top quartile.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

45.43%

GE
45.43%
Max
45.43%
Q3
20.07%
Median
11.35%
Q1
3.04%
Min
-19.79%

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

96.85%

ITW
96.85%
Max
45.43%
Q3
20.07%
Median
11.35%
Q1
3.04%
Min
-19.79%
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both GE Aerospace (GE) at 17.86% and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 19.32% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

17.86%

Max
24.69%
GE
17.86%
Q3
11.56%
Median
5.93%
Q1
0.85%
Min
-13.94%

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

19.32%

Max
24.69%
ITW
19.32%
Q3
11.56%
Median
5.93%
Q1
0.85%
Min
-13.94%
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 20.21% and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.67% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

20.21%

Max
29.84%
GE
20.21%
Q3
15.92%
Median
8.27%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-17.50%

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

25.67%

Max
29.84%
ITW
25.67%
Q3
15.92%
Median
8.27%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-17.50%
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
MetricGEITW
ROE (TTM)45.43%96.85%
ROA (TTM)4.85%17.05%
Net Margin (TTM)17.86%19.32%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.21%25.67%
Gross Margin (TTM)31.15%44.12%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
MetricGEITW
Revenue Growth (YoY)18.48%0.92%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)16.32%0.23%

EPS Growth

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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
MetricGEITW
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 1.01 and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 1.19 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

1.01

Max
5.24
Q3
2.97
Median
2.11
Q1
1.45
GE
1.01
Min
0.71

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

1.19

Max
5.24
Q3
2.97
Median
2.11
Q1
1.45
ITW
1.19
Min
0.71
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but ITW is more stretched: GE Aerospace (GE) at 1.17 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.83 is above its industry benchmark range.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

1.17

Max
2.29
GE
1.17
Q3
1.08
Median
0.62
Q1
0.28
Min
0.00

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

2.83

ITW
2.83
Max
2.29
Q3
1.08
Median
0.62
Q1
0.28
Min
0.00
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
MetricGEITW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.011.19
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.172.83
Net Debt / EBITDA0.971.76

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.34% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.42% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ITW the richer one.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

0.42%

Max
2.34%
Q3
1.00%
GE
0.42%
Median
0.15%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

2.34%

ITW
2.34%
Max
2.34%
Q3
1.00%
Median
0.15%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.25% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 58.77% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

19.25%

Max
72.02%
Q3
29.56%
GE
19.25%
Median
6.41%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

58.77%

Max
72.02%
ITW
58.77%
Q3
29.56%
Median
6.41%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
MetricGEITW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.42%2.34%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)19.25%58.77%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 45.90 and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 24.88 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

45.90

Max
89.28
Q3
51.81
GE
45.90
Median
33.98
Q1
23.50
Min
6.12

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

24.88

Max
89.28
Q3
51.81
Median
33.98
ITW
24.88
Q1
23.50
Min
6.12
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 4.75 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 7.98 sits in the pricier quartile — GE costs more per dollar of sales.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

7.98

Max
9.89
GE
7.98
Q3
4.89
Median
2.76
Q1
1.29
Min
0.04

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

4.75

Max
9.89
Q3
4.89
ITW
4.75
Median
2.76
Q1
1.29
Min
0.04
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both GE Aerospace (GE) at 21.32 and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 23.85 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

GE

Capital Goods industry group

21.32

GE
21.32
Max
13.55
Q3
6.81
Median
3.86
Q1
2.14
Min
-2.32

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

23.85

ITW
23.85
Max
13.55
Q3
6.81
Median
3.86
Q1
2.14
Min
-2.32
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GE Aerospace (GE) vs. Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for GE Aerospace (GE) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
MetricGEITW
P/E Ratio (TTM)45.9024.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.984.75
P/B Ratio (MRQ)21.3223.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.47%2.88%