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ITW vs. MMM: Illinois Tool Works vs. 3M Stock Comparison

How do Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM) 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

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but ITW is classified in Machinery while MMM is classified in Industrial Conglomerates.

Company profile comparison for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
Profile ItemITWMMM
NameIllinois Tool Works Inc.3M Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryIndustrial Conglomerates
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsIndustrial Conglomerates
Market Capitalization79.85 billion USD95.67 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 13, 1973January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ITW
MMM
GSPC
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
MetricITWMMM
Total Return (1Y)20.29%16.26%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)10.62%38.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.67%8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ITW
MMM
GSPC
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
MetricITWMMM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.16%27.61%
Beta (5Y)0.910.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.05%-48.86%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.27M3.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ITW and MMM 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.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
MetricITWMMM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.720.43
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.120.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 101.65% and 3M (MMM) at 72.97% 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.

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%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

72.97%

MMM
72.97%
Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 19.39% and 3M (MMM) at 14.01% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

14.01%

Max
27.47%
MMM
14.01%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 28.05% and 3M (MMM) at 23.69% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

23.69%

Max
36.60%
MMM
23.69%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
MetricITWMMM
ROE (TTM)101.65%72.97%
ROA (TTM)17.13%8.22%
Net Margin (TTM)19.39%14.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.05%23.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.32%39.53%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 0.92% and 3M (MMM) at 1.52% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at -10.42% and 3M (MMM) at -20.53% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
MetricITWMMM
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.92%1.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.23%-1.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)-10.42%-20.53%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.40%-16.16%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 1.29 and 3M (MMM) at 1.41 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

1.41

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
MMM
1.41
Min
0.36
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Debt sits unusually high against shareholders’ equity for both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.98 and 3M (MMM) at 3.04 — each debt-to-equity ratio is above its industry benchmark range.

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

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

3.04

MMM
3.04
Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
MetricITWMMM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.291.41
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.983.04
Net Debt / EBITDA1.761.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.29% and 3M (MMM) at 1.64% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

1.64%

Max
2.66%
MMM
1.64%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 58.43% and 3M (MMM) at 45.82% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

45.82%

Max
67.39%
MMM
45.82%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
MetricITWMMM
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.29%1.64%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.43%45.82%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.06 and 3M (MMM) at 27.63 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

27.63

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
MMM
27.63
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 4.80 and 3M (MMM) at 3.79 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

3.79

Max
7.54
MMM
3.79
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.42 and 3M (MMM) at 23.18 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

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

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

23.18

MMM
23.18
Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and 3M (MMM)
MetricITWMMM
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.0627.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.803.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)25.4223.18
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.89%6.66%