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ITW vs. NVT: Illinois Tool Works vs. nVent Electric Stock Comparison

How do Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and nVent Electric (NVT) 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 nVent Electric (NVT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but ITW is classified in Machinery while NVT is classified in Electrical Equipment.

Company profile comparison for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
Profile ItemITWNVT
NameIllinois Tool Works Inc.nVent Electric plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryElectrical Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsElectrical Components & Equipment
Market Capitalization79.85 billion USD17.16 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 13, 1973April 24, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ITW
NVT
GSPC
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT), 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 nVent Electric (NVT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and nVent Electric (NVT). 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 nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricITWNVT
Total Return (1Y)20.29%2.86%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)10.62%32.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.67%26.96%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ITW
NVT
GSPC
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT), 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 nVent Electric (NVT). 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 nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricITWNVT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.16%53.94%
Beta (5Y)0.911.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.05%-46.67%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.27M2.54M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ITW and NVT 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 nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricITWNVT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.72-0.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.12-0.03

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 101.65% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than nVent Electric (NVT) at 17.42%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

17.42%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
NVT
17.42%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): 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 nVent Electric (NVT) at 12.83% 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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

12.83%

Max
27.47%
NVT
12.83%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): 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 nVent Electric (NVT) at 18.75% 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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

18.75%

Max
36.60%
NVT
18.75%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricITWNVT
ROE (TTM)101.65%17.42%
ROA (TTM)17.13%7.88%
Net Margin (TTM)19.39%12.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.05%18.75%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.32%36.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

nVent Electric (NVT) at 29.51% 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.

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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

nVent Electric (NVT) at 118.78% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at -10.42%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricITWNVT
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.92%29.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.23%19.26%
EPS Growth (YoY)-10.42%118.78%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.40%21.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

nVent Electric (NVT) at 2.40 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 1.29 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ITW.

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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

2.40

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
NVT
2.40
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

nVent Electric (NVT) at 0.57 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.98 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

0.57

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
NVT
0.57
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): 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 nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricITWNVT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.292.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.980.57
Net Debt / EBITDA1.761.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.29% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while nVent Electric (NVT) at 0.84% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ITW the richer one.

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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

0.84%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
NVT
0.84%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

nVent Electric (NVT) at 20.15% 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.

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%

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

20.15%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
NVT
20.15%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricITWNVT
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.29%0.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.43%20.15%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.06 and nVent Electric (NVT) at 25.78 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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

25.78

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
NVT
25.78
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

nVent Electric (NVT) at 3.24 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.

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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

3.24

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
NVT
3.24
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

nVent Electric (NVT) at 4.17 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.42 prices above its benchmark range — ITW looks rich relative to book.

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

NVT

Capital Goods industry group

4.17

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
NVT
4.17
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. nVent Electric (NVT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and nVent Electric (NVT)
MetricITWNVT
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.0625.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.803.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)25.424.17
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.89%2.93%