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ITW vs. WCC: Illinois Tool Works vs. WESCO Stock Comparison

How do Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and WESCO (WCC) 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 WESCO (WCC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but ITW is classified in Machinery while WCC is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and WESCO (WCC)
Profile ItemITWWCC
NameIllinois Tool Works Inc.WESCO International, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization79.85 billion USD14.24 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 13, 1973May 12, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ITW
WCC
GSPC
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC), 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 WESCO (WCC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and WESCO (WCC). 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 WESCO (WCC)
MetricITWWCC
Total Return (1Y)20.29%26.01%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)10.62%33.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.67%19.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ITW
WCC
GSPC
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC), 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 WESCO (WCC). 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 WESCO (WCC)
MetricITWWCC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.16%48.31%
Beta (5Y)0.911.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.05%-37.37%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.27M592.41K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ITW and WCC 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 WESCO (WCC)
MetricITWWCC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.720.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.120.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 101.65% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than WESCO (WCC) at 15.44%, 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

15.44%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
WCC
15.44%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 19.39% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of WESCO (WCC) at 3.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

3.04%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
WCC
3.04%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 28.05% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of WESCO (WCC) at 6.61%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

6.61%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
WCC
6.61%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricITWWCC
ROE (TTM)101.65%15.44%
ROA (TTM)17.13%5.43%
Net Margin (TTM)19.39%3.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.05%6.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.32%21.51%

Growth

Revenue Growth

WESCO (WCC) at 7.76% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at -10.42% and WESCO (WCC) at 0.00% 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. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricITWWCC
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.92%7.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.23%3.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)-10.42%0.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.40%-5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

WESCO (WCC) at 2.01 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

2.01

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
WCC
2.01
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): 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: WESCO (WCC) at 1.25 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.98 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

1.25

Max
2.33
WCC
1.25
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): 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 WESCO (WCC)
MetricITWWCC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.292.01
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.981.25
Net Debt / EBITDA1.763.46

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.29% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while WESCO (WCC) at 0.68% 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

0.68%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
WCC
0.68%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 12.13% 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

12.13%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
WCC
12.13%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricITWWCC
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.29%0.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.43%12.13%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 18.17 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.06 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for WCC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

18.17

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
WCC
18.17
Min
3.03
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 0.55 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 4.80 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

0.55

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
WCC
0.55
Min
0.03
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

WESCO (WCC) at 2.62 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

2.62

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
WCC
2.62
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricITWWCC
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.0618.17
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.800.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)25.422.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.89%2.71%