Contrasting Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW) and Hillman Solutions (NASDAQ:HLMN)

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW) and Hillman Solutions (NASDAQ:HLMN) are both industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares Illinois Tool Works and Hillman Solutions’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Illinois Tool Works	19.39%	101.72%	19.64%
Hillman Solutions	2.57%	9.11%	4.70%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Illinois Tool Works and Hillman Solutions”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Illinois Tool Works	$16.47 billion	4.62	$3.07 billion	$11.03	24.23
Hillman Solutions	$1.60 billion	0.88	$40.31 million	$0.22	32.80

Illinois Tool Works has higher revenue and earnings than Hillman Solutions. Illinois Tool Works is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hillman Solutions, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Illinois Tool Works and Hillman Solutions, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Illinois Tool Works	5	6	2	0	1.77
Hillman Solutions	1	1	2	1	2.60

Illinois Tool Works presently has a consensus price target of $281.25, suggesting a potential upside of 5.25%. Hillman Solutions has a consensus price target of $12.67, suggesting a potential upside of 75.51%. Given Hillman Solutions’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Hillman Solutions is more favorable than Illinois Tool Works.

Risk & Volatility

Illinois Tool Works has a beta of 0.98, meaning that its stock price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hillman Solutions has a beta of 1.38, meaning that its stock price is 38% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

79.8% of Illinois Tool Works shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.1% of Hillman Solutions shares are held by institutional investors. 0.8% of Illinois Tool Works shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 5.3% of Hillman Solutions shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

About Illinois Tool Works

Illinois Tool Works Inc. manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses. The Food Equipment segment provides warewashing, refrigeration, cooking, and food processing equipment; kitchen exhaust, ventilation, and pollution control systems; and food equipment maintenance and repair services. The Test & Measurement and Electronics segment produces and sells equipment, consumables, and related software for testing and measuring of materials and structures, as well as equipment and consumables used in the production of electronic subassemblies and microelectronics. The Welding segment produces arc welding equipment; and metal arc welding consumables and related accessories. The Polymers & Fluids segment produces adhesives, sealants, lubrication and cutting fluids, and fluids and polymers for auto aftermarket maintenance and appearance. The Construction Products segment offers engineered fastening systems and solutions for the residential construction, renovation/remodel, and commercial construction markets. The Specialty Products segment provides beverage packaging equipment and consumables, product coding and marking equipment and consumables, and appliance components and fasteners. It serves the automotive OEM and tiers, MRO, commercial food equipment, construction, general industrial, industrial capital goods, consumer durables, automotive aftermarket end, and other markets. The company distributes its products directly to industrial manufacturers, as well as through independent distributors. Illinois Tool Works Inc. was founded in 1912 and is based in Glenview, Illinois.

About Hillman Solutions

Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hillman is a leading North American provider of complete hardware solutions, delivered with industry best customer service to over 40,000 locations. Hillman designs innovative product and merchandising solutions for complex categories that deliver an outstanding customer experience to home improvement centers, mass merchants, national and regional hardware stores, pet supply stores, and OEM & Industrial customers. Leveraging a world-class distribution and sales network, Hillman delivers a “small business” experience with “big business” efficiency.