Natixis Advisors LLC Increases Position in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW)

Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW - Free Report) by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 207,758 shares of the industrial products company's stock after buying an additional 8,460 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.07% of Illinois Tool Works worth $54,447,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Nikulski Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Nikulski Financial Inc. now owns 1,108 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $290,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Steele Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Steele Capital Management Inc. now owns 863 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $206,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 2.5% in the third quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. now owns 1,614 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $423,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 0.9% during the third quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 4,639 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,216,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the period. Finally, Harbour Investments Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.1% during the third quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 3,652 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $957,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. 79.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Illinois Tool Works Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ITW traded up $0.75 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $270.62. The stock had a trading volume of 913,018 shares, compared to its average volume of 912,272. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $260.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $248.94. The company has a market capitalization of $79.91 billion, a PE ratio of 23.41, a P/E/G ratio of 4.19 and a beta of 1.10. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1 year low of $232.77 and a 1 year high of $277.58.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.53 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $3.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.02 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 97.06% and a net margin of 21.66%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.55 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Illinois Tool Works's payout ratio is 51.90%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ITW has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com raised Illinois Tool Works from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $267.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $240.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Argus raised Illinois Tool Works to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $257.30.

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.