Reviewing Luxfer (NYSE:LXFR) and Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW)<p>Illinois Tool Works (<a>NYSE:ITW</a> – <a>Get Free Report</a>) and Luxfer (<a>NYSE:LXFR</a> – <a>Get Free Report</a>) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, earnings, risk, dividends, valuation and analyst recommendations. </p><h2>Profitability</h2><p>This table compares Illinois Tool Works and Luxfer’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.</p><table><tbody><tr><td>Net Margins</td><td>Return on Equity</td><td>Return on Assets</td></tr><tr><td>Illinois Tool Works</td><td>21.31%</td><td>90.89%</td><td>19.17%</td></tr><tr><td>Luxfer</td><td>6.02%</td><td>11.75%</td><td>6.80%</td></tr></tbody></table><h2>Dividends</h2><p>Illinois Tool Works pays an annual dividend of $6.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. Luxfer pays an annual dividend of $0.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.4%. Illinois Tool Works pays out 52.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Luxfer pays out 57.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Illinois Tool Works has increased its dividend for 55 consecutive years. </p><h2>Insider and Institutional Ownership</h2> 79.8% of Illinois Tool Works shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 90.8% of Luxfer shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.9% of Illinois Tool Works shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.2% of Luxfer shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. <h2>Analyst Recommendations</h2><p>This is a summary of recent recommendations for Illinois Tool Works and Luxfer, as provided by MarketBeat.com. </p><table><tbody><tr><td>Sell Ratings</td><td>Hold Ratings</td><td>Buy Ratings</td><td>Strong Buy Ratings</td><td>Rating Score</td></tr><tr><td>Illinois Tool Works</td><td>3</td><td>8</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1.83</td></tr><tr><td>Luxfer</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0.00</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Illinois Tool Works currently has a consensus price target of $259.08, indicating a potential upside of 2.85%. Given Illinois Tool Works’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Illinois Tool Works is more favorable than Luxfer.</p><h2>Volatility and Risk</h2><p>Illinois Tool Works has a beta of 1.09, indicating that its stock price is 9% more volatile than the S&amp;P 500. Comparatively, Luxfer has a beta of 1.15, indicating that its stock price is 15% more volatile than the S&amp;P 500. </p><h2>Earnings and Valuation</h2><p>This table compares Illinois Tool Works and Luxfer”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.</p><table><tbody><tr><td>Gross Revenue</td><td>Price/Sales Ratio</td><td>Net Income</td><td>Earnings Per Share</td><td>Price/Earnings Ratio</td></tr><tr><td>Illinois Tool Works</td><td>$15.90 billion</td><td>4.64</td><td>$3.49 billion</td><td>$11.41</td><td>22.08</td></tr><tr><td>Luxfer</td><td>$391.90 million</td><td>0.81</td><td>$18.40 million</td><td>$0.90</td><td>13.19</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Illinois Tool Works has higher revenue and earnings than Luxfer. Luxfer is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Illinois Tool Works, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. </p><h2>Summary</h2><p>Illinois Tool Works beats Luxfer on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.</p><h2>About Illinois Tool Works</h2><p> (<a>Get Free Report</a>)</p><p>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 &amp; Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers &amp; 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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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.</p><h2>About Luxfer</h2><p> (<a>Get Free Report</a>)</p><p>Luxfer Holdings PLC, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and supplies high-performance materials, components, and high-pressure gas containment devices for defense and first response, healthcare, transportation, and general industrial applications. The company operates through three segments: Elektron, Gas Cylinders, and graphic Arts. The Elektron segment focuses on specialty materials based primarily on magnesium and zirconium. This segment also provides magnesium alloys for use in aerospace, healthcare, and oil and gas applications; magnesium powders for use in countermeasure flares, as well as heater meals; and zirconium-based materials and oxides used as catalysts and in the manufacture of advanced ceramics, fiber-optic fuel cells, pharmaceuticals, and other performance products. The Gas Cylinders segment manufactures and markets specialized products using carbon composites and aluminum alloys, including pressurized cylinders for use in various applications comprising self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for firefighters, containment of oxygen, and other medical gases for healthcare, alternative fuel vehicles, and general industrial applications. The Graphic Art segments provides magnesium photo-engraving plates, engraving metals, and etching chemicals. This segment also offers magnesium, copper, and zinc photo-engraving plates for graphic arts and luxury packaging; developer solutions; and solid wrought magnesium slab and sheet. Luxfer Holdings PLC has operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Canada, rest of Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.</p>

Reviewing Luxfer (NYSE:LXFR) and Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW)

The article compares Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Luxfer based on profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst ratings, volatility, and valuation. ITW outperforms Luxfer on 13 of 17 factors, including higher revenue, stronger net margins, and better analyst ratings.