What is Illinois Tool Works Inc.'s average annual return?

Since 1974, Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) has returned about 12.4% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.7%.

What were Illinois Tool Works Inc.'s best and worst years?

Over 1974–2026, the best year was 1997 (+51.9%) and the worst was 2008 (-32.7%).

How often is Illinois Tool Works Inc. up in a year?

36 of the 49 full years since 1974 were positive — about 73% of the time.

ITW

Illinois Tool Works Inc.Stock · IndustrialsS&P 500 0.1%

$283.03+$6.12 (+2.21%)as of market close, Jul 24, 2026

CompareSPCXCATGEVGLWTERVRT

ITW returns by year

Illinois Tool Works Inc. has returned +12.4% annually (CAGR) since 1974. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) below, through July 24, 2026 — the most recent year is year-to-date.

Annualized (CAGR)

+12.4%

1974–2026

Average year

+12.7%

49 full years

Best year

+51.9%

1997

Worst year

-32.7%

2008

Positive years

36/49

73% up

Illinois Tool Works Inc. returns by year (1974–2026)#

Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return).

Illinois Tool Works Inc. annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Dividend	Total return
2026YTD	$246.30	$283.03	+0.7%	+15.6%
2025	$253.56	$246.30	+2.4%	-0.4%
2024	$261.94	$253.56	+2.2%	-1.0%
2023	$220.30	$261.94	+2.6%	+21.5%
2022	$246.80	$220.30	+2.3%	-8.5%
2021	$203.88	$246.80	+2.5%	+23.6%
2020	$179.63	$203.88	+2.9%	+16.4%
2019	$126.69	$179.63	+3.8%	+45.6%
2018	$166.85	$126.69	+2.0%	-22.1%
2017	$122.46	$166.85	+2.7%	+38.9%
2016	$92.68	$122.46	+2.9%	+35.0%
2015	$94.70	$92.68	+2.2%	+0.1%
2014	$84.08	$94.70	+2.3%	+15.0%
2013	$60.81	$84.08	+3.1%	+41.4%
2012	$46.71	$60.81	+4.2%	+34.4%
2011	$53.40	$46.71	+2.5%	-10.1%
2010	$47.99	$53.40	+3.1%	+14.3%
2009	$35.05	$47.99	+3.4%	+40.3%
2008	$53.54	$35.05	+1.8%	-32.7%
2007	$46.19	$53.54	+2.1%	+18.0%
2006	$44.00	$46.19	+1.3%	+6.3%
2005	$46.34	$44.00	+1.0%	-4.0%
2004	$41.96	$46.34	+1.3%	+11.8%
2003	$32.43	$41.96	+1.8%	+31.1%
2002	$33.86	$32.43	+1.3%	-2.9%
2001	$29.78	$33.86	+1.6%	+15.3%
2000	$33.78	$29.78	+1.2%	-10.6%
1999	$29.00	$33.78	+1.1%	+17.6%
1998	$30.06	$29.00	+0.9%	-2.7%
1997	$19.97	$30.06	+1.4%	+51.9%
1996	$14.75	$19.97	+1.4%	+36.7%
1995	$10.94	$14.75	+1.2%	+36.0%
1994	$9.75	$10.94	+0.0%	+12.2%
1993	$8.16	$9.75	+0.0%	+19.5%
1992	$7.97	$8.16	+0.0%	+2.4%
1991	$6.03	$7.97	+0.0%	+32.1%
1990	$5.61	$6.03	+0.0%	+7.5%
1989	$4.34	$5.61	+0.0%	+29.1%
1988	$4.13	$4.34	+0.0%	+5.3%
1987	$1.56	$4.13	+0.0%	+164.7%
1984	$1.49	$1.56	+0.0%	+4.5%
1983	$1.23	$1.49	+0.0%	+20.9%
1982	$0.89	$1.23	+0.0%	+38.0%
1981	$0.84	$0.89	+0.0%	+6.5%
1980	$0.79	$0.84	+0.0%	+5.9%
1979	$0.73	$0.79	+0.0%	+8.0%
1978	$0.64	$0.73	+0.0%	+14.0%
1977	$0.73	$0.64	+0.0%	-11.8%
1976	$0.66	$0.73	+0.0%	+10.0%
1975	$0.76	$0.66	+0.0%	-12.4%
1974	$1.04	$0.76	+0.0%	-27.1%

Total return by period

-40%-20%+0%+20%+40%

'74'78'82'89'93'97'01'05'09'13'17'21'25

Methodology#

Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from ITW's split- and dividend-adjusted closes. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

See also: S&P 500 · Nasdaq-100 · Dow Jones · Russell 2000 · US Bond Market · Gold · Silver · Bitcoin · Ethereum

FAQ

What is Illinois Tool Works Inc.'s average annual return?: Since 1974, Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) has returned about 12.4% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.7%.
What were Illinois Tool Works Inc.'s best and worst years?: Over 1974–2026, the best year was 1997 (+51.9%) and the worst was 2008 (-32.7%).
How often is Illinois Tool Works Inc. up in a year?: 36 of the 49 full years since 1974 were positive — about 73% of the time.