ITW Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results and Raises Full Year 2026 Guidance
GLENVIEW, Ill., July 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW) today reported its second quarter 2026 results and raised full year 2026 guidance.
“The ITW team delivered a strong operational and financial performance in the second quarter highlighted by organic growth of 4.5 percent, operating margin of 26.7 percent, and a 10 percent increase in GAAP earnings per share to $2.84,” said Christopher A. O’Herlihy, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Our results reflect a meaningful acceleration in our capex-related segments, led by double-digit organic growth in Welding and Test & Measurement and Electronics, alongside strong performance in Polymers & Fluids. As we advance our enterprise strategy priorities, we remain well-positioned to drive consistent, above-market organic growth powered by increased contribution to revenue growth from Customer-Back Innovation while further expanding profitability and margins. As a result of our strong operational momentum, we are raising both top- and bottom-line guidance for the full year,” O’Herlihy concluded.
Second Quarter 2026 Results
Second quarter revenue of $4.30 billion increased by 6.1 percent. Organic revenue growth was 4.5 percent, led by 6.4 percent growth in North America. Foreign currency translation increased revenue by 1.4 percent and an acquisition added 0.2 percent.
GAAP EPS grew 10.1 percent to $2.84, while operating income increased 7.4 percent to $1.15 billion, marking the most profitable quarter in the history of the company. Operating margin expanded by 40 basis points to 26.7 percent as enterprise initiatives contributed 120 basis points. In the quarter, price increases more than offset higher raw material costs in dollar terms, though timing lags between inflation and price adjustments modestly diluted margins. Operating cash flow was $723 million, and free cash flow was $631 million, a 41 percent increase representing a 77 percent conversion of net income. During the quarter, the company returned over $1.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases of $750 million. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 24.4 percent.
2026 Guidance
ITW is raising its full year 2026 GAAP EPS guidance by $0.15 to a narrowed range of $11.35 to $11.55 per share, representing 9 percent growth at the midpoint. Based on current demand levels and prevailing foreign exchange rates, the company is raising revenue growth guidance to a new range of 4 to 5 percent and raising organic growth guidance to 3 to 4 percent, a 1.5 percentage point increase at the midpoint.
Operating margin is projected to be in the range of 26.5 to 27.5 percent, with enterprise initiatives contributing more than 100 basis points. Free cash flow is projected to exceed 100 percent of net income, and the company expects to repurchase approximately $1.5 billion of its own shares. The projected effective tax rate is 23 to 24 percent.
Non-GAAP Measures
This earnings release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included in the attached supplemental reconciliation schedule. The estimated guidance of free cash flow to net income conversion rate is based on assumptions that are difficult to predict, and estimated guidance for the most directly comparable GAAP measure and a reconciliation of this forward-looking estimate to its most directly comparable GAAP estimate have been omitted due to the unreasonable efforts required in connection with such a reconciliation and the lack of reliable forward-looking cash flow information. For the same reasons, the company is unable to address the potential significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.
Forward-looking Statements
This earnings release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding global supply chain challenges, expected impact of inflation including raw material inflation and rising interest rates, the potential impact of tariffs, the company’s projected pricing actions, the impact of enterprise initiatives, future financial and operating performance, free cash flow and free cash flow to net income conversion rate, organic and total revenue, operating and incremental margin, price/cost impact, statements regarding diluted income per share, expected dividend payments, after-tax return on invested capital, effective tax rates, exchange rates, expected timing and amount of share repurchases, end market economic and regulatory conditions, the impact of recent or potential acquisitions and/or divestitures, and the company’s 2026 guidance. These statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Important risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company’s expectations include those that are detailed in ITW’s Form 10-K for 2025 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC.
About Illinois Tool Works
ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 300 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenue of $16 billion in 2025. The company’s seven industry-leading segments leverage the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required. ITW’s approximately 43,000 dedicated colleagues around the world thrive in the company’s decentralized and entrepreneurial culture. www.itw.com.
(1) Effective tax rate used for interest expense and other (income) expense for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 was 24.4% in both periods. Effective tax rate used for interest expense and other (income) expense for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 was 24.3% and 24.2%, respectively.
(2) Average invested capital is calculated using the total invested capital balances at the start of the period and at the end of each quarter within each of the periods presented.
(3) Returns for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 were converted to an annual rate by multiplying the calculated return by 4. Returns for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 were converted to an annual rate by multiplying the calculated return by 2.
A reconciliation of the tax rate for the six month period ended June 30, 2026, excluding the first quarter 2026 discrete tax benefit of $34 million primarily related to the resolution of a U.S. tax audit, is as follows:
A reconciliation of the tax rate for the six month period ended June 30, 2025, excluding the first quarter 2025 discrete tax benefit of $21 million related to the reversal of a valuation allowance on net operating loss carryforwards, is as follows:
(1) Effective tax rate used for interest expense and other (income) expense for the year ended December 31, 2025 was 23.9%.
(2) Average invested capital is calculated using the total invested capital balances at the start of the period and at the end of each quarter within the period presented.
A reconciliation of the 2025 effective tax rate, excluding the third quarter 2025 net discrete tax benefit of $27 million, which included a favorable discrete tax benefit of $43 million related to the estimated U.S. federal tax liability for 2024, partially offset by a $16 million discrete tax expense related primarily to the resolution of a foreign tax audit, and excluding the first quarter 2025 discrete tax benefit of $21 million related to the reversal of a valuation allowance on net operating loss carryforwards, is as follows:
Investor Relations & Media Contact:
Erin Linnihan
Tel: 224.661.7431
investorrelations@itw.com | mediarelations@itw.com