Stephens Inc. AR Has $4.33 Million Stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW)

Stephens Inc. AR lowered its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) by 6.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 17,072 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,113 shares during the period. Stephens Inc. AR’s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $4,329,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 243.2% during the 3rd quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 2,056 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $541,000 after purchasing an additional 1,457 shares in the last quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 54.8% in the third quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,695 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $444,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 1,542.1% during the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 6,240 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,635,000 after buying an additional 5,860 shares in the last quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 3rd quarter valued at $19,417,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. raised its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 7,583 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,987,000 after buying an additional 421 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.77% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their target price 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. Barclays dropped their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $262.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $266.00 to $259.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $245.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Illinois Tool Works from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $271.00.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

Illinois Tool Works stock opened at $257.56 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $259.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $257.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $76.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.98, a P/E/G ratio of 4.79 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12-month low of $232.77 and a 12-month high of $279.13.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $2.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.04. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 21.94% and a return on equity of 95.39%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.