Analysis of Solvency Ratios
Quarterly Data
Solvency ratios also known as long-term debt ratios measure a company ability to meet long-term obligations.
Solvency Ratios (Summary)
Illinois Tool Works Inc., solvency ratios (quarterly data)
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
- Debt to Equity Ratio
- The debt to equity ratio exhibits an overall upward trend from 1.75 in March 2017, peaking at 3.37 in March 2020. Following this peak, the ratio declines steadily to 2.12 by December 2021. This indicates an initial increase in company leverage relative to equity, followed by a deleveraging phase toward the end of the period.
- Debt to Capital Ratio
- The debt to capital ratio shows a gradual increase from 0.64 in March 2017 to a high of 0.77 in March and June 2020. Subsequently, a moderate reduction is observed, stabilizing around 0.68 by December 2021. This pattern aligns with the debt to equity ratio trend, highlighting a period of rising leverage before partial repayment or equity growth contributed to lowering leverage levels.
- Debt to Assets Ratio
- The debt to assets ratio remains relatively stable, starting at 0.51 in March 2017, fluctuating marginally, and reaching a maximum of 0.54 in March and June 2020. Post-2020, the ratio shows a steady decline to 0.48 by December 2021. This stability suggests that while leverage increased, total assets may have grown proportionally or the company managed asset-liability balance effectively.
- Financial Leverage Ratio
- Financial leverage, indicative of the degree of total assets financed by equity, trends upward from 3.46 in March 2017 to a peak of 6.20 in March 2020. After this peak, a clear reversal is observed with the ratio decreasing to 4.44 by December 2021. This mirrors the debt to equity and debt to capital trends, signifying increased leverage leading up to 2020, with subsequent efforts to reduce financial risk.
- Interest Coverage Ratio
- The interest coverage ratio data is available from December 2017 onward. It consistently increases from 13.58 in December 2017 to 17.47 by December 2021. This indicates improving ability to cover interest expenses from operating earnings, despite increased leverage levels earlier in the period. The increasing coverage suggests enhanced profitability or reduced interest burden relative to earnings over time.
Debt Ratios
Coverage Ratios
Debt to Equity
Illinois Tool Works Inc., debt to equity calculation (quarterly data)
| Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term debt | 778) | 579) | 592) | 350) | 350) | 353) | 4) | 4) | 4) | —) | —) | 1,760) | 1,351) | 1,350) | 1,350) | 660) | 850) | 698) | 691) | 671) | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 6,909) | 6,972) | 7,056) | 7,599) | 7,772) | 7,592) | 7,765) | 7,690) | 7,754) | 7,643) | 7,809) | 5,981) | 6,029) | 6,054) | 6,069) | 6,889) | 7,478) | 7,439) | 7,360) | 7,205) | ||||||
| Total debt | 7,687) | 7,551) | 7,648) | 7,949) | 8,122) | 7,945) | 7,769) | 7,694) | 7,758) | 7,643) | 7,809) | 7,741) | 7,380) | 7,404) | 7,419) | 7,549) | 8,328) | 8,137) | 8,051) | 7,876) | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity attributable to ITW | 3,625) | 3,492) | 3,520) | 3,274) | 3,181) | 2,696) | 2,357) | 2,283) | 3,026) | 2,966) | 3,091) | 3,196) | 3,254) | 3,542) | 3,785) | 4,159) | 4,585) | 5,023) | 4,771) | 4,493) | ||||||
| Solvency Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt to equity1 | 2.12 | 2.16 | 2.17 | 2.43 | 2.55 | 2.95 | 3.30 | 3.37 | 2.56 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.42 | 2.27 | 2.09 | 1.96 | 1.82 | 1.82 | 1.62 | 1.69 | 1.75 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt to Equity, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 2.29 | 2.21 | 2.23 | 2.30 | 2.42 | 2.55 | 2.81 | 2.61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 0.52 | 0.57 | 0.79 | 0.68 | 0.54 | 0.57 | 0.58 | 0.59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| GE Aerospace | 0.87 | 1.68 | 1.90 | 2.12 | 2.11 | 2.39 | 2.43 | 2.41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 1.06 | 1.19 | 1.19 | 1.19 | 1.28 | 1.23 | 1.22 | 0.91 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 1.07 | 1.21 | 1.87 | 1.93 | 2.02 | 2.56 | 3.38 | 3.68 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| RTX Corp. | 0.43 | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 1.18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q4 2021 Calculation
Debt to equity = Total debt ÷ Stockholders’ equity attributable to ITW
= 7,687 ÷ 3,625 = 2.12
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The financial data reveals several notable trends regarding the company's leverage and equity position over the analyzed periods.
- Total Debt
- The total debt levels exhibit a general upward trend with fluctuations. Starting from approximately $7.9 billion at the end of Q1 2017, debt increased gradually to a peak around $8.3 billion by Q4 2017. Subsequently, it decreased somewhat in 2018 to a range near $7.4 billion but began rising again in late 2019 and early 2020. Despite a slight dip in mid-2021, the company ended Q4 2021 with total debt close to $7.7 billion, reflecting a relatively stable but slightly elevated debt level compared to the beginning of the period.
- Stockholders’ Equity
- Stockholders’ equity shows a declining trajectory over the full timeline, with more volatility in the latter years. Equity started near $4.5 billion in early 2017 and declined steadily through 2018, falling below $3.3 billion by year-end 2018. The equity trough occurred around Q1 2020, at approximately $2.3 billion, coinciding with the initial impacts of the global economic environment in that period. Thereafter, equity recovered progressively, reaching $3.6 billion by the end of 2021, which is still below levels seen in 2017.
- Debt to Equity Ratio
- The debt to equity ratio experienced substantial changes, driven primarily by equity contraction rather than just changes in debt. Initially, the ratio was around 1.75 in early 2017, and it fluctuated moderately through 2018, increasing to over 2.2 by the end of that year. The ratio surged sharply in early 2020, peaking at above 3.3, caused by a notable reduction in equity coupled with relatively stable or slightly increased debt levels. The subsequent recovery trend in equity through 2021 contributed to a gradual decline in this ratio, ending the observation period around 2.1, indicating a partial but incomplete normalization of leverage metrics.
Overall, the data suggests increased leverage risk during the examined timeframe, especially around early 2020, primarily due to weakened equity. Although some recovery is noted in equity and leverage ratios by the end of 2021, the company’s financial structure remains more leveraged than at the start of 2017, which may warrant attention for risk management and financial strategy.
Debt to Capital
Illinois Tool Works Inc., debt to capital calculation (quarterly data)
| Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term debt | 778) | 579) | 592) | 350) | 350) | 353) | 4) | 4) | 4) | —) | —) | 1,760) | 1,351) | 1,350) | 1,350) | 660) | 850) | 698) | 691) | 671) | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 6,909) | 6,972) | 7,056) | 7,599) | 7,772) | 7,592) | 7,765) | 7,690) | 7,754) | 7,643) | 7,809) | 5,981) | 6,029) | 6,054) | 6,069) | 6,889) | 7,478) | 7,439) | 7,360) | 7,205) | ||||||
| Total debt | 7,687) | 7,551) | 7,648) | 7,949) | 8,122) | 7,945) | 7,769) | 7,694) | 7,758) | 7,643) | 7,809) | 7,741) | 7,380) | 7,404) | 7,419) | 7,549) | 8,328) | 8,137) | 8,051) | 7,876) | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity attributable to ITW | 3,625) | 3,492) | 3,520) | 3,274) | 3,181) | 2,696) | 2,357) | 2,283) | 3,026) | 2,966) | 3,091) | 3,196) | 3,254) | 3,542) | 3,785) | 4,159) | 4,585) | 5,023) | 4,771) | 4,493) | ||||||
| Total capital | 11,312) | 11,043) | 11,168) | 11,223) | 11,303) | 10,641) | 10,126) | 9,977) | 10,784) | 10,609) | 10,900) | 10,937) | 10,634) | 10,946) | 11,204) | 11,708) | 12,913) | 13,160) | 12,822) | 12,369) | ||||||
| Solvency Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt to capital1 | 0.68 | 0.68 | 0.68 | 0.71 | 0.72 | 0.75 | 0.77 | 0.77 | 0.72 | 0.72 | 0.72 | 0.71 | 0.69 | 0.68 | 0.66 | 0.64 | 0.64 | 0.62 | 0.63 | 0.64 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt to Capital, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | 1.35 | 1.30 | 1.36 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.24 | 1.23 | 1.33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 0.70 | 0.69 | 0.69 | 0.70 | 0.71 | 0.72 | 0.74 | 0.72 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.44 | 0.40 | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.37 | 0.37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| GE Aerospace | 0.47 | 0.63 | 0.65 | 0.68 | 0.68 | 0.70 | 0.71 | 0.71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 0.51 | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.56 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 0.52 | 0.55 | 0.65 | 0.66 | 0.67 | 0.72 | 0.77 | 0.79 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| RTX Corp. | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.31 | 0.31 | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.33 | 0.54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q4 2021 Calculation
Debt to capital = Total debt ÷ Total capital
= 7,687 ÷ 11,312 = 0.68
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Total Debt
- The total debt shows a generally stable trend with slight fluctuations over the examined periods. Starting at 7,876 million US dollars at the end of March 2017, it rose gradually through the first four quarters of 2017, peaking at 8,328 million US dollars in December 2017. During 2018, debt levels decreased slightly to approximately 7,380 million USD by year-end. From 2019 through 2021, total debt oscillated within the range of roughly 7,500 to 8,100 million USD, with a minor increase noted at the end of 2020 and a tapering toward the end of 2021. Overall, debt remained relatively consistent without sharp rises or falls.
- Total Capital
- Total capital experienced a declining trend from early 2017 through 2018. From an initial value of 12,369 million USD in March 2017, it gradually fell below 11,000 million USD by December 2018. The downward trend was most prominent in 2018, where capital decreased from 11,708 million USD in the first quarter to 10,634 million USD in the fourth quarter. Subsequently, capital stabilized around 10,000 to 11,000 million USD through 2019 and 2020. By 2021, total capital showed modest recovery, ending the year at 11,312 million USD. The overall pattern suggests some capital contraction in 2018 with partial rebuilding in the following years.
- Debt to Capital Ratio
- The debt to capital ratio reveals an overall upward progression from 2017 through mid-2020, suggesting an increasing reliance on debt financing relative to total capital. Starting at approximately 0.64 in March 2017, the ratio incrementally climbed to a peak of 0.77 in both the first and second quarters of 2020. This indicates that debt constituted a larger proportion of total capital during this time. From late 2020 through 2021, the ratio declined somewhat, reaching 0.68 by the end of 2021, reflecting a relative reduction in leverage. The ratio's movement aligns with observed decreases in total capital and stable debt levels during earlier periods, followed by adjustments in capital structure in recent quarters.
Debt to Assets
Illinois Tool Works Inc., debt to assets calculation (quarterly data)
| Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term debt | 778) | 579) | 592) | 350) | 350) | 353) | 4) | 4) | 4) | —) | —) | 1,760) | 1,351) | 1,350) | 1,350) | 660) | 850) | 698) | 691) | 671) | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 6,909) | 6,972) | 7,056) | 7,599) | 7,772) | 7,592) | 7,765) | 7,690) | 7,754) | 7,643) | 7,809) | 5,981) | 6,029) | 6,054) | 6,069) | 6,889) | 7,478) | 7,439) | 7,360) | 7,205) | ||||||
| Total debt | 7,687) | 7,551) | 7,648) | 7,949) | 8,122) | 7,945) | 7,769) | 7,694) | 7,758) | 7,643) | 7,809) | 7,741) | 7,380) | 7,404) | 7,419) | 7,549) | 8,328) | 8,137) | 8,051) | 7,876) | ||||||
| Total assets | 16,077) | 15,517) | 15,580) | 15,663) | 15,612) | 14,940) | 14,263) | 14,149) | 15,068) | 14,960) | 15,187) | 15,326) | 14,870) | 15,319) | 15,523) | 16,163) | 16,780) | 16,314) | 15,922) | 15,529) | ||||||
| Solvency Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt to assets1 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.51 | 0.52 | 0.53 | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0.50 | 0.48 | 0.48 | 0.47 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.51 | 0.51 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt to Assets, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | 0.42 | 0.43 | 0.43 | 0.42 | 0.42 | 0.38 | 0.38 | 0.27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.47 | 0.47 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 0.25 | 0.27 | 0.33 | 0.30 | 0.25 | 0.26 | 0.27 | 0.27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| GE Aerospace | 0.18 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 0.30 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.25 | 0.26 | 0.26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| RTX Corp. | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q4 2021 Calculation
Debt to assets = Total debt ÷ Total assets
= 7,687 ÷ 16,077 = 0.48
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Total Debt
- Total debt exhibits fluctuations over the analyzed periods, ranging approximately between 7.4 billion and 8.1 billion US dollars. Initially, from March 2017 to December 2017, there is a moderate upward trend from 7.9 billion to 8.3 billion US dollars. Subsequently, a noticeable decline occurs through 2018, dropping to about 7.4 billion US dollars by December 2018. During 2019, total debt stabilizes around the 7.6 to 7.8 billion mark with minor variation. In 2020, total debt rises again, peaking at 8.1 billion US dollars by December. The first three quarters of 2021 show a gradual reduction to approximately 7.5 billion US dollars, before a slight increase at the end of the year.
- Total Assets
- Total assets show a generally steady progression with some volatility across the quarters. From March 2017 until December 2017, total assets increase from roughly 15.5 billion to 16.8 billion US dollars. This is followed by a decline throughout 2018 to a low near 14.9 billion US dollars by year-end. The asset base remains relatively stable but slightly decreasing during 2019 and early 2020, reaching a minimum of approximately 14.1 billion US dollars in March 2020. Thereafter, a recovery trend emerges commencing mid-2020, with assets rising consistently to about 16.1 billion US dollars by the end of 2021.
- Debt to Assets Ratio
- The debt to assets ratio demonstrates moderate volatility within the range of 0.47 to 0.54 during the period under review. In 2017, the ratio is steady around 0.50 to 0.51, indicating a balanced leverage profile. The ratio declines in 2018 to approximately 0.47 but then returns to around 0.50 by year-end. During 2019, the leverage remains relatively constant at about 0.51. However, a rising trend in the ratio is seen through 2020, peaking around 0.54, suggesting increased leverage possibly related to the higher debt levels and lower asset base at that time. In 2021, the ratio gradually declines again toward 0.48 by the final quarter, reflecting the combination of diminished debt and recovered asset values.
Financial Leverage
Illinois Tool Works Inc., financial leverage calculation (quarterly data)
| Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 16,077) | 15,517) | 15,580) | 15,663) | 15,612) | 14,940) | 14,263) | 14,149) | 15,068) | 14,960) | 15,187) | 15,326) | 14,870) | 15,319) | 15,523) | 16,163) | 16,780) | 16,314) | 15,922) | 15,529) | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity attributable to ITW | 3,625) | 3,492) | 3,520) | 3,274) | 3,181) | 2,696) | 2,357) | 2,283) | 3,026) | 2,966) | 3,091) | 3,196) | 3,254) | 3,542) | 3,785) | 4,159) | 4,585) | 5,023) | 4,771) | 4,493) | ||||||
| Solvency Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial leverage1 | 4.44 | 4.44 | 4.43 | 4.78 | 4.91 | 5.54 | 6.05 | 6.20 | 4.98 | 5.04 | 4.91 | 4.80 | 4.57 | 4.32 | 4.10 | 3.89 | 3.66 | 3.25 | 3.34 | 3.46 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Leverage, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 5.02 | 4.85 | 4.85 | 4.87 | 5.11 | 5.13 | 5.57 | 5.35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 2.07 | 2.14 | 2.39 | 2.27 | 2.13 | 2.14 | 2.14 | 2.17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| GE Aerospace | 4.93 | 6.33 | 7.09 | 7.30 | 7.13 | 7.64 | 7.62 | 7.43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 3.47 | 3.60 | 3.56 | 3.53 | 3.68 | 3.51 | 3.50 | 3.25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 4.64 | 5.38 | 7.99 | 8.15 | 8.43 | 10.25 | 13.22 | 14.29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| RTX Corp. | 2.21 | 2.23 | 2.23 | 2.24 | 2.25 | 2.37 | 2.40 | 3.54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q4 2021 Calculation
Financial leverage = Total assets ÷ Stockholders’ equity attributable to ITW
= 16,077 ÷ 3,625 = 4.44
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The financial data over the examined periods reveal significant dynamics in key balance sheet components and leverage ratios.
- Total Assets
- Total assets demonstrated a general upward trend from March 31, 2017, reaching a peak in December 2017 before experiencing a gradual decline through the end of 2018. During 2019, total assets remained relatively stable with minor fluctuations, followed by a more noticeable decrease in early 2020. However, from mid-2020 onwards, total assets resumed growth, culminating in the highest recorded value by the close of 2021. This pattern indicates fluctuations likely tied to asset revaluation, acquisitions, or disposals impacting the asset base across quarters.
- Stockholders’ Equity Attributable to ITW
- Stockholders' equity trended downward from early 2017 through the end of 2018, with a marked decrease during this period. This decline persisted into 2019 and accelerated sharply in early 2020, reaching the lowest equity levels observed in the dataset. Subsequent quarters from mid-2020 through 2021 show a recovery in equity, gradually rising but not fully returning to previous peaks seen in 2017. The movements suggest possible impacts from earnings volatility, dividend payments, share repurchases, or impairments affecting retained earnings and equity components.
- Financial Leverage Ratio
- The financial leverage ratio exhibited an increasing trend from 2017, starting around 3.46 and steadily climbing through the years to peak in early 2020 at 6.2. This rise correlates inversely with the decline in equity during this timeframe, indicative of increased reliance on debt financing relative to equity. Post the peak, there was a notable reduction in leverage until the end of 2021, stabilizing around 4.44. This decline may reflect deleveraging efforts, equity increases, or changes in debt levels, aimed at improving the capital structure.
Overall, the data suggest a period of increased financial leverage driven by declining equity and relatively stable asset levels through 2019 and early 2020, followed by corrective measures improving equity and reducing leverage in subsequent periods. The fluctuations in total assets combined with changes in equity and leverage indicate active management of the capital structure in response to financial or market conditions during these years.
Interest Coverage
Illinois Tool Works Inc., interest coverage calculation (quarterly data)
| Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 609) | 639) | 775) | 671) | 642) | 582) | 319) | 566) | 641) | 660) | 623) | 597) | 607) | 638) | 666) | 652) | (76) | 640) | 587) | 536) | ||||||
| Add: Income tax expense | 183) | 167) | 88) | 194) | 182) | 157) | 87) | 169) | 190) | 182) | 202) | 193) | 209) | 197) | 228) | 197) | 872) | 266) | 232) | 213) | ||||||
| Add: Interest expense | 49) | 49) | 52) | 52) | 52) | 52) | 51) | 51) | 51) | 52) | 55) | 63) | 63) | 64) | 64) | 66) | 66) | 65) | 65) | 64) | ||||||
| Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) | 841) | 855) | 915) | 917) | 876) | 791) | 457) | 786) | 882) | 894) | 880) | 853) | 879) | 899) | 958) | 915) | 862) | 971) | 884) | 813) | ||||||
| Solvency Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest coverage1 | 17.47 | 17.38 | 16.82 | 14.69 | 14.13 | 14.22 | 14.73 | 16.47 | 15.88 | 15.05 | 14.33 | 14.13 | 14.21 | 13.98 | 14.20 | 13.86 | 13.58 | — | — | — | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Coverage, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | -0.88 | -2.29 | -2.55 | -4.26 | -5.71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 17.88 | 14.11 | 11.79 | 9.28 | 8.80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 21.11 | 20.08 | 15.71 | 11.87 | 12.72 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| GE Aerospace | -0.96 | 2.15 | 1.11 | 0.65 | 2.59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 22.09 | 20.98 | 18.89 | 16.79 | 17.75 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 14.27 | 13.67 | 15.97 | 15.44 | 14.93 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q4 2021 Calculation
Interest coverage
= (EBITQ4 2021
+ EBITQ3 2021
+ EBITQ2 2021
+ EBITQ1 2021)
÷ (Interest expenseQ4 2021
+ Interest expenseQ3 2021
+ Interest expenseQ2 2021
+ Interest expenseQ1 2021)
= (841 + 855 + 915 + 917)
÷ (49 + 49 + 52 + 52)
= 17.47
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The data reveals several trends regarding earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), interest expense, and interest coverage over the observed periods.
- Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)
- EBIT shows a fluctuating trend throughout the periods. Starting at 813 million US dollars in March 2017, it generally increases, peaking near 971 million by September 2017. However, it declines slightly toward the end of 2017 and remains in the range of 853 to 894 million through 2018 and 2019. There is a notable drop in the first half of 2020, reaching a low of 457 million in June 2020, likely reflecting external impacts around this period. After this decline, EBIT recovers progressively, reaching levels similar to earlier years by the end of 2020 and maintaining values in the mid-800 to mid-900 million range through 2021. This pattern indicates resilience with a significant but temporary contraction followed by recovery.
- Interest Expense
- Interest expense remains relatively stable with minor decreases over time. Starting at 64 million in early 2017, it stays around the mid-60s through 2018, then trends slightly downward from 63 million reaching 49 million by the end of 2021. This gradual reduction in interest expense suggests an improvement in financing costs or a change in debt structure over the periods.
- Interest Coverage
- Interest coverage ratios are missing for the initial periods but are reported starting around September 2017. The ratio steadily improves from approximately 13.58 to 17.47 by December 2021. This increasing trend implies enhanced ability to meet interest obligations from operating earnings, reflecting strengthened earnings performance relative to interest costs and/or lower interest expense.
In summary, the earnings performance experienced a significant dip in mid-2020 but showed recovery thereafter. Concurrently, interest expenses gradually decreased, which, together with stable or recovering EBIT, led to a notable improvement in interest coverage ratios, indicating stronger financial solvency and operating efficiency with respect to interest payments over time.