Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) vs Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB)

ITW leads on 7 of 9 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 14, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Total return — ITW vs RKLB

growth of $100 · last 6y
ITW +21.3%RKLB +950.8%RKLB compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
101001k10kStart $100202120222023202420252026$121$1,051
ITW RKLB

ITW vs RKLB: by the numbers

  • ITW is the larger company ($74.06B vs $59.27B market cap).
  • ITW is profitable (19.32% net margin) while RKLB runs a net loss (-26.87%).
  • RKLB grew revenue faster over the past five years (67.26% vs 4.71% CAGR).
  • ITW pays a dividend (2.46% yield) while RKLB does not currently pay one.

Which is better, ITW or RKLB?

Metric tally: ITW 7 · RKLB 2

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

GrowthRKLB(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
QualityITW(higher ROIC)

Valuation

MetricITWRKLB
P/E ratio23.90
Forward P/E22.78
P/S ratio4.5991.22
P/B ratio23.0527.38
PEG ratio2.50
EV / EBITDA17.79
FCF yield3.68%

Profitability

MetricITWRKLB
Gross margin44.12%36.56%
Operating margin26.42%-33.20%
Net margin19.32%-26.87%
ROE97.06%-8.06%
ROIC24.49%-10.09%

Dividends

MetricITWRKLB
Dividend yield2.46%
Payout ratio60.17%

Growth (annualized)

MetricITWRKLB
Revenue CAGR (5Y)4.71%67.26%
EPS CAGR (5Y)9.58%
FCF CAGR (5Y)1.38%
Total return CAGR (5Y)4.45%57.75%

Frequently asked

Which is better, ITW or RKLB?
It depends on your goal. growth: RKLB (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: ITW (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ITW leads 7 to 2.
Which has grown faster, ITW or RKLB?
Over the past five years, RKLB grew revenue faster — ITW at a 4.71% CAGR versus RKLB at 67.26%.
Does ITW or RKLB pay a bigger dividend?
ITW pays a dividend (2.46% yield) while RKLB does not currently pay one.
Is ITW or RKLB more profitable?
ITW runs the higher net margin — ITW at 19.32% versus RKLB at -26.87%.
Which has been the better investment, ITW or RKLB?
Over the past 5-year, RKLB delivered the higher annualized total return — ITW at 11.65% versus RKLB at 57.75%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 14, 2026.