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ITW vs NDSN: Correlation

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Nordson Corporation (NDSN) show a strong relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.67.

Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology

Correlation (3Y)
0.67
strong
Correlation (1Y)
0.51
last 12 months
Correlation (5Y)
0.69
long-run
Ann. covariance
316.7
%² · weekly, annualized

How correlated are ITW and NDSN?

Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of ITW and NDSN correlate at 0.67, strong. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at 0.51 versus 0.67 over 3 years. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.69, with an annualized covariance of 316.7 %².

By 3-year correlation, NDSN places #18 of the 81 assets tracked against ITW. The last year tells two different stories: NDSN led by 40.3 percentage points, +8.2% for ITW against +48.5% for NDSN. Stability stands out here, with the rolling one-year correlation confined to 0.61 through 0.80.

+1.0+0.50-0.5-1.020232026-08-27
Rolling one-year correlation of weekly returns over the past three years.
How is this computed?

Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.

ITW vs NDSN: side by side

ITW (Illinois Tool Works)NDSN (Nordson Corporation)
1-year return+8.2%+48.5%
5-year return+36.1%+46.5%
Volatility (ann.)19.0%24.7%
Beta vs S&P 5000.640.97
Max drawdown (3Y)-20.6%-39.1%
Market cap$80.2B$18.4B
P/E (trailing)25.833.5
Dividend yield2.26%0.98%
Sector / categoryIndustrialsIndustrials
Lower P/E: ITW 25.8 vs 33.5Higher yield: ITW 2.26% vs 0.98%Smaller drawdown: ITW -20.6% vs -39.1%Higher 5y return: NDSN +46.5% vs +36.1%
-8%0%+50%2025-09-052026-08-27
Both assets over the last year, indexed to 100 at the starting week. ITW · NDSN

Year-by-year returns

YearITWNDSN
2022-8.5%-5.9%
2023+21.6%+12.4%
2024-1.0%-20.1%
2025-0.4%+17.0%
2026+15.8%+38.4%

Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.

Are ITW and NDSN good diversifiers for each other?

Only partially. A correlation of 0.67 means ITW and NDSN share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.

FAQ

What is the correlation between ITW and NDSN?

The ITW/NDSN correlation stands at 0.67 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.51, 5 years: 0.69), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.

Is NDSN a good diversifier for ITW?

Only partially. A correlation of 0.67 means ITW and NDSN share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.

What does a correlation of 0.67 mean?

Correlation ranges from −1 to +1. Values near +1 mean two assets move together, near 0 that they move independently, and negative values that they tend to move in opposite directions. It measures co-movement, not performance.

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ITW vs NDSN: 3-year weekly correlation 0.67ITW vs NDSN0.67

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Related comparisons

Hubs: ITW correlations · NDSN correlations