Lincoln Electric's Greatness Doesn't Come Cheap

By Stephen Simpson:In an industrial sector that has already seen investors prove more than willing to value stocks with a benefit of a doubt, Colfax (CFX) carries an even larger premium by conventional metrics.

By John Mylant: Cummins (CMI) has had a great fall. With 2013 here, what can we expect from the company this year and beyond? How will natural gas affect the company and what is it doing to prepare for the increase in usage of LNG? Cummins' Sector Looks Positive

Andrew Wilkinson submits: Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (ITW) – Demand for out-of-the-money call options on the industrial products manufacturer jumped today after Illinois Tool Works was included in a list compiled by Reuters Insider of more than 80 companies that meet Warren Buffet’s criteria for an acquisition.

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) February 21, 2013 2:10 pm ET Executives E. Scott Santi - Chief Executive Officer, President and Director Analysts Andy Kaplowitz - Barclays Capital, Research Division Presentation Andy Kaplowitz - Barclays Capital, Research Division

By Mark Bern, CPA CFAIllinois Tool Works (ITW) manufactures industrial products on a global scale and derives more than 50% of revenue from outside the U.S. Examples of some of ITW's products include: fasteners, welding equipment, commercial dishwashers, machinery and related consumables for the automotive, construction, food, and general industrial markets. The company has about 850 business units in 57 countries.

By Stephen Simpson:It's bad enough to be wrong about a stock and miss the opportunity to log significant capital gains. It's even worse to try to over-correct for the mistake, buy too late, and rack up capital losses because you chased a good company with a hot stock.

By Stephen Simpson: Changing a successful model is a risk that most corporate executives simply don't have the guts to take. Make no mistake, while Illinois Tools Works' (ITW) heavy reliance on serial acquisitions and its decentralized structure break a lot of how-to rules they teach in business school, the results have been good.

By Bret Jensen:After a large run up in the markets this week, fewer stocks are the bargains they were just weeks ago. However, two stocks I like that have low valuations with robust and growing dividend payouts, Illinois Tool Works and Harris Corporation are highlighted here: