** Barclays lifts PT on industrial parts and equipment maker Illinois Tool Works ITW.N to $275 from $244, maintains "underweight" rating

** New PT implies a 6.3% downside from stock's last close

** Barclays says co is seeing signs of improving demand heading into 2026, especially in auto OEM and consumer packaging businesses, with short-cycle industrial growth also firming up

** While highlighting ITW's improving growth trajectory, brokerage also cautions that co's margin targets could be tough to meet

** Of 19 brokerages tracking the stock, two rate it "buy" or higher, 11 "hold" and six "sell" or lower; their median PT is $275.50 - data compiled by LSEG

** In 2025, ITW fell ~2.9%

(Reporting by Apratim Sarkar in Bengaluru)

((Apratim.Sarkar@thomsonreuters.com))