CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) Factsheet
Earnings-call transcript: covered (issuer-published) · IR deck: cataloged — watch a real agent read these end-to-end →
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) Stock Analysis
Analysis from 10-Q filed 2026-11-04. Data as of Q3 2026.
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
Grade F (Concerning). ROIC 17.4%. FCF margin 14.5%. D/E 2.1x. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | 17.4% | Solid returns |
| FCF Margin | 14.5% | Healthy cash flow |
| Debt/Equity | 2.1x | Elevated debt |
ROIC 17.4% — Top 25% of sector peers. FCF margin 14.5% — Top 25%.
Explore CATERPILLAR INC: Earnings History | Overview
Programmatic access: Available via MCP at mcp.metricduck.com. Tools for CAT: get_company_overview, get_filing_index (lens: debt_stress, management_outlook, risk_trajectory), get_filing_section, get_metric_history, compare_companies, screen_filing_signals.
Profitability: CATERPILLAR INC earns 17.4% ROIC, Top 25% in Industrials
ROIC TTM 17.4%, sector median 7.2%, Top 25%. DuPont: NOPAT margin 14.2% × asset turnover 0.8x. Gross margin 34.8%. Operating margin 18.3%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 17.4% | Good | Above sector median of 7.2% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 58.8% | Excellent | Efficient use of shareholder equity |
| Gross Margin | 34.8% | Good | Competitive pricing environment |
| Operating Margin | 18.3% | Good | Efficient operations |
Cash Flow: CATERPILLAR INC generates $11.3B FCF at 14.5% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters
FCF TTM $11.3B. FCF margin 14.5%, Top 25%. OCF/Net income 1.2x. Positive FCF in NaN/8 trailing quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 14.5% | Good | Healthy cash generation |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $11.3B | Good | Positive cash generation |
| OCF/Net Income | 1.2x | Excellent | High earnings quality |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
Balance Sheet: CATERPILLAR INC at 2.1x leverage
Debt/Equity 2.1x. Total debt $45.2B, cash & investments $7.9B. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 2.1x | Warning | Elevated leverage |
| Net Cash Position | $-37.3B | Warning | Net debt position |
Valuation: CATERPILLAR INC trades at 23.4x earnings
P/E 23.4x. EV/Sales 4.0x. FCF yield 4.1%. Dividend yield 1.3%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 23.4x | Adequate | Premium valuation |
| EV/Sales | 4.0x | Good | Growth premium priced in |
| FCF Yield | 4.1% | Good | Lower cash yield |
| Dividend Yield | 1.3% | Adequate | Growth focus over income |
Capital Allocation: CATERPILLAR INC returns 4.0% shareholder yield, reducing shares 2.2% YoY
Total shareholder yield 4.0% (div 1.3% + buyback 2.7%). Share count -2.2% YoY. Capital returned $11.2B TTM. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Shareholder Yield | 4.0% | Good | Dividend + buyback yield combined |
| Buyback Yield | 2.7% | Adequate | Active share repurchases |
| Share Count Change (YoY) | -2.2% | Good | Net share reduction (accretive) |
| Total Capital Returned (TTM) | $11.2B | Good | Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 17.4% | Top 25% | 2.4x above |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 14.5% | Top 25% | 2.3x above |
| Gross Margin | 34.8% | Top 50% | 1.1x above |
| Operating Margin | 18.3% | Top 25% | 2.7x above |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 58.8% | Top 5% | 5.9x above |
| P/E Ratio | 23.4x | N/A | - |
Financial Scorecard
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Sector Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 17.4% | Good | Top 25% of sector (median: 7.2%) |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 14.5% | Good | Top 25% of sector (median: 6.3%) |
| Gross Margin | 34.8% | Good | Top 50% of sector (median: 32.1%) |
| Debt to Equity Ratio | 210.4% | Warning | High financial leverage |
| P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) | 23.4x | Adequate | Fair value |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 4.1% | Adequate | Moderate yield |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is CATERPILLAR INC's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 17.4%. The 8-quarter median ROIC is 16.1% with a improving trend. Sector median 7.2%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
Q: What is CATERPILLAR INC's Free Cash Flow Margin?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) has a free cash flow margin of 14.5%, generating $11.3 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
Q: What is CATERPILLAR INC's P/E ratio and how does it compare to peers?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) trades at a P/E ratio of 23.4x, which is above the sector median of N/A. EV/Sales 4.0x. FCF yield 4.1%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
Q: Does CATERPILLAR INC pay a dividend?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) currently pays a dividend yield of 1.3%. Total shareholder yield (dividend + buybacks) 4.0%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
Q: How much debt does CATERPILLAR INC have?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.1x with total debt of $45.2 billion. Net debt $37.3 billion. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
Q: What is CATERPILLAR INC's revenue and earnings growth?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) grew revenue by 20.3% year-over-year. EPS +30.6% YoY. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
Q: Is CATERPILLAR INC buying back stock?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) repurchased $7.6 billion of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 2.7%. Share count -2.2% YoY. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
Q: How does CATERPILLAR INC compare to competitors in Industrials?
Compared to other companies in Industrials, CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) shows: ROIC 17.4%, sector median 7.2% (Top 25%). FCF margin 14.5%, sector median 6.3% (Top 25%). Gross margin 34.8%, 2.7pp above sector median. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Industrials companies with available SEC filings.
Q: What warning signs should I watch for with CATERPILLAR INC?
Quantitative warning flags for CATERPILLAR INC (CAT): 1) debt/equity 2.1x (above 1.5x threshold). Source: 10-Q filed 2026-11-04.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2026-11-04. TTM metrics as of Q3 2026.
Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.
Scope: This analysis covers SEC filing fundamentals — profitability, cash flow, balance sheet, and valuation metrics. For analyst estimates and price targets, consult sell-side research.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Data provided for free by IEX. By accessing or using IEX Historical Data, you agree to the IEX Historical Data Terms of Use. iex.io/legal/hist-data-terms