CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) Factsheet
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) Stock Analysis
Analysis from 10-Q filed 2025-11-03. Data as of Q1 2026.
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
Grade F (Concerning). ROIC 26.6%. FCF margin 13.4%. D/E 0.3x. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | 26.6% | Above industry average |
| FCF Margin | 13.4% | Healthy cash flow |
| Debt/Equity | 0.3x | Conservative leverage |
ROIC 26.6% — Top 5% of sector peers. FCF margin 13.4% — Top 25%.
Explore CATERPILLAR INC: Earnings History | Filings | ROIC Analysis
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_changes, get_metric_history, compare_companies, screen_filing_signals.
Profitability: CATERPILLAR INC earns 26.6% ROIC, Top 5% in Industrials
ROIC TTM 26.6%, sector median 7.3%, Top 5%. DuPont: NOPAT margin 12.6% × asset turnover 0.8x. Gross margin 33.4%. Operating margin 16.5%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 26.6% | Excellent | Above sector median of 7.3% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 47.7% | Excellent | Efficient use of shareholder equity |
| Gross Margin | 33.4% | Good | Competitive pricing environment |
| Operating Margin | 16.5% | Good | Efficient operations |
Cash Flow: CATERPILLAR INC generates $9.5B FCF at 13.4% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters
FCF TTM $9.5B. FCF margin 13.4%, Top 25%. OCF/Net income 1.3x. Positive FCF in NaN/8 trailing quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 13.4% | Good | Healthy cash generation |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $9.5B | Good | Positive cash generation |
| OCF/Net Income | 1.3x | Excellent | High earnings quality |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
Balance Sheet: CATERPILLAR INC at 0.3x leverage
Debt/Equity 0.3x. Total debt $4.7B, cash & investments $4.1B. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 0.3x | Excellent | Conservative capital structure |
| Net Cash Position | $-653.0M | Adequate | Net debt position |
Valuation: CATERPILLAR INC trades at 35.1x earnings
P/E 35.1x. EV/Sales 4.8x. FCF yield 2.9%. Dividend yield 0.8%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 35.1x | Adequate | Premium valuation |
| EV/Sales | 4.8x | Good | Growth premium priced in |
| FCF Yield | 2.9% | Adequate | Lower cash yield |
| Dividend Yield | 0.8% | Adequate | Growth focus over income |
Capital Allocation: CATERPILLAR INC returns 2.8% shareholder yield
Total shareholder yield 2.8% (div 0.8% + buyback 2.0%). Capital returned $9.3B TTM. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Shareholder Yield | 2.8% | Adequate | Dividend + buyback yield combined |
| Buyback Yield | 2.0% | Adequate | Minimal buyback activity |
| Total Capital Returned (TTM) | $9.3B | Good | Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 26.6% | Top 5% | 3.7x above |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 13.4% | Top 25% | 2.8x above |
| Gross Margin | 33.4% | Top 50% | 1.0x above |
| Operating Margin | 16.5% | Top 25% | 2.3x above |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 47.7% | Top 5% | 5.5x above |
| P/E Ratio | 35.1x | N/A | - |
Financial Scorecard
| Metric | CAT | Rating | Sector Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 26.6% | Excellent | Top 5% of sector (median: 7.3%) |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 13.4% | Good | Top 25% of sector (median: 4.8%) |
| Gross Margin | 33.4% | Good | Top 50% of sector (median: 33.1%) |
| Debt to Equity Ratio | 25.3% | Excellent | Conservative capital structure |
| P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) | 35.1x | Adequate | High expectations priced in |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 2.9% | Warning | Growth-focused valuation |
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 26.6%. Sector median 7.3%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
Q: What is CATERPILLAR INC's Free Cash Flow Margin?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) has a free cash flow margin of 13.4%, generating $9.5 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
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 35.1x, which is above the sector median of N/A. EV/Sales 4.8x. FCF yield 2.9%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
Q: Does CATERPILLAR INC pay a dividend?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) currently pays a dividend yield of 0.8%. Total shareholder yield (dividend + buybacks) 2.8%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
Q: What is CATERPILLAR INC's revenue and earnings growth?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) grew revenue by 11.8% year-over-year. EPS -2.2% YoY. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
Q: Is CATERPILLAR INC buying back stock?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) repurchased $6.6 billion of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 2.0%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
Q: How does CATERPILLAR INC compare to competitors in Industrials?
Compared to other companies in Industrials, CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) shows: ROIC 26.6%, sector median 7.3% (Top 5%). FCF margin 13.4%, sector median 4.8% (Top 25%). Gross margin 33.4%, 0.4pp 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) ROIC declining -12.6% over 8 quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-03.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-11-03. TTM metrics as of Q1 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.