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Caterpillar (CAT)
NYSE:CAT
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Caterpillar (CAT) AI Stock Analysis

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CAT

Caterpillar

(NYSE:CAT)

Rating:69Neutral
Price Target:
$452.00
▲(9.54% Upside)
Caterpillar's overall stock score reflects strong financial performance and operational efficiency, tempered by revenue decline and high leverage. Technical indicators show mixed momentum, while valuation suggests potential overvaluation. The positive outlook from the earnings call, driven by backlog growth and demand in key segments, supports a moderately optimistic view despite challenges such as tariffs and regional weaknesses.
Positive Factors
Growth in Power Generation
Power generation sales increased by 28% year-over-year, showcasing strong growth in that segment.
Revenue Opportunities
The deal with Joule Capital Partners could generate $5B in revenue, with an annualized revenue opportunity of ~$1B/year.
Negative Factors
Pricing and Margins
Concerns are raised about deteriorating price and margins, which are key performance indicators.
Tariff Impact
The tariff headwind is shaping up to be larger than expected, impacting long-term profitability.

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Caterpillar Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCaterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, backhoe loaders, compactors, cold planers, compact track and multi-terrain loaders, excavators, motorgraders, pipelayers, road reclaimers, site prep tractors, skid steer loaders, telehandlers, and utility vehicles; mini, small, medium, and large excavators; compact, small, and medium wheel loaders; track-type tractors and loaders; and wheel excavators. The Resource Industries segment provides electric rope shovels, draglines, hydraulic shovels, rotary drills, hard rock vehicles, track-type tractors, mining trucks, longwall miners, wheel loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, wheel tractor scrapers, wheel dozers, fleet management, landfill compactors, soil compactors, machinery components, autonomous ready vehicles and solutions, select work tools, and safety services and mining performance solutions. The Energy & Transportation segment offers reciprocating engines, generator sets, integrated systems and solutions, turbines and turbine-related services, remanufactured reciprocating engines and components, centrifugal gas compressors, diesel-electric locomotives and components, and other rail-related products and services for marine, oil and gas, industrial, and electric power generation sectors. The company's Financial Products segment provides operating and finance leases, installment sale contracts, working capital loans, and wholesale financing plans; and insurance and risk management products for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The All Other operating segment manufactures filters and fluids, undercarriage, ground engaging tools, etc. The company was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. The company was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyCaterpillar generates revenue through several key streams, including the sale of new equipment and engines, aftermarket parts, and repair services. The majority of its revenue comes from the sale of machinery and engines to construction and mining industries, which are cyclical and depend on global economic conditions. The company also benefits from aftermarket services, which provide ongoing revenue through parts, maintenance, and repair services for existing equipment. Furthermore, Caterpillar has established significant partnerships with various firms and governmental entities, enhancing its market presence and providing integrated solutions. Factors contributing to its earnings include global infrastructure investments, commodity prices affecting the mining sector, and technological advancements in equipment efficiency and sustainability.

Caterpillar Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue Geography
Revenue Geography
Breaks down revenue across different regions, revealing where the company is strongest and where it may face risk or growth potential due to local economic conditions or market share shifts.
Chart InsightsCaterpillar's revenue from North America shows a recent decline, while Latin America and Europe, Africa, and the Middle East exhibit fluctuating trends. The Asia Pacific region faces challenges, particularly in China, impacting overall growth. Despite these regional weaknesses, the earnings call reveals optimism for the second half of 2025, driven by strong backlog growth and increased demand in Construction Industries and Energy & Transportation. The company is focused on mitigating tariff impacts, which could pose a significant headwind to profitability.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Caterpillar Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 06, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -4.97%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 04, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture. While Caterpillar highlighted strong backlog growth, particularly in the Energy & Transportation segment, and maintained a strong financial position, challenges such as a slight decline in sales and significant tariff headwinds were evident. The company's outlook remains optimistic for the second half of 2025, despite these challenges.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Backlog Growth
Backlog increased by $2.5 billion, reaching a record level of $37.5 billion, driven by strong order rates across all three primary segments.
Energy & Transportation Segment Performance
Energy & Transportation sales increased by 7% year-over-year, with significant growth in power generation sales (28%) and an overall 9% increase in sales to users.
Shareholder Returns
Approximately $1.5 billion was returned to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends during the quarter.
Positive Cash Flow
ME&T free cash flow was about $2.4 billion in the second quarter, reflecting strong operating cash.
Strong Financial Position
The company issued bonds totaling $2 billion at attractive rates, maintaining a strong balance sheet with $5.4 billion in enterprise cash.
Negative Updates
Sales and Revenue Decline
Sales and revenues were down 1% compared to the previous year, primarily due to unfavorable price realization.
Tariff Headwinds
The net impact of tariffs was significant, estimated at around $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion for 2025, creating a headwind to profitability.
Construction Industries Sales Decline
Sales in Construction Industries decreased by 7% due to unfavorable price realization and a dealer inventory headwind.
Resource Industries Margin Decline
Resource Industries segment margin decreased by 500 basis points, primarily due to unfavorable price realization and tariffs.
Unfavorable Manufacturing Costs
Higher manufacturing costs negatively impacted operating profit, largely due to tariffs and other factors.
Company Guidance
During the Second Quarter 2025 Caterpillar Earnings Conference Call, the company reported a 1% decrease in sales and revenues compared to the previous year, reaching $16.6 billion, which was in line with their expectations. The adjusted operating profit was $2.9 billion, with a margin of 17.6%, both exceeding their expectations. The company highlighted a $2.5 billion growth in backlog across all three primary segments, resulting in a record backlog of $37.5 billion. Despite a dynamic environment, Caterpillar maintained an Enterprise Machinery, Energy & Transportation (ME&T) free cash flow within the $5 billion to $10 billion target range, with $1.5 billion returned to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. The company noted a 9% sales increase in Energy & Transportation, driven primarily by a 19% growth in power generation. Meanwhile, sales in Construction Industries rose by 2%, while Resource Industries saw a 3% decline. Caterpillar expressed optimism about the second half of 2025, projecting moderate sales growth and a strong backlog, although they acknowledged that incremental tariffs posed a significant headwind to profitability, estimated at around $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion for the year.

Caterpillar Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Caterpillar's financial statements demonstrate strong profitability with a net profit margin of 15.7% and a healthy ROE of 55.0%. However, recent revenue decline and moderate leverage pose potential risks.
Income Statement
82
Very Positive
Caterpillar's income statement shows strong performance with a gross profit margin of 35.5% and a net profit margin of 15.7% TTM, indicating healthy profitability. However, the revenue growth rate has been negative recently, with a -6.8% decline in TTM revenue compared to the previous annual period, which may pose a concern if it persists.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a robust equity ratio of 21.3% TTM, demonstrating a solid financial foundation. The debt-to-equity ratio stands at 2.1, which is moderate but requires monitoring to avoid excessive leverage. Return on equity (ROE) remains healthy at 55.0% TTM, suggesting effective management of shareholder funds.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Caterpillar's cash flow metrics are positive, with an operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.13 TTM, indicating strong cash generation relative to earnings. The free cash flow to net income ratio at 0.86 TTM also highlights efficient cash utilization. However, free cash flow has shown a slight decline of -2.7% from the previous annual period.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue63.14B64.81B67.06B59.43B50.97B41.75B
Gross Profit21.68B23.32B23.26B17.51B15.00B12.08B
EBITDA14.38B16.04B15.71B11.41B11.04B6.94B
Net Income9.44B10.79B10.34B6.71B6.49B3.00B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets90.33B87.76B87.48B81.94B82.79B78.32B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments5.44B6.89B6.98B7.00B9.25B9.35B
Total Debt40.75B38.41B37.88B36.99B37.79B37.16B
Total Liabilities71.66B68.27B67.97B66.05B66.28B62.95B
Stockholders Equity18.66B19.49B19.49B15.87B16.48B15.33B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow7.74B8.82B9.79B5.17B4.73B4.21B
Operating Cash Flow11.37B12.04B12.88B7.77B7.20B6.33B
Investing Cash Flow-4.20B-2.45B-5.87B-2.54B-3.08B-1.49B
Financing Cash Flow-5.98B-9.56B-6.93B-7.28B-4.19B-3.75B

Caterpillar Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price412.64
Price Trends
50DMA
397.61
Positive
100DMA
359.36
Positive
200DMA
363.00
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.54
Positive
RSI
45.48
Neutral
STOCH
18.81
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CAT, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 412.64 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 423.57, above the 50-day MA of 397.61, and above the 200-day MA of 363.00, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 3.54 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 45.48 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 18.81 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CAT.

Caterpillar Risk Analysis

Caterpillar disclosed 27 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Caterpillar reported the most risks in the "Macro & Political" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Caterpillar Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (71)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
$51.58B16.8316.77%4.06%-11.92%-38.21%
78
Outperform
$8.87B13.9115.52%1.40%0.41%-3.90%
71
Outperform
¥267.71B14.938.32%2.79%6.06%11.03%
70
Outperform
$132.38B25.5521.59%1.30%-20.63%-34.82%
69
Neutral
$8.38B84.382.42%1.35%-24.27%-76.31%
69
Neutral
$191.04B20.7452.73%1.41%-4.87%-10.47%
56
Neutral
$15.25B18.5510.79%2.05%-21.70%-57.68%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CAT
Caterpillar
407.79
69.84
20.67%
AGCO
Agco
112.25
24.51
27.93%
CNH
CNH Industrial
12.19
2.58
26.85%
DE
Deere
488.80
121.39
33.04%
OSK
Oshkosh
140.28
40.26
40.25%
PCAR
Paccar
98.22
6.35
6.91%

Caterpillar Corporate Events

Stock BuybackDividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Caterpillar Reports Q2 2025 Financial Results Decline
Negative
Aug 5, 2025

Caterpillar Inc. reported its second-quarter 2025 financial results, showing a slight decline in sales and revenues to $16.6 billion, down 1% from the previous year. The decrease was attributed to unfavorable price realization, although it was partially offset by higher sales volumes. The company’s profit per share also decreased from $5.48 in 2024 to $4.62 in 2025. Despite these declines, the company maintained strong operational cash flow and continued to invest in share repurchases and dividends, reflecting its commitment to shareholder returns. The results highlight the company’s resilience in a challenging market environment, supported by robust demand in the Energy & Transportation segment.

The most recent analyst rating on (CAT) stock is a Hold with a $415.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Caterpillar stock, see the CAT Stock Forecast page.

Shareholder MeetingsDividends
Caterpillar Increases Dividend Following Shareholders Meeting
Positive
Jun 12, 2025

On June 11, 2025, Caterpillar Inc. held its virtual 2025 Annual Shareholders Meeting where all nominated directors were elected, and the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm was ratified. However, shareholder proposals for a civil rights audit, a report on employee charitable giving match, and the cessation of DEI efforts were not approved. Additionally, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend increase to $1.51 per share, reflecting a 10-cent rise from the previous dividend, demonstrating Caterpillar’s strong operating performance and commitment to returning free cash flow to shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (CAT) stock is a Hold with a $415.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Caterpillar stock, see the CAT Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Caterpillar Finalizes $2 Billion Senior Notes Sale
Neutral
May 15, 2025

On May 12, 2025, Caterpillar Inc. finalized an Underwriting Agreement with several underwriters for the sale of $2 billion in senior notes, which closed on March 15, 2025. The proceeds from these notes, due in 2035 and 2055, will be used for general corporate purposes, potentially including debt repayment, and are part of Caterpillar’s strategy to manage its financial obligations and strengthen its market position.

The most recent analyst rating on (CAT) stock is a Hold with a $415.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Caterpillar stock, see the CAT Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 14, 2025