About Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has been publicly traded since 1962, making it a 64-year-old public company. It operates in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry within the Industrials sector. The company is headquartered in Irving, United States and employs approximately 118,000 people. With a market capitalization of $325 billion, CAT is one of the largest publicly traded companies.
Key Statistics
- Current Price
- $692.84
- Market Cap
- $324.24B
- 52-Week High
- $789.81
- 52-Week Low
- $267.30
- Sector
- Industrials
- Industry
- Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery
$1,000 Invested
Monthly Returns Heatmap
Annual Returns
| Year | Return | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +21.22% | $571.53 | $692.84 |
| 2025 | +60.30% | $356.53 | $571.53 |
| 2024 | +24.66% | $286.00 | $356.53 |
| 2023 | +25.95% | $227.08 | $286.00 |
| 2022 | +18.60% | $191.47 | $227.08 |
| 2021 | +15.95% | $165.13 | $191.47 |
| 2020 | +26.97% | $130.05 | $165.13 |
| 2019 | +19.51% | $108.82 | $130.05 |
| 2018 | -17.56% | $132.00 | $108.82 |
| 2017 | +75.03% | $75.41 | $132.00 |
| 2016 | +42.11% | $53.07 | $75.41 |
| 2015 | -22.97% | $68.90 | $53.07 |
| 2014 | +3.48% | $66.58 | $68.90 |
| 2013 | +3.42% | $64.38 | $66.58 |
| 2012 | +1.60% | $63.37 | $64.38 |
| 2011 | -1.45% | $64.30 | $63.37 |
| 2010 | +68.53% | $38.15 | $64.30 |
| 2009 | +33.22% | $28.64 | $38.15 |
| 2008 | -36.80% | $45.32 | $28.64 |
| 2007 | +20.48% | $37.61 | $45.32 |
| 2006 | +7.86% | $34.87 | $37.61 |
| 2005 | +20.67% | $28.90 | $34.87 |
| 2004 | +19.74% | $24.14 | $28.90 |
| 2003 | +86.14% | $12.97 | $24.14 |
| 2002 | -9.76% | $14.37 | $12.97 |
| 2001 | +13.65% | $12.64 | $14.37 |
| 2000 | +4.13% | $12.14 | $12.64 |
| 1999 | +4.67% | $11.60 | $12.14 |
| 1998 | -3.05% | $11.97 | $11.60 |
| 1997 | +31.31% | $9.11 | $11.97 |
| 1996 | +31.08% | $6.95 | $9.11 |
| 1995 | +8.78% | $6.39 | $6.95 |
| 1994 | +24.93% | $5.12 | $6.39 |
| 1993 | +67.45% | $3.05 | $5.12 |
| 1992 | +23.74% | $2.47 | $3.05 |
| 1991 | -4.21% | $2.58 | $2.47 |
| 1990 | -16.86% | $3.10 | $2.58 |
| 1989 | -7.22% | $3.34 | $3.10 |
| 1988 | +3.89% | $3.22 | $3.34 |
| 1987 | +56.09% | $2.06 | $3.22 |
| 1986 | -3.35% | $2.13 | $2.06 |
| 1985 | +37.53% | $1.55 | $2.13 |
| 1984 | -32.40% | $2.29 | $1.55 |
| 1983 | +21.79% | $1.88 | $2.29 |
| 1982 | -23.59% | $2.46 | $1.88 |
| 1981 | -4.31% | $2.58 | $2.46 |
| 1980 | +7.41% | $2.40 | $2.58 |
| 1979 | -8.09% | $2.61 | $2.40 |
| 1978 | +7.06% | $2.44 | $2.61 |
| 1977 | -5.39% | $2.58 | $2.44 |
| 1976 | +24.73% | $2.06 | $2.58 |
| 1975 | +43.81% | $1.44 | $2.06 |
| 1974 | -27.61% | $1.98 | $1.44 |
| 1973 | +0.75% | $1.97 | $1.98 |
| 1972 | +40.74% | $1.40 | $1.97 |
| 1971 | +10.53% | $1.27 | $1.40 |
| 1970 | +0.59% | $1.26 | $1.27 |
| 1969 | -0.06% | $1.26 | $1.26 |
| 1968 | +2.78% | $1.22 | $1.26 |
| 1967 | +27.41% | $0.96 | $1.22 |
| 1966 | -27.60% | $1.33 | $0.96 |
| 1965 | +23.50% | $1.07 | $1.33 |
| 1964 | +75.97% | $0.61 | $1.07 |
| 1963 | +32.10% | $0.46 | $0.61 |
Valuation
CAT currently trades at a trailing P/E ratio of 36.9, which is considered high relative to the broader market. The forward P/E of 25.1 suggests analysts expect earnings to be lower in the coming year. The price-to-book ratio stands at 15.1. The price-to-sales ratio is 4.8.
Dividends
Caterpillar Inc. pays a dividend to shareholders with a current yield of 0.87%. This translates to $6.04 per share annually. The payout ratio of 31% indicates sustainable dividend coverage.
Risk & Volatility
CAT has a beta of 1.53, indicating it is significantly more volatile than the overall market. The stock's 52-week range is $267.30 to $789.81, and it currently trades near its 52-week high.
Analyst Ratings
Based on 26 analyst opinions, CAT has a consensus "buy" rating. The average price target of $736.21 suggests 6.1% upside from current levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Caterpillar Inc. do? ▼
Caterpillar Inc. is a Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery company operating in the Industrials sector. The company is headquartered in Irving, United States.
What sector is CAT in? ▼
CAT operates in the Industrials sector, specifically in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry.
When did CAT go public? ▼
Caterpillar Inc. went public in 1962, making it a 64-year-old public company as of 2026.
How much would $1,000 invested in CAT 5 years ago be worth today? ▼
A $1,000 investment in CAT five years ago would be worth approximately $3,504 today, representing a 250.4% return.
Does CAT pay dividends? ▼
Yes, Caterpillar Inc. pays a dividend with a current yield of 0.87%, which is $6.04 per share annually.
What is CAT's market cap? ▼
Caterpillar Inc. has a market capitalization of $325 billion, classifying it as a mega-cap company.
What is CAT's P/E ratio? ▼
CAT has a trailing P/E ratio of 36.9 and a forward P/E of 25.1, which measures how much investors are paying per dollar of earnings.
Is CAT a buy, hold, or sell? ▼
Based on 26 opinions, CAT has a consensus "buy" rating. The average price target is $736.21.
Last updated: 3/14/2026