About Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
Caterpillar Inc. is a Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery company operating in the Industrials sector.
CAT trades on the US stock exchanges (NYSE/NASDAQ) and is classified as a large-cap stock .
Key Statistics
- Current Price
- $622.75
- Market Cap
- $286.26B
- 52-Week High
- $1,073.46
- 52-Week Low
- $537.08
- Sector
- Industrials
- Industry
- Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery
$1,000 Invested in Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
How much would $1,000 invested in CAT be worth today?
What would $1,000 invested in CAT 1 year ago be worth today?
A $1,000 investment in Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) in 2025 would be worth $1,077 as of November 2026, representing a +7.7% total return.
What would $1,000 invested in CAT 3 years ago be worth today?
A $1,000 investment in Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) in 2023 would be worth $2,672 as of November 2026, representing a +167.2% total return.
What would $1,000 invested in CAT 5 years ago be worth today?
A $1,000 investment in Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) in 2021 would be worth $3,346 as of November 2026, representing a +234.6% total return.
What would $1,000 invested in CAT 10 years ago be worth today?
A $1,000 investment in Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) in 2016 would be worth $8,926 as of November 2026, representing a +792.6% total return.
What would $1,000 invested in CAT at IPO be worth today?
A $1,000 investment in Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) at IPO would be worth $1,352,682 as of November 2026, representing a +135168.2% total return.
Monthly Returns Heatmap
Over the past 64+ years (777 months), Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has averaged a monthly return of +1.29% with a median return of +1.09%. The stock had 437 positive months (56%) and 336 negative months (43%). The best month in CAT's history was April 1999 with a +40.8% return, while the worst was October 2008 at -35.3%. Historically, November tends to be the strongest month (averaging +4.1%), and September the weakest (-1.0%).
CAT's longest winning streak was 12 consecutive months of gains, while its longest losing streak was 6 consecutive months of losses. The best full year was 2003 with a cumulative return of +66.1%, and the worst was 2008 at -34.4%.
Annual Returns
Over 64 years of trading history, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has delivered an average annual return of +14.97% with a median return of +10.08%. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is +11.93%. The stock posted gains in 46 years (72%) and losses in 18 years (28%).
CAT's best year was 2003 with a +86.14% gain, while the worst was 2008 at -36.80%. The longest streak of consecutive positive years was 8, and the longest losing streak was 3 years. CAT achieved double-digit gains (10%+) in 32 years. It suffered double-digit losses in 8 years.
| Year | Return | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +9.63% | $568.04 | $622.75 |
| 2025 | +60.30% | $354.35 | $568.04 |
| 2024 | +24.66% | $284.26 | $354.35 |
| 2023 | +25.95% | $225.69 | $284.26 |
| 2022 | +18.60% | $190.30 | $225.69 |
| 2021 | +15.95% | $164.12 | $190.30 |
| 2020 | +26.97% | $129.26 | $164.12 |
| 2019 | +19.51% | $108.16 | $129.26 |
| 2018 | -17.56% | $131.19 | $108.16 |
| 2017 | +75.03% | $74.95 | $131.19 |
| 2016 | +42.11% | $52.74 | $74.95 |
| 2015 | -22.97% | $68.47 | $52.74 |
| 2014 | +3.48% | $66.17 | $68.47 |
| 2013 | +3.42% | $63.98 | $66.17 |
| 2012 | +1.60% | $62.98 | $63.98 |
| 2011 | -1.45% | $63.91 | $62.98 |
| 2010 | +68.53% | $37.92 | $63.91 |
| 2009 | +33.22% | $28.47 | $37.92 |
| 2008 | -36.80% | $45.04 | $28.47 |
| 2007 | +20.48% | $37.39 | $45.04 |
| 2006 | +7.86% | $34.66 | $37.39 |
| 2005 | +20.67% | $28.72 | $34.66 |
| 2004 | +19.74% | $23.99 | $28.72 |
| 2003 | +86.14% | $12.89 | $23.99 |
| 2002 | -9.76% | $14.28 | $12.89 |
| 2001 | +13.65% | $12.57 | $14.28 |
| 2000 | +4.13% | $12.07 | $12.57 |
| 1999 | +4.67% | $11.53 | $12.07 |
| 1998 | -3.05% | $11.89 | $11.53 |
| 1997 | +31.31% | $9.06 | $11.89 |
| 1996 | +31.08% | $6.91 | $9.06 |
| 1995 | +8.78% | $6.35 | $6.91 |
| 1994 | +24.93% | $5.08 | $6.35 |
| 1993 | +67.45% | $3.04 | $5.08 |
| 1992 | +23.74% | $2.45 | $3.04 |
| 1991 | -4.21% | $2.56 | $2.45 |
| 1990 | -16.86% | $3.08 | $2.56 |
| 1989 | -7.22% | $3.32 | $3.08 |
| 1988 | +3.89% | $3.20 | $3.32 |
| 1987 | +56.09% | $2.05 | $3.20 |
| 1986 | -3.35% | $2.12 | $2.05 |
| 1985 | +37.53% | $1.54 | $2.12 |
| 1984 | -32.40% | $2.28 | $1.54 |
| 1983 | +21.79% | $1.87 | $2.28 |
| 1982 | -23.59% | $2.45 | $1.87 |
| 1981 | -4.31% | $2.56 | $2.45 |
| 1980 | +7.41% | $2.38 | $2.56 |
| 1979 | -8.09% | $2.59 | $2.38 |
| 1978 | +7.06% | $2.42 | $2.59 |
| 1977 | -5.39% | $2.56 | $2.42 |
| 1976 | +24.73% | $2.05 | $2.56 |
| 1975 | +43.81% | $1.43 | $2.05 |
| 1974 | -27.61% | $1.97 | $1.43 |
| 1973 | +0.75% | $1.96 | $1.97 |
| 1972 | +40.74% | $1.39 | $1.96 |
| 1971 | +10.53% | $1.26 | $1.39 |
| 1970 | +0.59% | $1.25 | $1.26 |
| 1969 | -0.06% | $1.25 | $1.25 |
| 1968 | +2.78% | $1.22 | $1.25 |
| 1967 | +27.41% | $0.96 | $1.22 |
| 1966 | -27.60% | $1.32 | $0.96 |
| 1965 | +23.50% | $1.07 | $1.32 |
| 1964 | +75.97% | $0.61 | $1.07 |
| 1963 | +32.10% | $0.46 | $0.61 |
Frequently Asked Questions: CAT
What sector is CAT in? ▼
CAT operates in the Industrials sector, specifically in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry.
How has CAT performed historically? ▼
Over 64 years of trading history, CAT has posted gains in 46 years (72% of the time). The best year was 2003 with a +86.1% return. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
How can I invest in CAT? ▼
You can invest in CAT through any brokerage account that offers access to US stock exchanges. Popular options include commission-free brokers like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Robinhood (US), or international brokers like Interactive Brokers. You can buy individual shares or invest through ETFs that hold CAT.
Last updated: 11/1/2026