Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Trading Down 1.5% Following Insider Selling

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) shares were down 1.5% during trading on Wednesday following insider selling activity. The company traded as low as $750.38 and last traded at $752.9710. Approximately 2,494,192 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 17% from the average daily volume of 3,006,679 shares. The stock had previously closed at $764.76.

Specifically, CAO William E. Schaupp sold 972 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $764.20, for a total value of $742,802.40. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 824 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $629,700.80. The trade was a 54.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Rodney Michael Shurman sold 1,764 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $763.39, for a total transaction of $1,346,619.96. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 1,440 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,099,281.60. The trade was a 55.06% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In other news, insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 7,891 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $776.90, for a total transaction of $6,130,517.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 46,643 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $36,236,946.70. This represents a 14.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Caterpillar from $729.00 to $786.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. HSBC boosted their target price on Caterpillar from $660.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Evercore lifted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $476.00 to $630.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, November 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Caterpillar from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 7th. Finally, CICC Research began coverage on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Friday, February 6th. They set an “outperform” rating on the stock. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Caterpillar presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $702.95.

Key Caterpillar News

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar completed the acquisition of RPMGlobal, an Australian mining‑software provider — this expands CAT’s data‑driven mining tech and recurring‑revenue services, supporting margin diversification away from pure equipment sales. Caterpillar Bolsters Mining Technology Solutions with RPMGlobal Acquisition
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst comparison coverage (Caterpillar vs. Deere) highlights CAT’s record revenues, rising estimates and stronger return on equity versus peers — a bullish read that supports longer‑term upside. Caterpillar vs. Deere: Which Equipment Stock is a Better Buy Now?
• Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar’s recent dividend and continued analyst buy ratings/target upgrades are supportive for investor sentiment and income‑oriented holders. MarketBeat: CAT news & dividend details
• Neutral Sentiment: Management presented at Barclays’ Industrial Select Conference; the transcript may offer detail on demand trends and execution but doesn’t constitute new financial guidance by itself. Investors will watch for any follow‑up guidance. Caterpillar Presents at Barclays Conference (Transcript)
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage noting CAT as a “trending” stock reflects increased retail/institutional attention; helpful for liquidity but not a direct earnings catalyst. Here is What to Know Beyond Why Caterpillar is a Trending Stock
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale: Anthony D. Fassino sold 7,891 shares (~$6.13M), trimming his stake ~14.5% — large insider selling can spook investors and create near‑term selling pressure even if routine. SEC Filing – Insider Sale by Anthony D. Fassino
• Negative Sentiment: Research houses (Zacks) trimmed near‑term Q2 EPS estimates for CAT, signaling softer short‑term earnings expectations that could weigh on the stock until results or updated guidance dispel concerns. Q2 EPS Estimates for Caterpillar Lowered by Zacks Research

Caterpillar Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. The company has a market cap of $352.38 billion, a PE ratio of 40.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 1.58. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $641.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $546.70.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The industrial products company reported $5.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.67 by $0.49. The firm had revenue of $19.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.81 billion. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 45.76% and a net margin of 13.14%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $5.14 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Caterpillar Inc. will post 19.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Caterpillar Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 19th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 20th will be issued a $1.51 dividend. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, January 20th. Caterpillar’s payout ratio is presently 32.09%.

Institutional Trading of Caterpillar

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CAT. Kilter Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Torren Management LLC purchased a new stake in Caterpillar in the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new stake in Caterpillar in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Caterpillar by 1,060.0% during the 3rd quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 58 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 220.0% during the 4th quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 48 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. The company’s product portfolio includes earthmoving machines such as excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and off‑highway trucks, as well as a range of power generation products including generator sets and power systems for industrial and commercial use. Caterpillar serves customers across heavy construction, mining, energy, transportation and related industries with both equipment and integrated technology solutions.

In addition to manufacturing, Caterpillar provides a broad range of aftermarket parts and support services, including maintenance, repair, remanufacturing and fleet management tools.