Shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT – Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-four ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $737.5455.
CAT has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Caterpillar from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 21st. Wolfe Research increased their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $670.00 to $750.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $677.00 target price on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $765.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CAT
Caterpillar Price Performance
Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The industrial products company reported $5.16 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.67 by $0.49. Caterpillar had a net margin of 13.14% and a return on equity of 45.76%. The company had revenue of $19.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $5.14 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Caterpillar will post 19.86 EPS for the current year.
Caterpillar Dividend Announcement
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 20th will be paid a dividend of $1.51 per share. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 20th. Caterpillar’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.09%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Caterpillar
In other news, insider Lange Bob De sold 22,656 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $720.11, for a total transaction of $16,314,812.16. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 79,953 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $57,574,954.83. This represents a 22.08% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CAO William E. Schaupp sold 972 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $764.20, for a total transaction of $742,802.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 824 shares in the company, valued at approximately $629,700.80. The trade was a 54.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 125,950 shares of company stock worth $88,577,390. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Kilter Group LLC purchased a new position in Caterpillar in the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Torren Management LLC purchased a new position in Caterpillar in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Caterpillar by 1,060.0% in 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 in the last quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Caterpillar by 220.0% in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, IFS Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Caterpillar in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. 70.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Trending Headlines about Caterpillar
Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:
- Positive Sentiment: CFO succession announced — long‑time CFO Andrew Bonfield will retire (effective Oct. 1, 2026) and internal candidate Kyle Epley will become CFO May 1, 2026; management framed this as a planned, internal transition that reduces uncertainty around financial leadership. Caterpillar Elects New Chief Financial Officer
- Positive Sentiment: Board maintained the quarterly dividend at $1.51/share (payable May 19, 2026), supporting income investors and signaling confidence in cash flow. Caterpillar Inc. Maintains Dividend
- Positive Sentiment: Demand tailwinds: analysts and commentary highlight a $51bn backlog and rising AI/data‑center power needs driving generator demand — a structural growth driver beyond cyclical construction/mining recovery. Caterpillar: AI-Driven Power Demand And Strong Backlog Support Continued Upside
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst estimate momentum — at least one shop (Erste) raised FY2026 EPS forecasts, and recent analyst price targets remain elevated versus the long‑run average, lending support to higher valuation expectations. Marketbeat CAT coverage
- Neutral Sentiment: Options and social chatter show heavy call activity and bullish targets (some traders eyeing $850), reflecting momentum trading that can amplify moves but also increase short‑term volatility. Caterpillar Inc. Stock (CAT) Opinions on AI Data Center Generator Demand
- Neutral Sentiment: Market is positioning ahead of Caterpillar’s upcoming Q1 earnings; previews expect continued revenue strength but will scrutinize margins and order/backlog commentary. Here’s What to Expect From Caterpillar’s Next Earnings Report
- Negative Sentiment: Legal risk: Caterpillar and Bobcat have filed patent suits against each other — potential litigation expense, distraction, and reputational/headline risk. Caterpillar, Bobcat sue each other over patent infringement
- Negative Sentiment: High insider selling noted in recent filings (many senior executives have sold shares over the past six months), which some investors view as a soft signal even if sales may be for personal/liquidity reasons. Caterpillar Inc. Stock (CAT) Opinions on AI Data Center Generator Demand
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.
Further Reading
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