Is CAT a good stock to buy?
Caterpillar Inc. · end-of-day data as of Nov 13, 2026
- PT$914.57 +52.4%
- ConsensusBuy · 30
- P/E vs own-34.3%
- P/E vs sector-14.0%
- MACD1.37
- Earnings in83d
- P/E23.5x
- RSI36
- Support-6.4%
- Resistance+3.6%
- Off 52w high-44.1%
- Volume0.6x
- Bollingerlower half
- News3.00
- FCF yield+3.5%
- 52w range$537–$1,073
- ATR+4.8%
- Off ATH-44.1%
- Insiders-$25.38M
- Trendbearish
- MAs0 of 4
- Sector▼ -11.7%
Updates with the 15-min delayed price. Not a forecast or investment advice.
Is Caterpillar a good stock to buy?
Caterpillar is strong on 1 of the 5 questions about the business. The price is high: 23.6 times its earnings, above its 3-year median of 18.9 (Nov 13, 2026). pretickt does not say whether to buy or sell.
CAT sales growth revenue growth
+4%a year, for the last 3 yearsCaterpillar's sales grew 4% a year for 3 years, to $67.59B in fiscal 2025.
CAT analysts' forecast revenue estimates
+18%the sales they expect next fiscal year, on the lastAnalysts expect Caterpillar's sales to grow 18% to $79.43B in fiscal 2026 (12 analysts).
CAT peers
pretickt analysis+20%its sales in 12 months, on a year before
Caterpillar's sales grew 20% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, faster than GE Aerospace (+20%), GE Vernova (+17%), RTX (+12%) and Deere (+10%).
CAT sales by business revenue by segment
40%of its sales from Power & EnergyPower & Energy brought Caterpillar 40% of its sales in fiscal 2025; Construction Industries 36%.
CAT return on capital ROIC
pretickt analysis24%earned before tax on the money invested in itCaterpillar earned 24% before tax on the capital invested in it in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; GE Aerospace 36%, RTX 11% and Deere 11%.
CAT margin on each sale gross margin
34%left after making the productCaterpillar kept 34% of each sale after making the product in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; its peers' median is 28%.
CAT margin after costs profit margin
18%of sales left after running the businessCaterpillar's operating margin was 18% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, against 13% in fiscal 2022.
CAT cash generated free cash flow
$9.62Bcash left after investing, last 12 monthsCaterpillar generated $9.62B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, less than its reported profit.
CAT earnings vs estimates
6 of 8quarters above the analysts' estimateCaterpillar beat the analysts' profit estimate in 6 of its last 8 quarters, the latest on Oct 29, 2026.
CAT insider selling
-$224Msold, net, by its executives in 12 monthsCaterpillar's executives and directors sold a net $224M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026 ($225M sold, $1.05M bought).
CAT number of employees
+5%more people in a yearCaterpillar had 118,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, 5% more than a year before.
CAT CEO pay
$17.01Mfor fiscal 2025, 74% of it in stock and optionsCaterpillar paid its CEO $17.01M for fiscal 2025, 74% of it in stock and options.
CAT financial health Altman Z-score
4.3Altman Z-score, safe above 3Caterpillar's Altman Z-score is 4.3 (Nov 13, 2026), above 3, where the safe zone starts.
CAT quality checks Piotroski score
8 of 9checks passedCaterpillar passes 8 of the 9 Piotroski checks in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; it misses on long-term debt.
CAT in past recessions
pretickt analysis-37%its sales in the worst oneCaterpillar's sales fell in each of the last 2 US recessions, by as much as 37% in fiscal 2009.
CAT price vs profit P/E ratio
23.5×a year's earningsCaterpillar's P/E ratio is 23.5 (Nov 13, 2026), above its 3-year median of 18.9.
CAT price vs peers
pretickt analysis23.5×a year's earnings, against its peersInvestors pay 23.5 times Caterpillar's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for GE Vernova (21.1), less than for GE Aerospace (38.3), Deere (37.4) and RTX (32.2).
CAT analysts' target price target
+52%to their average targetAnalysts' average price target for Caterpillar is $915, 52% above the Nov 13, 2026 close of $600.20.
CAT analyst ratings, 90 days
pretickt analysisFreedom Brokerupgrade
In the 90 days to Nov 13, 2026, Freedom Broker upgraded Caterpillar.
CAT growth priced in fair value
pretickt analysis+12%a year, for ten years, to be worth the priceAt $600.20 a share, Caterpillar's free cash flow must grow about 12% a year for ten years to be worth the price (Nov 13, 2026).
What is Caterpillar's P/E ratio?
Caterpillar's P/E ratio is 23.5 (Nov 13, 2026), above its 3-year median of 18.9. Investors pay 23.5 times Caterpillar's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for GE Vernova (21.1), less than for GE Aerospace (38.3), Deere (37.4) and RTX (32.2).
Is Caterpillar profitable?
Caterpillar's operating margin was 18% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, against 13% in fiscal 2022. Caterpillar generated $9.62B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, less than its reported profit.
Are insiders selling Caterpillar stock?
Caterpillar's executives and directors sold a net $224M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026 ($225M sold, $1.05M bought).
How does Caterpillar make money?
Power & Energy brought Caterpillar 40% of its sales in fiscal 2025; Construction Industries 36%.
Who owns Caterpillar stock?
4,207 institutions hold 73% of Caterpillar's shares (Jun 30, 2026); Vanguard and BlackRock added shares that quarter, State Street sold some.
How many employees does Caterpillar have?
Caterpillar had 118,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, 5% more than a year before.
From the companies' statements (FMP), their filings read by pretickt, the analysts and the insiders, as of Nov 13, 2026. Each card says what a fact means for its question, never what to do with the stock: for information only, not investment advice.