Stock of the Day

April 19, 2023

Caterpillar (CAT)

$404.89
-$0.88 (-0.2%)
Market Cap: $190.72B

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools. The company's Resource Industries segment provides electric rope and hydraulic shovels, draglines, rotary drills, hard rock vehicles, tractors, mining trucks, wheel loaders, off-highway and articulated trucks, wheel tractor scrapers and dozers, fleet management products, landfill and soil compactors, machinery components, autonomous ready vehicles and solutions, work tools, and safety services and mining performance solutions, as well as related parts and services. Its Energy & Transportation segment offers reciprocating engine powered generator sets; reciprocating engines, drivetrain, and integrated systems and solutions; turbines, centrifugal gas compressors, and related services; and diesel-electric locomotives and components, and other rail-related products. The company's Financial Products segment provides operating and finance leases, installment sale contracts, revolving charge accounts, repair/rebuild financing services, working capital loans, and wholesale financing; and insurance and risk management products and services. Its All Other Operating segment offers filters and fluids, undercarriage, ground engaging tools, fluid transfer products, precision seals, and rubber sealing and connecting components; parts distribution; logistics solutions and distribution services; brand management and marketing strategy services; and digital investments services. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

Caterpillar Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Caterpillar Inc.:

  • The current stock price is around $408, reflecting a strong performance in the market and indicating investor confidence.
  • Recent upgrades from multiple analysts, including a boost to a "strong-buy" rating, suggest positive future growth potential for the company.
  • Caterpillar Inc. has announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.51, which enhances the return for shareholders and indicates financial health.
  • The company has a solid return on equity of 53.77%, showcasing its efficiency in generating profits from shareholders' equity.
  • Despite a recent decline in revenue, analysts forecast a rebound with an expected earnings per share of 19.86 for the current fiscal year, indicating potential recovery and growth.

Caterpillar Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Caterpillar Inc. for these reasons:

  • The company reported a revenue decline of 9.8% year-over-year, which may raise concerns about its market position and demand for its products.
  • Despite positive analyst ratings, the stock has a relatively high price-to-earnings ratio of 19.89, which could suggest that it is overvalued compared to its earnings.
  • The current ratio of 1.32 indicates that while the company can cover its short-term liabilities, it is not significantly above the ideal level, which could be a concern for liquidity.
  • With a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, Caterpillar Inc. has a considerable amount of debt compared to its equity, which may pose risks in times of economic downturns.
  • Market volatility, as indicated by a beta of 1.38, suggests that the stock may experience larger fluctuations compared to the overall market, which could be a risk for conservative investors.

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