CAT

Caterpillar Inc. CAT logo

NYSE Industrials

$880.22

+1.88 (+0.21%)

Updated: 7/17/2026, 8:55:00 PM

Open

$841.73

High

$893.00

Low

$839.08

Prev Close

$877.17

Volume

2.84M

Price History

Why Is CAT ▲ Up Today?

+0.21%

Caterpillar posts modest gain amid quiet trading day

Caterpillar shares closed slightly higher today, with a modest increase of 0.2143%. This movement occurred on a quiet news day for the company, and its performance lagged behind the sector average change of +0.43%.

Key Drivers

General Market Sentiment

The stock experienced a slight positive movement, likely influenced by broader market trends rather than specific company news.

Generated by Highly Regarded's proprietary market analysis engine. Not financial advice.

Jul 17 ▲ +0.2% Caterpillar posts modest gain amid quiet trading day

Jul 16 ▼ -4.3% Caterpillar Shares Plunge Over 4%, Significantly Underperforming Sector

Jul 15 ▼ -2.0% Caterpillar (CAT) Dips 2.04% Amidst Broader Market Shifts

Jul 14 ▲ +0.2% Caterpillar Posts Modest Gain, Trails Sector Average

Jul 13 ▼ -2.2% Caterpillar (CAT) Declines Amid Broader Market Rotation and Uncertainty

Jul 10 ▲ +1.5% Caterpillar Rises, Outperforming Sector Average with Strong Gains

Jul 9 ▼ -1.2% Caterpillar (CAT) Dips Amid Valuation Concerns Despite AI-Driven Growth Initiatives

Jul 8 ▲ +0.9% Caterpillar Rises, Outperforming Sector Amid Market Rotation

Jul 7 ▼ -3.4% Caterpillar Shares Fall Amid Valuation Concerns and Index Rebalancing

Jul 6 ▲ +0.7% Caterpillar sees modest gains amid broader sector strength

Jul 3 — +0.0% Caterpillar Shares Flat with No Trading Activity

Jul 2 ▼ -2.8% Caterpillar Shares Fall, Significantly Underperforming Industrial Sector

Jul 1 ▼ -6.9% Caterpillar Shares Plunge Amid Broader Market Rotation and Inflation Concerns

Jun 30 ▲ +2.5% Caterpillar Surges to All-Time High on Strong Demand and AI-Driven Power Segment Growth

Jun 29 ▲ +3.6% Caterpillar Shares Climb Over 3.5%, Outperforming Sector

Mar 31 ▲ +3.1% Caterpillar (CAT) Rises on Strong Sector Outlook, AI Infrastructure Demand

Mar 30 ▼ -4.0% Caterpillar (CAT) Drops Amid Geopolitical Concerns and Tariff Impact

Mar 27 ▼ -1.2% CAT falls 1.2%

Mar 26 ▼ -2.1% Caterpillar (CAT) dips amid margin pressure, litigation concerns

Mar 25 ▲ +0.3% Caterpillar (CAT) edges up amid sector rally and positive sentiment

Mar 24 ▲ +3.5% Caterpillar Surges on Positive Outlook, AI Data Center Potential

Mar 23 ▲ +3.1% Caterpillar (CAT) Climbs on Analyst Optimism, AI Data Center Demand

Mar 20 ▼ -1.2% Caterpillar (CAT) Down Slightly Amidst Oil Spike and Tariff Concerns

Mar 19 ▼ -0.7% Caterpillar (CAT) dips slightly amid broader market concerns

Mar 18 ▼ -1.4% CAT down slightly amid sector weakness

Mar 17 ▲ +0.3% Caterpillar (CAT) Up Slightly Despite Sector Weakness

Mar 16 ▲ +0.8% Caterpillar (CAT) edges higher amid sector rotation and AI optimism

Mar 13 ▼ -1.1% Caterpillar (CAT) dips slightly amid sector weakness

Mar 12 ▼ -1.0% Caterpillar (CAT) dips slightly amid sector downturn

Mar 11 ▼ -1.2% Caterpillar (CAT) dips slightly amid sector downturn

Financial Highlights

Income Statement

Revenue

$64.67B

Gross Profit

$22.91B

35.4% margin

Operating Income

$11.41B

17.7% margin

Net Income

$9.27B

14.3% margin

EPS (Diluted)

$19.48

R&D Spend

$2.10B

Balance Sheet

Total Assets

$93.72B

Total Liabilities

$73.06B

Stockholders' Equity

$20.66B

Cash Flow

Operating Cash Flow

$11.54B

Investing Activities

-$4.48B

Net Cash Flow

$1.90B

Highly Regarded Analysis

Updated Jul 17, 2026 • Refreshes daily

Rating

HODL

Risk

High

Target

$980.57

Type

Standard

Executive Summary

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) demonstrates strong operational performance, reporting robust Q1 2026 results with sales and revenues increasing 22% year-over-year to $17.4 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $5.54, surpassing analyst expectations. The company benefits from a record $63 billion backlog, driven by global infrastructure development, mining expansion, and significant demand from the rapidly expanding AI data center market for its Power & Energy segment. While the company's fundamentals, including cash flow and shareholder returns, are solid, the stock's current valuation metrics, particularly its high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, suggest it may be overvalued relative to historical averages and industry peers.

Bull Case

The bullish case for Caterpillar is primarily driven by its record $63 billion backlog, which provides a solid foundation for continued revenue growth and operational momentum across all segments. Sustained global infrastructure spending, alongside increased demand for mining equipment, will continue to fuel sales. A significant catalyst is the accelerating build-out of AI data centers, which is boosting demand for Caterpillar's large reciprocating engines and turbines within its Power & Energy segment, with plans to nearly triple production capacity by 2030. Strong financial performance, including consistent earnings beats and a commitment to shareholder returns through increased dividends and share repurchases, further supports a positive outlook.

Bear Case

The bear case centers on Caterpillar's elevated valuation, with a trailing P/E ratio around 45x, which is considerably higher than historical averages and industry peers, suggesting the stock may be overvalued. The company operates in a highly cyclical industry, making it susceptible to macroeconomic downturns, declining commodity prices, and reduced construction or mining activity. High tariff costs, projected to be between $2.2 billion and $2.4 billion for FY 2026, could continue to compress margins, particularly in the Resource Industries segment, which experienced a 700 basis point margin decrease in Q1 2026. Additionally, a high debt-to-equity ratio compared to industry averages poses a financial risk.

Technical Outlook

Caterpillar's stock, currently trading around $879.35, has experienced a significant rally over the past year, increasing by over 111%, but has recently pulled back from its 52-week high of $1,073.46 reached in late June 2026. The stock is currently down -4.06% in the past 24 hours and -10.04% over the last week. Immediate technical support is identified around the $850 level, with the next support at $788. The stock's beta of 1.57 indicates higher volatility compared to the broader market.

Fundamental Health

Caterpillar's fundamental health remains strong, characterized by significant revenue growth and profitability. Q1 2026 sales and revenues rose 22% to $17.4 billion, contributing to a trailing twelve-month revenue of $70.76 billion. The adjusted operating profit margin for Q1 2026 was 18.0%. However, the company's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 2.31 as of March 2026, which is notably above the industry median and considered high. Despite this, Caterpillar's EBIT covers its interest payments by 124.3 times, indicating strong debt servicing capacity. The net profit margin for the fiscal year ending 2025 was 13.1%. The company generated strong enterprise operating cash flow of $11.7 billion in 2025.

Key Catalysts

Q2 2026 Earnings Report (expected August 4, 2026)
Continued global infrastructure spending
Demand for power generation equipment from AI data center expansion
Fluctuations in global commodity prices
Changes in international trade policy and tariffs

Sources

caterpillar.com caterpillar.com stocktitan.net tikr.com tikr.com alpha-sense.com marketbeat.com seekingalpha.com gurufocus.com simplywall.st youtube.com seekingalpha.com tradingview.com kraken.com 247wallst.com marketbeat.com google.com stockanalysis.com financecharts.com simplywall.st alphaquery.com caterpillar.com robinhood.com public.com

This analysis was conducted by Highly Regarded's proprietary market analysis engine. It is not financial advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.