Moat ranks
Balance sheet
| $B | Dec 31 | Sep 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | 10.0 | 7.9 |
| Securities | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Debt | 43.3 | 45.2 |
| Net cash | -33.4 | -37.3 |
| Equity | 21.3 | 21.5 |
- Debt / EBITDA
- 2.71×
- Debt / equity
- 2.10×
- Leases (12/31/25)
- $728M
- Diluted shares
- 461M
- Book value / share
- $46.61
- Price / book
- 12.8×
- Net cash / share
- −$80.87
- Market cap
- $274.0B
- Enterprise value
- $311.3B
Per-share record
Key indicators
| Indicator | Latest | Vs year ago | Last 8 quarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 17.3% | +7.7 pts | |
| Operating margin | 20.4% | +3.1 pts | |
| FCF margin | 15.9% | +0.8 pts | |
| Capex / revenue | 5.1% | -0.9 pts | |
| Autonomous tonnes hauled | ≥13.00B | – | |
| Services revenue · 12/31/25 | ~$24.0B | 0% | |
| Connected assets · 12/31/25 | ≥1.6M | +7% | |
| Research and development expense · 12/31/25 | $2.1B | +2% | |
| Dealer inventory change · 6/30/26 | ~$600M | +500% |
Margins and growth from reported quarters; company KPIs as reported in results releases.
About CAT
Caterpillar makes construction and mining equipment, engines and turbines, and provides equipment finance. Rail now sits in Resource Industries.
- Distribution Control
The network of 150 dealers serves 190 countries, providing local parts, repairs and customer relationships that a new equipment maker would need to build.
- Installed Base Consumables
Long-lived machines, engines and turbines require replacement parts, rebuilds and maintenance.
- Service Field Network
Remote mines depend on equipment uptime and timely parts.
- Capex Knowhow Scale
Engineering scale and operating experience support complex mining machines and autonomy.
- Oct 31, 2026
Latest filing subsequent-event note confirms Fabick closed October 31: $1.24 billion cash at closing plus estimated $165 million holdbacks. This post-quarter acquisition stays outside September cash flows.
- Oct 7, 2026
The FTC and USDA opened a public inquiry into agricultural-equipment manufacturing, distribution and service access. It does not name Caterpillar, but possible policy extension adds risk to equipment dealer and aftermarket models.
- Sep 30, 2026
Caterpillar announced plans to invest approximately $1 billion in North Carolina compact-equipment manufacturing, increasing capacity while adding capital and execution risk.
- Sep 29, 2026
Caterpillar agreed to buy Fabick Cat, a dealer with 37 locations, preserving local customer support while bringing more distribution inside the company. Regulatory approval and customary closing conditions remain.
- Sep 14, 2026
Luck Stone and Caterpillar expanded autonomous hauling to two additional Virginia quarries after a pilot hauled more than 3.5 million tons, extending use beyond large mining fleets.
Ownership
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On this page
Financial record
| Fiscal year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | TTM | Trend | Change 2016–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per share ($) | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | 65.95 | 75.86 | 91.29 | 94.80 | 76.10 | 92.93 | 112.04 | 130.57 | 132.43 | 143.11 | 168.74 | +9.0%/yr | |
| Cash flow | 9.65 | 9.52 | 10.94 | 12.18 | 11.53 | 13.12 | 14.64 | 25.09 | 24.59 | 24.85 | 30.77 | +11.1%/yr | |
| Earnings | -0.11 | 1.26 | 10.26 | 10.74 | 5.46 | 11.83 | 12.64 | 20.12 | 22.05 | 18.81 | 25.67 | – | |
| Free cash flow | 4.64 | 5.62 | 6.08 | 7.48 | 7.68 | 8.62 | 9.74 | 19.07 | 18.02 | 15.78 | 20.86 | +14.6%/yr | |
| Capex | 5.01 | 3.90 | 4.86 | 4.70 | 3.86 | 4.51 | 4.90 | 6.02 | 6.57 | 9.07 | 9.91 | +6.8%/yr | |
| Dividends | 3.08 | 3.06 | 3.25 | 3.76 | 4.09 | 4.25 | 4.60 | 4.99 | 5.41 | 5.82 | 6.19 | +7.3%/yr | |
| Book value | 22.51 | 22.85 | 23.42 | 25.71 | 27.95 | 30.05 | 29.92 | 37.96 | 39.83 | 45.14 | 46.61 | +8.0%/yr | |
| Diluted shares (M) | 584 | 599 | 599 | 568 | 549 | 549 | 530 | 514 | 489 | 472 | 461 | -2.3%/yr | |
| Totals ($B) | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | 38.5 | 45.5 | 54.7 | 53.8 | 41.7 | 51.0 | 59.4 | 67.1 | 64.8 | 67.6 | 77.8 | +6.4%/yr | |
| Operating income | 1.2 | 4.5 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 13.0 | 13.1 | 11.2 | 14.3 | +28.6%/yr | |
| Net income | -0.1 | 0.8 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 10.3 | 10.8 | 8.9 | 11.8 | – | |
| Free cash flow | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 9.8 | 8.8 | 7.5 | 9.6 | +11.9%/yr | |
| Buybacks | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 7.7 | 5.2 | 8.1 | – | |
| Dividends | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.9 | +4.8%/yr | |
| Net cash | -29.6 | -26.6 | -28.7 | -29.4 | -27.8 | -28.5 | -30.0 | -30.9 | -31.5 | -33.4 | -37.3 | −$3.7B | |
| Margins & returns (%) | |||||||||||||
| Operating margin | 3.0 | 9.8 | 15.2 | 15.4 | 10.9 | 13.5 | 13.3 | 19.3 | 20.2 | 16.5 | 18.3 | +13.5 pts | |
| Net margin | -0.2 | 1.7 | 11.2 | 11.3 | 7.2 | 12.7 | 11.3 | 15.4 | 16.7 | 13.1 | 15.2 | +13.3 pts | |
| FCF margin | 7.0 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 10.1 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 14.6 | 13.6 | 11.0 | 12.4 | +4.0 pts | |
| ROIC | 2.1 | 8.6 | 15.1 | 14.7 | 8.2 | 11.9 | 13.4 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 15.9 | 18.9 | +13.8 pts | |
| Return on equity | -0.5 | 5.5 | 43.8 | 41.8 | 19.6 | 39.4 | 42.3 | 53.0 | 55.4 | 41.7 | 55.1 | +42.2 pts | |
| R&D % of revenue | 4.8 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.0 | -1.6 pts | |
| Stock pay % of revenue | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | -0.2 pts | |
| Capex % of revenue | 7.6 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 5.9 | -1.3 pts | |
Change uses 2016 and 2025 only: compound annual growth for amounts, points for margins and returns, and the change in amount for net cash. A dash means no 2016 base. Trend shows the fiscal years.
Moat
Moat scorecard
- Strength
- Confidence
- Structure
- Oligopoly
- Durability
- durable
- Trajectory
- stable
- Pricing power
- moderate
- Construction Industries40.4%2 claims
- Resource Industries21.8%2 claims
- Power & Energy32.9%1 claim
- Financial Products4.9%1 claim
- All Other0.1%Not scored: evidence insufficient
Moat claims
- Applies to
- Construction Industries
- Confidence
- Durability
- durable
- Trajectory
- stableas of Oct 8, 2026
The network of 150 dealers serves 190 countries, providing local parts, repairs and customer relationships that a new equipment maker would need to build. Dealers can carry competing products and agreements can end on 90 days notice, so this is a service and distribution advantage rather than guaranteed exclusivity.
The 150-dealer footprint remains broad, but first-half dealer inventory rose $2.6 billion; higher shipments alone do not show stronger customer loyalty.
- Services revenue~$24.0B0%
- Dealer inventory change~$600M+500%
- Dealer consolidation reduces local intensity
- Competitors expand owned/independent distribution
- Direct-to-customer digital channels bypass dealers
- FilingCaterpillar 2025 Form 10-KFeb 13, 2026
- FilingCaterpillar second-quarter 2026 Form 10-QAug 5, 2026
- Applies to
- Construction Industries
- Confidence
- Durability
- durable
- Trajectory
- stableas of Oct 8, 2026
Long-lived machines, engines and turbines require replacement parts, rebuilds and maintenance. Caterpillar and its dealers can serve this installed fleet repeatedly; company-wide services revenue was about $24 billion in 2025, unchanged from the rounded 2024 total. This does not establish the service share of this segment.
Services revenue remained about $24 billion in 2025 and connected assets exceeded 1.6 million; the larger connected fleet supports repeat service, while flat rounded revenue does not prove a widening advantage.
- Services revenue~$24.0B0%
- Connected assets≥1,600,000+7%
- Third-party/grey-market parts substitution
- Longer replacement cycles reduce new-equipment refresh
- Right-to-repair rules or enforcement shifts
- FilingCaterpillar 2026 proxy statementApr 30, 2026
- FilingCaterpillar 2025 Form 10-KFeb 13, 2026
- Applies to
- Resource Industries
- Confidence
- Durability
- durable
- Trajectory
- stableas of Oct 8, 2026
Remote mines depend on equipment uptime and timely parts. Caterpillar combines dealer field support, rebuild capacity and mining technology; replacing that support network takes time. Large miners and competing OEMs can still provide their own maintenance.
The 150-dealer network supports mines worldwide and Luck Stone is extending autonomy to two more quarries; public evidence does not quantify improved repair response or service share.
- Services revenue~$24.0B0%
- Connected assets≥1,600,000+7%
- Large miners insource maintenance and rebuilds
- Competitors build equivalent regional service hubs
- Remote diagnostics reduces on-site service advantage
- FilingCaterpillar 2025 Form 10-KFeb 13, 2026
- FilingCaterpillar second-quarter 2026 Form 10-QAug 5, 2026
- NewsLuck Stone expands Caterpillar autonomous hauling to two more quarriesSep 14, 2026
- Applies to
- Resource Industries
- Confidence
- Durability
- medium
- Trajectory
- wideningas of Oct 8, 2026
Engineering scale and operating experience support complex mining machines and autonomy. Autonomous trucks have hauled more than 13 billion tonnes and travelled more than 455 million kilometres, extending field experience beyond large mines into quarry fleets. Spending alone does not prove a technology lead.
More than 13 billion tonnes hauled autonomously and expansion to two additional Luck Stone quarries show broader use of accumulated mining know-how, although rival autonomy remains credible.
- Research and development expense$2.1B+2%
- Autonomous tonnes hauled≥13.00B
- Technology leap by competitors (autonomy/electrification)
- Downcycles reduce customers' willingness to pay for premium tech
- OEM-agnostic autonomy platforms reduce equipment differentiation
- NewsLuck Stone expands Caterpillar autonomous hauling to two more quarriesSep 14, 2026
- FilingCaterpillar second-quarter 2026 Form 10-QAug 5, 2026
- Applies to
- Power & Energy
- Confidence
- Durability
- durable
- Trajectory
- stableas of Oct 8, 2026
Long-lived machines, engines and turbines require replacement parts, rebuilds and maintenance. Caterpillar and its dealers can serve this installed fleet repeatedly; company-wide services revenue was about $24 billion in 2025, unchanged from the rounded 2024 total. This does not establish the service share of this segment.
Services revenue remained about $24 billion in 2025 and connected assets exceeded 1.6 million; the larger connected fleet supports repeat service, while flat rounded revenue does not prove a widening advantage.
- Services revenue~$24.0B0%
- Connected assets≥1,600,000+7%
- Independent service providers capture maintenance
- Extended maintenance intervals reduce parts pull-through
- Customer insourcing of service
- FilingCaterpillar 2026 proxy statementApr 30, 2026
- FilingCaterpillar 2025 Form 10-KFeb 13, 2026
- Applies to
- Financial Products
- Confidence
- Durability
- medium
- Trajectory
- stableas of Oct 8, 2026
Cat Financial combines financing, leases and insurance with equipment sales and dealer inventory funding. Local equipment knowledge and access at the point of sale simplify a purchase, but customers can compare bank and independent lessor offers.
Second-quarter retail new business volume reached $3.92 billion, up a reported 9%, and past dues fell to 1.31%; this supports financing execution but does not show higher captive-finance penetration.
- Retail new business volume~$3.9B+9%
- Past dues1.3%-0.3 pts
- Banks/lessors match terms and win on price
- Tighter credit conditions reduce captive advantage
- Regulatory changes raise compliance costs
- FilingCaterpillar second-quarter 2026 Form 10-QAug 5, 2026
- NewsCat Financial second-quarter 2026 resultsAug 4, 2026
Profile change log
- Nov 11, 2026 · business change
Latest filing subsequent-event note confirms Fabick closed October 31: $1.24 billion cash at closing plus estimated $165 million holdbacks. This post-quarter acquisition stays outside September cash flows.
- Oct 8, 2026 · analyst revision
Extended retail finance volume and past-due history to all twelve quarters from September 2023 through June 2026, so financing growth can be judged alongside credit quality. The finance end-market size now shows the source's latest forecast year, $187.5 billion in 2035, rather than $104.1 billion in 2026.
- Oct 8, 2026 · analyst revision
Capital spending now includes company-owned equipment leased to customers, raising 2025 cash investment from $2.821 billion to $4.286 billion and second-quarter 2026 investment from $587 million to $1.111 billion. Removed the industrial cost-of-goods line from consolidated gross-profit calculations because finance revenue and costs use a different scope. Removed end-market leader lists that did not cover the full equipment and service markets, and extended captive-finance KPI history.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
The FTC and USDA opened a public inquiry into agricultural-equipment manufacturing, distribution and service access. It does not name Caterpillar, but possible policy extension adds risk to equipment dealer and aftermarket models.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
Caterpillar announced plans to invest approximately $1 billion in North Carolina compact-equipment manufacturing, increasing capacity while adding capital and execution risk.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
Caterpillar agreed to buy Fabick Cat, a dealer with 37 locations, preserving local customer support while bringing more distribution inside the company. Regulatory approval and customary closing conditions remain.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
Luck Stone and Caterpillar expanded autonomous hauling to two additional Virginia quarries after a pilot hauled more than 3.5 million tons, extending use beyond large mining fleets.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
Caterpillar and FieldAI began a robotics and industrial AI collaboration using digital twins; customer and factory productivity benefits still need operating evidence.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
Caterpillar bought Skycatch, adding near-real-time mine mapping and spatial analysis to RPMGlobal and MineStar. The company did not disclose a purchase price in the announcement.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
Caterpillar completed its RPMGlobal acquisition for approximately $733 million net of acquired cash, adding mining planning software to Resource Industries and increasing exposure to software integration and acquired intangible amortization.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
The Supreme Court invalidated IEEPA tariffs; Caterpillar recognized $392 million of expected recoveries in the second quarter, temporarily lifting operating profit.
- Oct 8, 2026 · business change
Caterpillar moved rail to Resource Industries, combining locomotive and rail service operations with mining and quarry equipment.
- Oct 8, 2026 · analyst revision
Replaced quarterly weights that included internal sales with first-half 2026 external segment revenue; removed profit weights that did not reconcile corporate costs. Added current moat trajectories, financing and inventory risks, management and shared end markets. All Other has insufficient separate market evidence; its small revenue share is excluded from the moat score.
Industry & peers
Peer map
Global construction equipment and services
Earthmoving, roadbuilding, compact and material-handling machinery sold globally, plus associated replacement parts, repairs and equipment distribution. Excludes construction labour, project contracts and standalone mining or power-generation systems.
| Stocks | Moat | Gross m. | Op. m. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT | 76 | – | 18.3% | |
| Industry median | 20 | 70 | 40.9% | 19.0% |
| Sector median | 88 | 76 | 37.3% | 18.0% |
| All stocks median | 398 | 76 | 53.1% | 20.0% |
Moat medians cover every stock. Margin medians count only stocks with collected numbers and need at least three.
Drivers & risks
- Building and infrastructure spending strongly affects machine demand; fleet use also drives parts and repairs.
- Interest rates strongly affect financed equipment affordability and private building projects; public infrastructure can soften a housing downturn.
- Rental fleets and replacement of older machines support purchases, but dealer inventory can amplify shipment cycles.
- Operator shortages support automation and compact machines; reliable local maintenance is part of the purchase decision.
- Steel, energy, freight and tariff costs can rise before equipment prices reset.
- Chinese manufacturers and regional specialists compete on price; dealers and rental fleets can buy several brands.
- Weak housing and construction can reduce fleet use and defer replacement.
- Emission standards and battery technology require investment. Repair and dealer restrictions face policy scrutiny; the October 2026 agricultural-equipment inquiry is an adjacent risk, with no construction-equipment remedy announced.
Bulls & bears
Can stronger power and mining demand become lasting service revenue and cash flow as dealer inventory normalizes and tariffs remain costly?
Arguments
What to watch
- 1Services revenue and connected assets
- 2End-user retail sales versus dealer inventory changes
- 3Segment profit, tariff costs and MP&E cash flow
Next check: Q4 2026 results: assess Fabick after its October31 closing, dealer inventory versus end-user demand, tariff costs and MP&E cash conversion.
Sources: company filings and dated sources collected for Find My Moat; market cap as of Nov 9, 2026. Not investment advice.
Free to reuse, commercially too, with a credit link. See the data license.
Moat Score 76/100 by <a href="https://www.findmymoat.com/stocks/XNYS:CAT">Find My Moat</a> (as of September 2026)Curation & Accuracy
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