Q3 EPS Estimates for Caterpillar Boosted by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised Caterpillar’s Q3 2026 EPS estimate to $6.78 from $6.57 and maintained a “Strong-Buy” rating. Full-year 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates stand at $27.36 and $32.44, respectively.
• Caterpillar recently reported strong results, with quarterly EPS of $8.17 beating consensus by $1.95 and revenue rising 23.7% year over year to $20.54 billion.
• Analysts assign CAT a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and a $989.17 target price, though the stock’s elevated valuation and a recent $26.2 million CEO share sale remain potential concerns.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) - Analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for Caterpillar in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, October 6th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the industrial products company will earn $6.78 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $6.57. Zacks Research has a "Strong-Buy" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Caterpillar's current full-year earnings is $27.42 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Caterpillar's Q4 2026 earnings at $6.88 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $27.36 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $6.48 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $8.52 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $8.40 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $9.04 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $32.44 EPS and Q3 2028 earnings at $10.16 EPS.

CAT has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Erste Group Bank lowered Caterpillar from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Caterpillar in a research report on Monday, September 14th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $800.00 to $900.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Needham & Company LLC set a $980.00 target price on shares of Caterpillar in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Finally, Freedom Broker raised shares of Caterpillar from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $980.00 target price for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $989.17.

Caterpillar Trading Up 1.9%

Shares of NYSE:CAT opened at $864.04 on Wednesday. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $822.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $852.27. The firm has a market cap of $397.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.18, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. Caterpillar has a 12 month low of $483.55 and a 12 month high of $1,073.46.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $8.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.22 by $1.95. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 55.53% and a net margin of 14.51%.The firm had revenue of $20.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.34 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $4.72 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 23.7% on a year-over-year basis.

Insider Activity at Caterpillar

In other news, CEO Joseph E. Creed sold 32,401 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $808.98, for a total value of $26,211,760.98. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 34,555 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $27,954,303.90. This represents a 48.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Caterpillar

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nautilus Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Caterpillar by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Nautilus Advisors LLC now owns 957 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $776,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the period. Byrne Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Caterpillar by 19.8% during the third quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 4,121 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $3,087,000 after purchasing an additional 681 shares during the period. Legacy Private Trust Co. grew its holdings in Caterpillar by 1.8% during the third quarter. Legacy Private Trust Co. now owns 2,851 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $2,312,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the period. Olistico Wealth LLC raised its stake in Caterpillar by 1.0% in the third quarter. Olistico Wealth LLC now owns 1,962 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,591,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Finally, Park National Corp OH lifted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 5.1% in the third quarter. Park National Corp OH now owns 40,449 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $32,796,000 after buying an additional 1,962 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting Caterpillar

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Jim Cramer described Caterpillar’s pullback as a potential buying opportunity, highlighting the company’s expanding role in supplying power-generation equipment for data centers. His comments may reinforce the view that CAT is an indirect artificial-intelligence infrastructure play. Jim Cramer Sees a Possible Buying Opportunity in Caterpillar After Its Pullback
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts identified CAT as an AI data-center laggard with rebound potential in the fourth quarter. Expected demand for data centers, power infrastructure and related equipment, along with favorable guidance and estimate revisions, are cited as catalysts. Buy Q3 AI Data Center Laggards CAT, GLW, JBL for a Rebound in Q4
• Positive Sentiment: Steady factory orders, construction activity, mining demand and infrastructure spending could support Caterpillar’s core machinery business, while AI-related investment adds a newer source of growth. 4 Stocks to Boost Your Portfolio on Steady Growth in Factory Orders
• Neutral Sentiment: The broader AI infrastructure investment trend is favorable for equipment and power suppliers, but ETF-focused coverage offers limited company-specific information about CAT. AI Super-Cycle Fuels Record Infrastructure Investments
• Negative Sentiment: Despite genuine data-center tailwinds and solid operating performance, one analysis argues that CAT’s valuation is already too high, raising the risk that the stock needs continued earnings growth to justify further gains. Caterpillar Data Center Tailwinds Are Real, But the Valuation Is Too Steep

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Its products are used in infrastructure development, construction, mining, energy production, transportation, agriculture, forestry, and other industrial applications.

The company markets equipment and related services through a worldwide network of independent dealers. Its operations are generally organized around Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy & Transportation.

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