Caterpillar Inc. $CAT Shares Purchased by Talon Private Wealth LLC

Key Points

• Talon Private Wealth LLC significantly increased its stake in Caterpillar Inc. by 3,271.6% in the first quarter, acquiring an additional 2,421 shares, bringing its total holdings to 2,495 shares valued at $823,000.
• Caterpillar's recent earnings report showed $4.72 earnings per share, missing analyst expectations of $4.88, while the company posted a 14.95% net margin and revenue of $16.57 billion.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $1.51 per share, an increase from the previous $1.41, leading to an annualized dividend yield of 1.4%.

Talon Private Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) by 3,271.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,495 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,421 shares during the quarter. Talon Private Wealth LLC's holdings in Caterpillar were worth $823,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Investment Management Corp VA ADV purchased a new stake in Caterpillar in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Curat Global LLC purchased a new stake in Caterpillar in the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Caterpillar in the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Caterpillar in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Mattson Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Caterpillar in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company's stock.

Caterpillar Price Performance

Shares of CAT traded up $8.71 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $431.62. 2,683,889 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,733,390. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $202.21 billion, a PE ratio of 21.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.41. Caterpillar Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $267.30 and a fifty-two week high of $441.15. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $418.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $363.91.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The industrial products company reported $4.72 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.88 by ($0.16). The company had revenue of $16.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.14 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 14.95% and a return on equity of 48.95%. The firm's revenue was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $5.99 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Caterpillar Inc. will post 19.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Caterpillar

In related news, Chairman Donald J. Umpleby III sold 17,168 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $412.87, for a total transaction of $7,088,152.16. Following the sale, the chairman owned 482,505 shares of the company's stock, valued at $199,211,839.35. This trade represents a 3.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Susan C. Schwab sold 2,324 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $410.00, for a total value of $952,840.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 6,917 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,835,970. The trade was a 25.15% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,653 shares of company stock valued at $8,943,642 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup boosted their target price on Caterpillar from $460.00 to $500.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Caterpillar from $460.00 to $495.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Barclays boosted their target price on Caterpillar from $383.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Melius raised Caterpillar from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $500.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Caterpillar in a report on Monday, July 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $457.20.

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.