Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Decreases Stock Holdings in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH lowered its position in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) by 7.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 276,946 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 23,413 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned 0.06% of Caterpillar worth $91,337,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Pacific Point Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 4th quarter worth approximately $579,000. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 51.5% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 7,409 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $2,688,000 after buying an additional 2,519 shares during the last quarter. Summit Global Investments grew its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 20.5% in the 4th quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 2,220 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $805,000 after buying an additional 377 shares during the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 4th quarter worth approximately $933,000. Institutional investors own 70.98% of the company's stock.

Caterpillar Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of CAT stock traded up $1.99 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $429.58. 2,463,099 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,690,098. The stock's 50 day moving average is $373.81 and its 200-day moving average is $350.94. The company has a market cap of $202.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. Caterpillar Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $267.30 and a fifty-two week high of $430.16.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $4.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.35 by ($0.10). Caterpillar had a net margin of 15.71% and a return on equity of 53.77%. The business had revenue of $14.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $14.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.60 earnings per share. Caterpillar's revenue for the quarter was down 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Caterpillar Inc. will post 19.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Caterpillar Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 21st will be given a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 21st. This is a boost from Caterpillar's previous quarterly dividend of $1.41. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.41%. Caterpillar's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.43%.

Insider Activity at Caterpillar

In other Caterpillar news, Director David Maclennan bought 375 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 7th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $320.70 per share, for a total transaction of $120,262.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,653 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,133,617.10. The trade was a 5.97% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.33% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CAT has been the topic of a number of research reports. Oppenheimer raised their price target on Caterpillar from $395.00 to $483.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Caterpillar from $375.00 to $373.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Baird R W upgraded Caterpillar from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. UBS Group upgraded Caterpillar from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $272.00 to $357.00 in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Caterpillar from $395.00 to $422.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, June 20th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $419.33.

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.