World Investment Advisors Has $3 Million Stock Holdings in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

World Investment Advisors trimmed its stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) by 12.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,089 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 1,238 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors' holdings in Caterpillar were worth $2,998,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. McIlrath & Eck LLC boosted its stake in Caterpillar by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 962 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $349,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 20.3% in the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 184 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $67,000 after acquiring an additional 31 shares during the period. Asset Management Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Asset Management Group Inc. now owns 10,771 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $3,907,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the period. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its position in Caterpillar by 21.3% in the 4th quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 205 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $75,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,752 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $578,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company's stock.

Caterpillar Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of CAT stock traded up $2.71 on Tuesday, hitting $394.22. The stock had a trading volume of 1,996,008 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,524,690. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $185.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 1.38. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1 year low of $267.30 and a 1 year high of $418.50. The company's 50 day moving average price is $353.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $346.92.

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

Caterpillar Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Investors of record on Monday, July 21st will be issued a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 21st. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.53%. This is a boost from Caterpillar's previous quarterly dividend of $1.41. Caterpillar's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.43%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CAT has been the topic of several recent research reports. Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $420.00 price objective (up previously from $370.00) on shares of Caterpillar in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Caterpillar from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $272.00 to $357.00 in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Caterpillar from $395.00 to $422.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, June 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Caterpillar from $490.00 to $380.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Baird R W raised Caterpillar from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Caterpillar presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $380.83.

Insider Buying and Selling

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 acquired at an average cost of $320.70 per share, with a total value of $120,262.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 6,653 shares in the company, valued at $2,133,617.10. The trade was a 5.97% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.33% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Caterpillar Profile

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.