FY2025 EPS Estimates for Caterpillar Lowered by Analyst

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) - Research analysts at DA Davidson reduced their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for Caterpillar in a report released on Monday, May 5th. DA Davidson analyst M. Shlisky now anticipates that the industrial products company will earn $18.66 per share for the year, down from their previous forecast of $20.10. DA Davidson has a "Neutral" rating and a $331.00 price objective on the stock. The consensus estimate for Caterpillar's current full-year earnings is $19.86 per share.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $4.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.35 by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $14.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.64 billion. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 58.18% and a net margin of 16.65%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $5.60 earnings per share.

CAT has been the topic of a number of other reports. Raymond James upgraded Caterpillar from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Caterpillar from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Caterpillar from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $300.00 to $283.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Oppenheimer raised Caterpillar from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $395.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised Caterpillar from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $300.00 to $309.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $370.67.

Caterpillar Stock Performance

Shares of Caterpillar stock traded up $17.64 on Wednesday, reaching $343.26. 2,237,871 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,622,279. Caterpillar has a 1-year low of $267.30 and a 1-year high of $418.50. The firm has a market cap of $161.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.42. The company's 50-day moving average is $316.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $354.96.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Caterpillar

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 688 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $262,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Allen Capital Group LLC grew its position in Caterpillar by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Allen Capital Group LLC now owns 4,247 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,541,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC now owns 668 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $242,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. Channel Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Channel Wealth LLC now owns 1,468 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $533,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Caterpillar by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,373 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,586,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Jason Kaiser sold 2,425 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $354.70, for a total value of $860,147.50. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 6,275 shares in the company, valued at $2,225,742.50. This represents a 27.87% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director David Maclennan acquired 375 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 7th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $320.70 per share, for a total transaction of $120,262.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,653 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,133,617.10. This represents a 5.97% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Caterpillar Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 21st will be paid a dividend of $1.41 per share. This represents a $5.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 21st. Caterpillar's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.49%.

Caterpillar Company 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.