Americana Partners LLC Sells 4,987 Shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Americana Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) by 27.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 13,151 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 4,987 shares during the period. Americana Partners LLC's holdings in Caterpillar were worth $3,888,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of CAT. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Caterpillar by 272.4% in the 1st quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 108 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC raised its position in Caterpillar by 730.8% in the 1st quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 108 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Gilfoyle & Co LLC acquired a new stake in Caterpillar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in Caterpillar in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, CGC Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in Caterpillar in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 70.98% of the company's stock.

Caterpillar Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CAT traded up $9.51 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $379.30. 2,066,322 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,143,353. The company's 50 day moving average price is $336.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $291.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $189.42 billion, a PE ratio of 18.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.17. Caterpillar Inc. has a 12 month low of $204.04 and a 12 month high of $381.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 5th. The industrial products company reported $5.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.76 by $0.47. The business had revenue of $17.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.06 billion. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 56.99% and a net margin of 15.41%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.86 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Caterpillar Inc. will post 21.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.04, for a total value of $3,000,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 67,317 shares of the company's stock, valued at $20,197,792.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.04, for a total transaction of $3,000,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 67,317 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,197,792.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 4,575 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $329.80, for a total value of $1,508,835.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 23,474 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,741,725.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 45,769 shares of company stock valued at $14,509,306 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CAT. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $274.00 to $357.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $255.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th. StockNews.com lowered Caterpillar from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Truist Financial initiated coverage on Caterpillar in a research report on Thursday, March 14th. They set a "buy" rating and a $390.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on Caterpillar from $216.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $297.89.

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.