Caterpillar Inc PE Ratio
Data as of August 04, 2026
PE Ratio (TTM)
39.80
Stock Price
$830.03
EPS (TTM)
$20.10
Forward PE
28.78
How It's Calculated
39.80 = $830.03 ÷ $20.10
What This Means
Caterpillar Inc's PE ratio of 39.8 is above average, suggesting investors expect strong future earnings growth.
About Caterpillar Inc
Caterpillar Inc (CAT) operates in the Machinery sector, specifically in Machinery. With a market capitalization of about $375.33B, it ranks as a mega-cap stock — one of the largest publicly traded companies.
Shares recently traded near $830.03, within a 52-week range of $405.46 to $1073.46 (-22.7% from the high, +104.7% from the low). Beta of 1.60 suggests the stock has been more volatile than the broader market.
Trailing profit margin is about 13.3%, signaling a solid profit margin for its industry.
Understanding This Metric
The PE ratio is one of the most widely cited valuation multiples. For Caterpillar Inc, it reflects how much investors pay today for each dollar of trailing earnings. High-growth Machinery names often carry elevated PE ratios when the market prices in faster future profits, while mature companies with stable cash flows may trade at lower multiples even in the same sector.
Sector Comparison
Among Machinery names on our S&P 100 coverage, Caterpillar Inc's PE ratio of 39.80 can be compared with peers such as DE (33.45). Sector context helps interpretation, but each company's growth profile and balance sheet differ — use multiple metrics before drawing conclusions. View all Machinery stocks.
Key Takeaways
- CAT is grouped in the Machinery sector for peer comparisons.
- Recent beta of 1.60 suggests higher-than-market price sensitivity.
- Trailing profit margin of 13.3% provides context for how much earnings support the headline multiple.
Related Tools & Guides
Explore calculators and guides connected to this metric, or view all metrics for CAT.
Learn the full workflow
Compare PE with PB, PEG, EV/EBITDA, and market cap in one structured path.
Open the Stock Valuation hub →PEG Ratio
1.31
Sector
Machinery
Other CAT Metrics
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CAT's PE ratio mean?
The PE ratio shows how much investors pay per dollar of trailing earnings for Caterpillar Inc. A trailing PE of 39.80 means the market is pricing the stock at 39.80 times last twelve months' EPS — useful for comparing valuation across time and versus Machinery peers, not as a buy/sell signal on its own.
Is 39.80 high or low vs sector peers?
Among Machinery names in our S&P 100 coverage, peers such as DE (33.45) offer context. CAT's PE of 39.80 should be read with growth, margins, and balance-sheet risk — high PE can mean strong growth expectations; low PE can mean value or weaker outlook.
How often is this PE updated?
StockCalc refreshes CAT metrics on U.S. trading days; this page shows data as of August 04, 2026. PE moves with price daily and with EPS when companies report earnings.
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