Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Upgraded at Freedom Broker

Freedom Broker upgraded shares of Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Thursday, MarketBeat reports. The firm currently has $980.00 price target on the industrial products company’s stock.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on CAT. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and set a $1,118.00 target price on shares of Caterpillar in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Caterpillar from $900.00 to $925.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Caterpillar from $1,125.00 to $1,165.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. Erste Group Bank cut Caterpillar from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $845.00 to $882.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $994.17.

Caterpillar Trading Up 1.7%

NYSE:CAT opened at $818.48 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $853.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $840.30. Caterpillar has a one year low of $427.75 and a one year high of $1,073.46. The firm has a market cap of $376.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.37.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $8.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.22 by $1.95. The firm had revenue of $20.54 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.34 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 14.51% and a return on equity of 55.53%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 23.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.72 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Caterpillar will post 27.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Joseph E. Creed sold 32,401 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $808.98, for a total transaction of $26,211,760.98. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 34,555 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,954,303.90. This represents a 48.39% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bullseye Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Caterpillar in the second quarter worth about $154,000. U S Wealth Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the second quarter valued at about $1,068,000. Miramontes Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 0.8% during the second quarter. Miramontes Capital LLC now owns 2,063 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,197,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Caterpillar by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 2,693 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,868,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tortoise Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Caterpillar by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 485 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $517,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. 70.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Caterpillar News

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Broad-market strength supported CAT. Caterpillar was among the companies helping lead a roughly 550-point advance in the Dow, providing a favorable backdrop for industrial stocks. Cisco, Caterpillar share gains lead Dow’s 550-point rally
• Positive Sentiment: CAT remains a top-performing industrial stock. Shares are up more than 40% this year, reflecting investor enthusiasm for construction, infrastructure and equipment demand. The strong rally also raises the possibility of profit-taking. Deere and Caterpillar Are Both Up Over 40% This Year
• Positive Sentiment: AI infrastructure is emerging as a growth catalyst. Reports highlight Caterpillar’s equipment orders extending toward 2030 and demand tied to data-center and infrastructure construction, broadening the company’s exposure beyond traditional industrial markets. CAT Could Be the Best AI Infrastructure Stock You’re Overlooking
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst estimates and ratings were generally supportive. Freedom Broker upgraded CAT to “buy” with a $980 price target, while Zacks raised its fourth-quarter 2026 EPS estimate to $6.73. Erste Group also modestly increased its fiscal 2027 EPS forecast to $32.28. The Lafayette City Council additionally approved incentives for an $890 million Caterpillar expansion, signaling continued investment capacity. Caterpillar upgraded by Freedom Broker
• Neutral Sentiment: Insider selling is a risk investors are monitoring. Caterpillar executives, including CEO Joseph Creed, have made substantial sales in recent months, although insider transactions may reflect diversification rather than a direct view on the company’s operating outlook. Caterpillar Inc. Stock Opinions on AI Partnership and Executive Stock Sale
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and mixed estimates could limit further gains. CAT recently underperformed the broader market in a declining session, and Zacks trimmed its Q1 2028 EPS estimate to $7.87 from $7.94. With the stock trading well above its longer-term averages and at a premium valuation, investors may lock in profits if growth expectations moderate. Top Wide-Moat Stocks to Buy for Long-Term Wealth and Stability

Caterpillar Company Profile

Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction, mining, and industrial equipment. The company’s products include excavators, dozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, articulated trucks, and off-highway trucks, as well as related attachments and work tools. Caterpillar also supplies replacement parts, equipment services, technology solutions, and rental support through its dealer network.

The company serves customers in construction, mining, quarrying, energy, transportation, forestry, agriculture, and government-related industries.