Caterpillar Inc. $CAT Shares Purchased by XML Financial LLC

XML Financial LLC increased its position in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) by 38.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,456 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,245 shares during the quarter. XML Financial LLC’s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $3,613,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in CAT. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in Caterpillar by 0.7% in the second quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC now owns 1,635 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,741,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Inspirion Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Caterpillar by 1.2% during the second quarter. Inspirion Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 944 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $936,000 after buying an additional 11 shares during the period. Bell Bank lifted its position in Caterpillar by 0.6% during the second quarter. Bell Bank now owns 1,865 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,986,000 after buying an additional 11 shares during the period. Cornerstone Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC now owns 1,818 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,288,000 after buying an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,057 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,190,000 after buying an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. 70.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $915.00 to $675.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $1,100.00 to $1,000.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Robert W. Baird set a $970.00 price objective on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Zacks Research cut shares of Caterpillar from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, October 5th. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on Caterpillar from $800.00 to $900.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $898.25.

Caterpillar News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar completed its acquisition of John Fabick Tractor Company, a more-than-century-old Cat dealer serving Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The transaction should expand Caterpillar’s regional distribution and strengthen parts, maintenance and equipment support, although financial terms were not disclosed. Caterpillar Inc. Acquires Fabick Cat Dealership
• Positive Sentiment: The company continues to benefit from strong demand: its third-quarter backlog reached a record $78 billion, while power-generation sales to users rose 75%, supported by data-center demand. One global bank reportedly sees substantial upside after the stock’s steep six-month decline. Caterpillar: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
• Neutral Sentiment: Freedom Broker lowered its price target to $800 from $980 but retained a Buy rating, implying considerable potential upside based on the current quotation. Truist also reiterated its Buy rating, providing some support for the long-term outlook. Freedom Broker Caterpillar Rating
• Negative Sentiment: DA Davidson cut its target to $685 from $882 and maintained a Neutral rating, arguing that Caterpillar trades at roughly a 50% premium to peers despite accelerating demand across its three segments. The sharp target reduction is putting the stock’s valuation premium under scrutiny. CAT Stock Gets Price Target Cuts
• Negative Sentiment: Additional target reductions from RBC, Citigroup, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley are reinforcing concerns about Caterpillar’s elevated valuation and near-term risk, offsetting the company’s strong backlog and end-market demand.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Joseph E. Creed sold 32,401 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $808.98, for a total transaction of $26,211,760.98. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 34,555 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $27,954,303.90. This trade represents a 48.39% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Caterpillar Trading Down 1.6%

Shares of NYSE:CAT opened at $612.78 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $281.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.04, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1 year low of $537.08 and a 1 year high of $1,073.46. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $778.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $807.40.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 29th. The industrial products company reported $7.20 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.06 by $0.14. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 55.53% and a net margin of 14.51%. The company had revenue of $20.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $20.76 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $4.95 earnings per share. Caterpillar’s revenue was up 17.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Caterpillar Inc. will post 27.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Caterpillar Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 26th will be paid a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, October 26th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Caterpillar’s dividend payout ratio is currently 25.58%.

Caterpillar Profile

Caterpillar Inc is a manufacturer of construction, mining, and industrial equipment. Its product portfolio includes excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, articulated trucks, and other machinery used in construction, infrastructure development, mining, quarrying, forestry, and related industries. The company also produces diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, generator sets, and other power-generation and transportation equipment.

Caterpillar operates through businesses focused on construction industries, resource industries, and energy and transportation.