Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)Stock Price & Analysis
NYSE

CAT Stock Price Today (October 2026) — Caterpillar Inc. Analysis & Key Metrics 2026-10-07

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is trading at $813.83, down 5.75% today (as of October 2026). The stock continues to show pressure below major moving averages, attracting attention from investors looking for Industrials growth opportunities.

  • According to consensus analyst estimates, the 1-year price target is $975.61 (19.9% upside).
  • Volatility is moderate (28.21% annualized), implying notable price swings for short-term traders.
  • The fundamental picture, based on the latest financial filings, is nuanced: solid revenue growth (24.00% YoY) alongside competitive pressures in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery space.

CAT Stock Analysis: Key Metrics & Valuation (October 2026)

Concise, actionable data for investors

Trend posture
Downtrend: below 50- and 200-day averages
Analyst 1Y target$975.61+19.9%
Volatility (30d ann.)28.21%Moderate
RSI (14-day)
46.01 (Neutral)
Debt$45.15B (2.33x D/E)

Caterpillar Inc. - Historical Price & Volume

$813.83
+426.58 (+110.15%)
  • Price
  • Volume
  • Latest price
Range: 2Y

Market Cap

$374.10B

Enterprise Value: $413.30B

P/E Ratio

35.27

Forward P/E: 24.66

Revenue Growth

+24.00%

Year over Year

Analyst Target

$975.61

+19.9% upside potential

Key Investor Questions About CAT

What investors need to know before buying

Is it a good time to buy CAT stock?

Based on current market data, CAT presents a neutral technical setup with mixed signals fundamentals.

  • Technicals say: Neutral (RSI 46.01)
  • Fundamentals say: Mixed signals (nuanced financial profile)
Can CAT sustain revenue growth in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery market?

CAT's growth trajectory depends on its ability to expand within the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery sector while managing margin pressures.

  • Future growth will depend on performance in core Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery operations.
  • The ability to manage competitive pressures will be crucial for sustained growth.
What are the biggest risks facing CAT stock?

The primary risks for CAT investors include debt exposure and competitive dynamics in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry.

  • $45.15B in debt could be a headwind in a high-rate environment.
  • Fierce competition from established players in Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery.

52-Week Trading Range

52-Week Low$483.55
52-Week High$1073.46
Current Price$813.83

Over the past year, CAT stock traded between $483.55 and $1073.46 and currently trades in the middle of that range. Big swings are likely unless a major catalyst emerges.

Volatility & Risk Profile

30-Day Volatility28.21%
Beta1.66
RSI (14-day)46.01

With 28.21% annualized volatility and β=1.66, the stock exhibits high sensitivity to market moves—making CAT suitable for investors comfortable with active risk management.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Insider Ownership0.22%
Institutional Ownership73.47%
Shares Short8.38M

High institutional ownership with low short interest suggests steadier hands and low immediate risk.

Analyst Sentiment & Price Targets

Mean Target
$975.61
Upside Potential
+19.9%
Recommendation
buy
Analysts maintain moderate optimism with a $975.61 target, indicating19.9% upside potential.

Latest News & Headlines

Recent headlines and coverage

Simply Wall St.Sep 27, 2026

Atlas Energy Solutions (AESI) Expands Into AI Power, Is 33% Undervalued?

Atlas Energy Solutions (AESI) drew fresh investor attention after its ProjectCo unit agreed to purchase 283 MW of Caterpillar natural gas generation equipment for AI focused data center projects, supported by cost reimbursement deals with a frontier AI lab. The AI power agreements arrive after a volatile run for Atlas Energy Solutions, with the share price jumping 13.47% in the past day but still sitting below its recent peak after a 26.65% decline over 90 days and a 3-year total shareholder...

Insider MonkeySep 26, 2026

Can Caterpillar (CAT) Keep Growing as Construction Slows? AI May Hold the Key

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) has delivered strong growth this year, and that is reflected in the stock, which has jumped by 37% year-to-date. That means that investors are paying a considerable premium to buy a slice of the company. It trades at almost 25.25x forward earnings, compared with a sector median of 22.14x. The stock is […]

ZacksSep 25, 2026

Caterpillar (CAT) Beats Stock Market Upswing: What Investors Need to Know

Caterpillar (CAT) reached $821.58 at the closing of the latest trading day, reflecting a +2.03% change compared to its last close.

GuruFocus.comSep 25, 2026

Caterpillar Stock Gains as Remote Autonomy Leaves the Cab

Three operating sites offer evidence, but fleet size and contract economics remain undisclosed.

ZacksSep 25, 2026

Are Industrial Products Stocks Lagging GormanRupp (GRC) This Year?

Here is how Gorman-Rupp (GRC) and Caterpillar (CAT) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.

TIKRSep 21, 2026

Caterpillar’s CEO Says Demand Runs Past Its $72B Backlog. Here’s What That Means for the Stock

Key Stats for Caterpillar StockCurrent Price: $808. 99Target Price (Mid): ~$1,050Street Target: ~$980Potential Total Return: ~30%Annualized IRR: ~6% / yearWhat Happened?Caterpillar (CAT) supplies the engines and turbines increasingly running data centers as permanent power plants, not backup, and its CEO just told investors that the shift is the durable one.

ZacksSep 21, 2026

3 Stocks That Pay Dividends and Offer AI Exposure

For those interested in getting paid with some AI exposure, Broadcom (AVGO), Vertiv (VRT), and Caterpillar (CAT) all fit the criteria.

Motley FoolSep 21, 2026

What Higher Interest Rates Mean for Caterpillar, GE Vernova, and Vertiv

It's important not to panic over the impact of rising rates on industrial stocks, not least because they are likely to affect different stocks in varied ways.

Motley FoolSep 20, 2026

The Caterpillar Correction Shouldn't Last Much Longer

Caterpillar is in an excellent position as hyperscalers rush to spend capital on their AI build-outs.

The Wall Street JournalSep 19, 2026

The Next Frontier for Autonomous Vehicles Is Burying Your Garbage

Abrin Vasquez remotely pilots a Caterpillar dozer spreading trash across an Arizona landfill. Inside a cool, dimly lighted trailer where the quiet is broken mostly by the crackle of radio traffic, Abrin Vasquez drives a 40-ton bulldozer hundreds of yards away. Vasquez is remotely piloting a Caterpillar dozer spreading trash across the Marana Regional Landfill near Tucson, Ariz. He used to be out in the heat running the machine from the cab, a potentially dangerous job in the landfill’s rough, trash-filled terrain.

Earnings snapshot

Next report Nov 4, 2026 (before the open)

EPS beat rate
75% (9/12)
Avg move after earnings
±4.7%
Options-implied move
—
Options vs history
—
CAT earnings history, charts and expected move

Frequently Asked Questions

Common investor questions about Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is currently trading at $813.83. The RSI (14-day) is at 46.0, indicating neutral territory. Wall Street analysts have a consensus "buy" recommendation. The mean analyst price target of $975.61 implies 19.9% upside from current levels. Volatility is moderate at 28.2% annualized, meaning price movements are relatively contained. Investors should consider their risk tolerance, investment horizon, and portfolio diversification before making a decision.

Based on current valuation metrics for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT): The trailing P/E ratio is 35.27, which is above the market average, indicating investors are pricing in higher growth expectations. The forward P/E is 24.66, lower than the trailing P/E, suggesting analysts expect earnings improvement. The PEG ratio is 1.79, near 1.0, suggesting roughly fair value relative to growth. Price-to-Book is 19.40. Price-to-Sales is 5.04. Valuation should be compared to Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry peers for context, as different sectors trade at different multiples.

Based on 26 analysts covering CAT, the consensus price target is $975.61. This represents a 19.9% upside from the current price of $813.83. The range spans from a low target of $575.00 to a high target of $1225.00, reflecting varying levels of optimism among analysts. The consensus recommendation is "buy". Note: Analyst price targets are forward-looking estimates and not guarantees of future performance.

Yes, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) pays a dividend with a current yield of approximately 0.80%. The annualized dividend rate is $6.16 per share. The payout ratio is 26.0%, which is conservative and suggests the dividend is well-covered by earnings with room for future increases. The most recent ex-dividend date was Jul 20, 2026.

Key risks for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) investors include: 1. Moderate volatility (28.2% annualized)—price swings are notable. 2. Elevated debt levels (debt-to-equity of 2.33x) which could pressure margins in a rising rate environment. 3. Broader market and macroeconomic risks (interest rates, inflation, geopolitical events). 4. Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery sector-specific competitive pressures. Investors should diversify and consider their risk tolerance before investing.

Here is Caterpillar Inc.'s (CAT) current debt and financial health profile: Total debt stands at $45.15B. The debt-to-equity ratio is 2.33x, which is high and could pose financial risk if earnings decline or borrowing costs increase. The current ratio is 1.37, indicating adequate short-term liquidity. The quick ratio is 0.78. The company holds $5.94B in cash and equivalents. Free cash flow is positive at $5.05B, providing a cushion for debt servicing and shareholder returns.