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Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT)

This page compares Boeing (BA) with Caterpillar (CAT) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Boeing (BA) and Caterpillar (CAT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but BA is classified in Aerospace & Defense while CAT is classified in Machinery.

SymbolBACAT
Company NameThe Boeing CompanyCaterpillar Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment
Market Capitalization173.12 billion USD398.85 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

BA
CAT
Loading price history…
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolBACAT
5-Day Price Return-0.40%-2.52%
13-Week Price Return-6.03%13.86%
26-Week Price Return12.86%56.44%
52-Week Price Return8.07%152.82%
Month-to-Date Return-4.11%-2.71%
Year-to-Date Return1.15%51.16%
10-Day Avg. Volume8.16M2.44M
3-Month Avg. Volume7.13M2.70M
3-Month Volatility36.75%40.13%
Beta1.211.62

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Boeing (BA) at 143.62% and Caterpillar (CAT) at 47.57% post Return on Equity (TTM) above their industry benchmark ranges, pointing to unusually strong headline returns on shareholders’ equity.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

143.62%

Max
46.22%
Q3
20.97%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.01%
Min
-19.93%

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

47.57%

Max
46.22%
Q3
20.97%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.01%
Min
-19.93%
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 13.33% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of Boeing (BA) at 2.46%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

2.46%

Max
25.28%
Q3
12.38%
Median
6.85%
Q1
1.74%
Min
-13.93%

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

13.33%

Max
25.28%
Q3
12.38%
Median
6.85%
Q1
1.74%
Min
-13.93%
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 16.48% posts Operating Profit Margin (TTM) around its industry mid-range, while Boeing (BA) at 4.63% drops into the bottom quartile.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

4.63%

Max
31.46%
Q3
16.66%
Median
9.92%
Q1
4.69%
Min
-13.15%

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

16.48%

Max
31.46%
Q3
16.66%
Median
9.92%
Q1
4.69%
Min
-13.15%
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolBACAT
Return on Equity (TTM)143.62%47.57%
Return on Assets (TTM)1.42%9.97%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)2.46%13.33%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)4.63%16.48%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)4.79%33.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Boeing (BA) at 1.18 and Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.35 run Current Ratio (MRQ) in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.18

Max
5.24
Q3
2.93
Median
1.88
Q1
1.38
Min
0.45

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

1.35

Max
5.24
Q3
2.93
Median
1.88
Q1
1.38
Min
0.45
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Boeing (BA) at 7.89 and Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.31 sit above their industry benchmark ranges for Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ), pointing to heavier debt loads relative to equity on both sides.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

7.89

Max
2.24
Q3
1.07
Median
0.59
Q1
0.27
Min
0.00

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

2.31

Max
2.24
Q3
1.07
Median
0.59
Q1
0.27
Min
0.00
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Both Boeing (BA) at 1.96 and Caterpillar (CAT) at 8.29 post Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on interest-coverage headroom.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.96

Max
33.75
Q3
15.37
Median
6.22
Q1
1.46
Min
-17.81

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

8.29

Max
33.75
Q3
15.37
Median
6.22
Q1
1.46
Min
-17.81
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolBACAT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.181.35
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.350.72
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)7.892.31
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)1.968.29

Growth

Revenue Growth

Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolBACAT
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)13.96%22.22%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)32.75%11.85%
3-Year Revenue CAGR10.33%4.38%
5-Year Revenue CAGR8.81%10.12%

EPS Growth

Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolBACAT
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)--30.35%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)---2.06%
3-Year EPS CAGR--14.16%
5-Year EPS CAGR--28.05%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Boeing (BA) at 0.20% and Caterpillar (CAT) at 0.70% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.20%

Max
2.80%
Q3
1.19%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

0.70%

Max
2.80%
Q3
1.19%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Boeing (BA) at 1.06% and Caterpillar (CAT) at 29.46% maintain Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around their industries’ median — balanced dividend policy on both sides, returning cash while leaving part of reported earnings available for reinvestment or balance-sheet flexibility.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.06%

Max
67.06%
Q3
29.46%
Median
11.18%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

29.46%

Max
67.06%
Q3
29.46%
Median
11.18%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolBACAT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.20%0.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)1.06%29.46%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 42.26 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Boeing (BA) at 75.12 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — BA carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

75.12

Max
76.08
Q3
44.68
Median
30.28
Q1
21.23
Min
1.06

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

42.26

Max
76.08
Q3
44.68
Median
30.28
Q1
21.23
Min
1.06
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Boeing (BA) at 1.85 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Caterpillar (CAT) at 5.63 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — CAT carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.85

Max
9.58
Q3
4.85
Median
2.77
Q1
1.52
Min
0.13

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

5.63

Max
9.58
Q3
4.85
Median
2.77
Q1
1.52
Min
0.13
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both Boeing (BA) at 26.19 and Caterpillar (CAT) at 17.66 sit above their industries’ benchmark ranges for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), pointing to unusually high book-value multiples relative to peers.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

26.19

Max
13.81
Q3
7.00
Median
3.82
Q1
2.19
Min
0.15

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

17.66

Max
13.81
Q3
7.00
Median
3.82
Q1
2.19
Min
0.15
Boeing (BA) vs. Caterpillar (CAT): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolBACAT
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)75.1242.26
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.855.63
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)26.1917.66
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)282.0650.44