CAT vs. CNH: Caterpillar vs. CNH Industrial Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH) both belong to the Machinery industry, though CAT is classified under Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment while CNH falls under Agricultural & Farm Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Profile Item	CAT	CNH
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	CNH Industrial N.V.
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Agricultural & Farm Machinery
Market Capitalization	255.63 billion USD	18.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	September 30, 2013
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

CNH

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Metric	CAT	CNH
Total Return (1Y)	6.75%	38.02%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.34%	11.70%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.28%	-0.45%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

CNH

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Metric	CAT	CNH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.33%	45.52%
Beta (5Y)	1.65	1.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-43.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.82M	18.71M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT and CNH are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Metric	CAT	CNH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	0.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.08	1.25

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% delivers above-range ROE, while CNH Industrial (CNH) at 3.91% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in profit generated from equity.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

56.14%

CAT: 56.14%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

3.91%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
CNH: 3.91%
Min: -17.12%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 15.21% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CNH Industrial (CNH) at 1.71%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

15.21%

Max: 27.47%
CAT: 15.21%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

1.71%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
CNH: 1.71%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CNH Industrial (CNH) at 5.54%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

20.19%

Max: 36.60%
CAT: 20.19%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

5.54%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
CNH: 5.54%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Metric	CAT	CNH
ROE (TTM)	56.14%	3.91%
ROA (TTM)	9.09%	0.87%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.21%	1.71%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.19%	5.54%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.54%	17.76%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while CNH Industrial (CNH) at -8.78% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while CNH Industrial (CNH) at -58.59% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Metric	CAT	CNH
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	-8.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	-8.41%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	-58.59%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	-34.96%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CNH Industrial (CNH) at 4.88 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

1.42

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
CAT: 1.42
Min: 0.36

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

4.88

Max: 5.22
CNH: 4.88
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but CNH is more stretched: Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.10 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and CNH Industrial (CNH) at 3.35 is above its industry benchmark range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

2.10

Max: 2.33
CAT: 2.10
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

3.35

CNH: 3.35
Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Metric	CAT	CNH
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	4.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.10	3.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.25	23.62

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% and CNH Industrial (CNH) at 0.89% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

1.13%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
CAT: 1.13%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

0.89%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
CNH: 0.89%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 24.18% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CNH Industrial (CNH) at 40.00% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

24.18%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
CAT: 24.18%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

40.00%

Max: 67.39%
CNH: 40.00%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Metric	CAT	CNH
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.13%	0.89%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.18%	40.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CNH Industrial (CNH) at 46.24 sits in the richer quartile — CNH needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

21.92

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
CAT: 21.92
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

46.24

Max: 59.38
CNH: 46.24
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CNH Industrial (CNH) at 1.02 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 prices around its industry’s middle — CNH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

3.29

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
CAT: 3.29
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

1.02

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
CNH: 1.02
Min: 0.03

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

CNH Industrial (CNH) at 1.84 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 11.90 prices above its benchmark range — CAT looks rich relative to book.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

11.90

CAT: 11.90
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

CNH

Capital Goods industry group

1.84

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
CNH: 1.84
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. CNH Industrial (CNH): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and CNH Industrial (CNH)
Metric	CAT	CNH
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.92	46.24
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.29	1.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.90	1.84
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.55%	3.03%