CAT vs. FLS: Caterpillar vs. Flowserve Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Caterpillar (CAT) and Flowserve (FLS) 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 Flowserve (FLS) both belong to the Machinery industry, though CAT is classified under Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment while FLS falls under Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and Flowserve (FLS)
Profile Item	CAT	FLS
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	Flowserve Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	255.63 billion USD	10.19 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

FLS

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Flowserve (FLS), 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 Flowserve (FLS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Flowserve (FLS)
Metric	CAT	FLS
Total Return (1Y)	6.75%	24.11%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.34%	33.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.28%	22.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

FLS

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Flowserve (FLS), 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 Flowserve (FLS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Flowserve (FLS)
Metric	CAT	FLS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.33%	42.18%
Beta (5Y)	1.65	1.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-38.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.82M	1.61M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT and FLS 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 Flowserve (FLS)
Metric	CAT	FLS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	0.47
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.08	0.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Flowserve (FLS) at 11.61%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

11.61%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
FLS: 11.61%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Flowserve (FLS): 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 Flowserve (FLS) at 5.42%, 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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

5.42%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
FLS: 5.42%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Flowserve (FLS): 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 Flowserve (FLS) at 13.45%, 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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

13.45%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
FLS: 13.45%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Flowserve (FLS)
Metric	CAT	FLS
ROE (TTM)	56.14%	11.61%
ROA (TTM)	9.09%	6.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.21%	5.42%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.19%	13.45%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.54%	35.30%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and Flowserve (FLS) at 3.76% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and Flowserve (FLS) at 23.36% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Flowserve (FLS)
Metric	CAT	FLS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	3.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	9.37%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	23.36%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	22.39%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Flowserve (FLS) at 2.10 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CAT.

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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

2.10

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
FLS: 2.10
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Flowserve (FLS) at 0.95 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.10 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

0.95

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
FLS: 0.95
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Flowserve (FLS): 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 Flowserve (FLS)
Metric	CAT	FLS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	2.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.10	0.95
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.25	2.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% and Flowserve (FLS) at 1.11% 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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

1.11%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
FLS: 1.11%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Flowserve (FLS): 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 Flowserve (FLS) at 43.50% 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%

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

43.50%

Max: 67.39%
FLS: 43.50%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Flowserve (FLS)
Metric	CAT	FLS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.13%	1.11%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.18%	43.50%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Flowserve (FLS) at 40.19 sits in the richer quartile — FLS 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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

40.19

Max: 59.38
FLS: 40.19
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 and Flowserve (FLS) at 2.17 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

2.17

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
FLS: 2.17
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Flowserve (FLS) at 4.40 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

FLS

Capital Goods industry group

4.40

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
FLS: 4.40
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Flowserve (FLS)
Metric	CAT	FLS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.92	40.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.29	2.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.90	4.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.55%	3.62%