CAT vs. FTAI: Caterpillar vs. FTAI Aviation Stock Comparison
How do Caterpillar (CAT) and FTAI Aviation (FTAI) 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 FTAI Aviation (FTAI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while FTAI is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.
| Profile Item | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Caterpillar Inc. | FTAI Aviation Ltd. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Machinery | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| Market Capitalization | 255.63 billion USD | 18.43 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | May 14, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 6.75% | 20.27% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 38.34% | 71.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 25.28% | 58.99% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.33% | 68.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.65 | 1.52 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -47.79% | -52.11% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.82M | 1.60M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | 0.23 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.08 | 0.38 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% and FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 154.32% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.
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%
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
154.32%
- FTAI
- 154.32%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 15.21% and FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 15.46% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
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%
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
15.46%
- Max
- 27.47%
- FTAI
- 15.46%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% and FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 22.90% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
22.90%
- Max
- 36.60%
- FTAI
- 22.90%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 56.14% | 154.32% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.09% | 11.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.21% | 15.46% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.19% | 22.90% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 29.54% | 30.63% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 44.53% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Caterpillar (CAT) reports EPS growth of -14.69%, ranked against its industry; FTAI Aviation (FTAI) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.29% | 44.53% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.38% | 52.40% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -14.69% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.17% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 3.82 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
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
3.82
- Max
- 5.22
- FTAI
- 3.82
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but FTAI is more stretched: Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.10 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 8.06 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
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
8.06
- FTAI
- 8.06
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 3.82 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.10 | 8.06 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.25 | 3.11 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 1.14% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FTAI the richer one.
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%
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
1.14%
- Max
- 2.66%
- FTAI
- 1.14%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Caterpillar (CAT) at 24.18% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 34.48% 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%
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
34.48%
- Max
- 67.39%
- FTAI
- 34.48%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 1.14% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 24.18% | 34.48% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 36.57 sits in the richer quartile — FTAI 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
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
36.57
- Max
- 59.38
- FTAI
- 36.57
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 5.38 sits in the pricier quartile — FTAI costs more per dollar of sales.
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
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
5.38
- Max
- 7.54
- FTAI
- 5.38
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 11.90 and FTAI Aviation (FTAI) at 42.62 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
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
FTAI
Capital Goods industry group
42.62
- FTAI
- 42.62
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CAT | FTAI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.92 | 36.57 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.29 | 5.38 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 11.90 | 42.62 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.55% | -3.18% |