CAT vs. GE: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

April 3, 2026

Here's a clear look at CAT and GE, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	CAT	GE
Company Name	Caterpillar Inc.	GE Aerospace
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Industrial Conglomerates
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Industrial Conglomerates
Market Capitalization	325.43 billion USD	298.31 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

CAT's market capitalization stands at 325.43 billion USD, while GE's is 298.31 billion USD, indicating their market valuations are broadly comparable.

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of CAT and GE by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

CAT vs. GE: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	CAT	GE
5-Day Price Return	-0.90%	-2.99%
13-Week Price Return	19.40%	-10.37%
26-Week Price Return	47.30%	-6.05%
52-Week Price Return	104.95%	37.37%
Month-to-Date Return	-6.39%	-17.37%
Year-to-Date Return	21.39%	-8.19%
10-Day Avg. Volume	2.43M	5.84M
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.74M	5.30M
3-Month Volatility	35.37%	34.41%
Beta	1.54	1.50

With betas of 1.54 for CAT and 1.50 for GE, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

CAT

45.15%

Machinery Industry

Max: 34.97%
Q3: 19.18%
Median: 11.86%
Q1: 7.91%
Min: -8.50%

CAT's Return on Equity of 45.15% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Machinery industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

GE

45.88%

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 19.74%
Q3: 13.65%
Median: 8.53%
Q1: 5.88%
Min: -3.73%

GE's Return on Equity of 45.88% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

CAT

13.14%

Machinery Industry

Max: 18.39%
Q3: 10.64%
Median: 7.58%
Q1: 5.24%
Min: -0.82%

A Net Profit Margin of 13.14% places CAT in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

GE

18.98%

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 18.98%
Q3: 12.86%
Median: 9.45%
Q1: 4.34%
Min: -2.43%

A Net Profit Margin of 18.98% places GE in the upper quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

CAT

16.50%

Machinery Industry

Max: 26.40%
Q3: 15.62%
Median: 11.25%
Q1: 8.11%
Min: -0.02%

An Operating Profit Margin of 16.50% places CAT in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

GE

16.86%

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 27.11%
Q3: 17.04%
Median: 12.58%
Q1: 8.53%
Min: -3.91%

GE's Operating Profit Margin of 16.86% is around the midpoint for the Industrial Conglomerates industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	CAT	GE
Return on Equity (TTM)	45.15%	45.88%
Return on Assets (TTM)	9.67%	6.86%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	13.14%	18.98%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	16.50%	16.86%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	33.86%	35.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CAT

1.44

Machinery Industry

Max: 3.37
Q3: 2.17
Median: 1.74
Q1: 1.33
Min: 0.71

CAT's Current Ratio of 1.44 aligns with the median group of the Machinery industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

GE

1.04

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 1.93
Q3: 1.55
Median: 1.33
Q1: 1.23
Min: 0.87

GE's Current Ratio of 1.04 falls into the lower quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

CAT

2.03

Machinery Industry

Max: 1.37
Q3: 0.69
Median: 0.43
Q1: 0.23
Min: 0.00

With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.03, CAT operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Machinery industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.

GE

1.10

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 2.65
Q3: 1.43
Median: 0.86
Q1: 0.61
Min: 0.17

GE's Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.10 is typical for the Industrial Conglomerates industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

CAT

7.20

Machinery Industry

Max: 87.64
Q3: 40.28
Median: 13.43
Q1: 6.22
Min: -0.40

CAT's Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.20 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Machinery industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

GE

5.01

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 13.50
Q3: 7.98
Median: 4.18
Q1: 2.90
Min: -2.15

GE's Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.01 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Industrial Conglomerates industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	CAT	GE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.44	1.04
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.86	0.74
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	2.03	1.10
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	7.20	5.01

Growth

Revenue Growth

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Symbol	CAT	GE
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)	18.00%	17.63%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)	4.29%	18.48%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	4.38%	16.32%
5-Year Revenue CAGR	10.12%	-9.57%

EPS Growth

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

Symbol	CAT	GE
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)	-11.46%	36.66%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)	-14.70%	35.99%
3-Year EPS CAGR	14.16%	198.60%
5-Year EPS CAGR	28.05%	9.37%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CAT

0.85%

Machinery Industry

Max: 5.14%
Q3: 2.69%
Median: 1.78%
Q1: 1.04%
Min: 0.00%

CAT's Dividend Yield of 0.85% is in the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This suggests the company's strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

GE

0.49%

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 10.51%
Q3: 5.21%
Median: 2.87%
Q1: 1.61%
Min: 0.00%

GE's Dividend Yield of 0.49% is in the lower quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This suggests the company's strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CAT

30.94%

Machinery Industry

Max: 194.44%
Q3: 102.08%
Median: 56.16%
Q1: 28.80%
Min: 0.00%

CAT's Dividend Payout Ratio of 30.94% is within the typical range for the Machinery industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

GE

16.68%

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 182.48%
Q3: 97.32%
Median: 49.85%
Q1: 26.34%
Min: 0.00%

GE's Dividend Payout Ratio of 16.68% is in the lower quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	CAT	GE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.85%	0.49%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	30.94%	16.68%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

CAT

36.42

Machinery Industry

Max: 43.99
Q3: 30.15
Median: 25.62
Q1: 19.20
Min: 5.87

A P/E Ratio of 36.42 places CAT in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company's future growth.

GE

34.08

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 40.03
Q3: 23.21
Median: 13.96
Q1: 8.74
Min: 5.20

A P/E Ratio of 34.08 places GE in the upper quartile for the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company's future growth.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

CAT

4.79

Machinery Industry

Max: 5.63
Q3: 3.00
Median: 1.89
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.33

CAT's P/S Ratio of 4.79 is in the upper echelon for the Machinery industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

GE

6.47

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 4.57
Q3: 2.18
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.51
Min: 0.11

With a P/S Ratio of 6.47, GE trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

CAT

12.58

Machinery Industry

Max: 8.64
Q3: 4.43
Median: 2.79
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.58

At 12.58, CAT's P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Machinery industry. This signifies that the market's valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

GE

17.40

Industrial Conglomerates Industry

Max: 5.72
Q3: 2.65
Median: 1.18
Q1: 0.57
Min: 0.28

At 17.40, GE's P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This signifies that the market's valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

CAT vs. GE: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Industrial Conglomerates industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	CAT	GE
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	36.42	34.08
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	4.79	6.47
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	12.58	17.40
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	43.41	40.83