CAT vs. GE: Caterpillar vs. GE Aerospace Stock Comparison

July 7, 2026

How do Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE) 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 GE Aerospace (GE) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while GE is classified in Industrial Conglomerates.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Profile Item	CAT	GE
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	General Electric Company
Country/Region	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	446.74 billion USD	395.66 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE), 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

Loading price history…

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

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
Total Return (1Y)	146.42%	54.39%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	61.57%	65.04%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	37.79%	43.21%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE), 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

Loading price history…

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	37.68%	31.49%
Beta (5Y)	1.59	1.37
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-34.05%	-44.94%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.95M	5.71M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT and GE 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 GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	3.78	1.60
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	6.41	2.38

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Caterpillar (CAT) at 51.33% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; GE Aerospace (GE) at 45.43% also sits in the top quartile.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

51.33%

CAT: 51.33%
Max: 45.43%
Q3: 19.97%
Median: 11.29%
Q1: 2.90%
Min: -22.65%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

45.43%

GE: 45.43%
Max: 45.43%
Q3: 19.97%
Median: 11.29%
Q1: 2.90%
Min: -22.65%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 13.33% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 17.86% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

13.33%

Max: 24.69%
CAT: 13.33%
Q3: 11.54%
Median: 5.87%
Q1: 0.48%
Min: -13.94%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

17.86%

Max: 24.69%
GE: 17.86%
Q3: 11.54%
Median: 5.87%
Q1: 0.48%
Min: -13.94%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 18.18% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 20.21% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

18.18%

Max: 29.84%
CAT: 18.18%
Q3: 15.95%
Median: 8.30%
Q1: 1.86%
Min: -17.50%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

20.21%

Max: 29.84%
GE: 20.21%
Q3: 15.95%
Median: 8.30%
Q1: 1.86%
Min: -17.50%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
ROE (TTM)	51.33%	45.43%
ROA (TTM)	8.52%	4.85%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.33%	17.86%
Operating Margin (TTM)	18.18%	20.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)	28.60%	31.15%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	18.48%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	16.32%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	35.89%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	446.03%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.35 and GE Aerospace (GE) at 1.01 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

1.35

Max: 5.24
Q3: 2.98
Median: 2.12
Q1: 1.46
CAT: 1.35
Min: 0.71

GE

Capital Goods industry group

1.01

Max: 5.24
Q3: 2.98
Median: 2.12
Q1: 1.46
GE: 1.01
Min: 0.71

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): 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 CAT is more stretched: GE Aerospace (GE) at 1.17 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.31 is above its industry benchmark range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

2.31

CAT: 2.31
Max: 2.29
Q3: 1.08
Median: 0.62
Q1: 0.28
Min: 0.00

GE

Capital Goods industry group

1.17

Max: 2.29
GE: 1.17
Q3: 1.08
Median: 0.62
Q1: 0.28
Min: 0.00

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): 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 GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.35	1.01
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.31	1.17
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.73	0.97

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 0.63% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.41% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

0.63%

Max: 2.61%
Q3: 1.05%
CAT: 0.63%
Median: 0.16%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

0.41%

Max: 2.61%
Q3: 1.05%
GE: 0.41%
Median: 0.16%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.25% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 29.58% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

29.58%

Max: 72.02%
CAT: 29.58%
Q3: 29.57%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

19.25%

Max: 72.02%
Q3: 29.57%
GE: 19.25%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.63%	0.41%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	29.58%	19.25%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 48.40 and GE Aerospace (GE) at 47.10 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

48.40

Max: 87.91
Q3: 50.21
CAT: 48.40
Median: 33.69
Q1: 23.18
Min: 6.09

GE

Capital Goods industry group

47.10

Max: 87.91
Q3: 50.21
GE: 47.10
Median: 33.69
Q1: 23.18
Min: 6.09

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 6.31 and GE Aerospace (GE) at 8.19 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

6.31

Max: 10.39
CAT: 6.31
Q3: 4.98
Median: 2.71
Q1: 1.31
Min: 0.05

GE

Capital Goods industry group

8.19

Max: 10.39
GE: 8.19
Q3: 4.98
Median: 2.71
Q1: 1.31
Min: 0.05

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 23.94 and GE Aerospace (GE) at 21.88 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

23.94

CAT: 23.94
Max: 12.74
Q3: 6.45
Median: 3.82
Q1: 2.07
Min: -2.94

GE

Capital Goods industry group

21.88

GE: 21.88
Max: 12.74
Q3: 6.45
Median: 3.82
Q1: 2.07
Min: -2.94

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	CAT	GE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	48.40	47.10
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.31	8.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	23.94	21.88
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	0.85%	1.43%