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CAT vs. GEV: Caterpillar vs. GE Vernova Stock Comparison

How do Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Vernova (GEV) 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 Vernova (GEV) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while GEV is classified in Electrical Equipment.

Caterpillar (CAT) carries decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, while GE Vernova (GEV) listed on March 27, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the CAT side.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Vernova (GEV)
Profile ItemCATGEV
NameCaterpillar Inc.GE Vernova Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryElectrical Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation EquipmentHeavy Electrical Equipment
Market Capitalization393.74 billion USD283.18 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962March 27, 2024
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT
GEV
GSPC
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV), 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 GE Vernova (GEV). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricCATGEV
Total Return (1Y)107.01%70.43%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)46.43%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)33.69%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT
GEV
GSPC
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV), 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 GE Vernova (GEV). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricCATGEV
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)39.41%51.92%
Beta (5Y)1.611.01
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.05%-38.29%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.23M2.80M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CAT and GEV 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 Vernova (GEV)
MetricCATGEV
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.611.28
Sortino Ratio (1Y)4.262.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.97% and GE Vernova (GEV) at 82.58% 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

56.97%

CAT
56.97%
Max
40.35%
Q3
18.67%
Median
11.40%
Q1
2.69%
Min
-19.86%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

82.58%

GEV
82.58%
Max
40.35%
Q3
18.67%
Median
11.40%
Q1
2.69%
Min
-19.86%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 14.51% and GE Vernova (GEV) at 23.04% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

14.51%

Max
24.39%
CAT
14.51%
Q3
11.86%
Median
5.82%
Q1
0.61%
Min
-14.15%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

23.04%

Max
24.39%
GEV
23.04%
Q3
11.86%
Median
5.82%
Q1
0.61%
Min
-14.15%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 22.18% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of GE Vernova (GEV) at 7.47%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

22.18%

Max
35.46%
CAT
22.18%
Q3
17.57%
Median
10.45%
Q1
4.38%
Min
-12.63%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

7.47%

Max
35.46%
Q3
17.57%
Median
10.45%
GEV
7.47%
Q1
4.38%
Min
-12.63%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricCATGEV
ROE (TTM)56.97%82.58%
ROA (TTM)9.03%2.54%
Net Margin (TTM)14.51%23.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)22.18%7.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.71%20.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and GE Vernova (GEV) at 8.97% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

GE Vernova (GEV) at 217.03% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricCATGEV
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.29%8.97%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%8.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)-14.69%217.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.17%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.37 and GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.85 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

1.37

Max
5.34
Q3
3.03
Median
2.12
Q1
1.45
CAT
1.37
Min
0.76

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

0.85

Max
5.34
Q3
3.03
Median
2.12
Q1
1.45
GEV
0.85
Min
0.76
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.28 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

2.33

CAT
2.33
Max
2.33
Q3
1.09
Median
0.57
Q1
0.26
Min
0.00

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

0.28

Max
2.33
Q3
1.09
Median
0.57
GEV
0.28
Q1
0.26
Min
0.00
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): 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 Vernova (GEV)
MetricCATGEV
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.370.85
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.330.28
Net Debt / EBITDA2.41-2.29

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 0.72% and GE Vernova (GEV) at 0.17% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

0.72%

Max
2.56%
Q3
1.03%
CAT
0.72%
Median
0.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

0.17%

Max
2.56%
Q3
1.03%
GEV
0.17%
Median
0.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 26.01% and GE Vernova (GEV) at 5.73% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

26.01%

Max
72.00%
Q3
28.87%
CAT
26.01%
Median
5.09%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

5.73%

Max
72.00%
Q3
28.87%
GEV
5.73%
Median
5.09%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricCATGEV
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.72%0.17%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.01%5.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 36.91 and GE Vernova (GEV) at 30.12 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

36.91

Max
79.68
Q3
45.61
CAT
36.91
Median
32.83
Q1
22.34
Min
1.26

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

30.12

Max
79.68
Q3
45.61
Median
32.83
GEV
30.12
Q1
22.34
Min
1.26
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 5.27 and GE Vernova (GEV) at 6.85 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

5.27

Max
10.10
CAT
5.27
Q3
4.90
Median
2.71
Q1
1.27
Min
0.05

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

6.85

Max
10.10
GEV
6.85
Q3
4.90
Median
2.71
Q1
1.27
Min
0.05
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): 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 20.30 and GE Vernova (GEV) at 23.68 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

20.30

CAT
20.30
Max
13.00
Q3
6.66
Median
3.89
Q1
2.10
Min
-3.85

GEV

Capital Goods industry group

23.68

GEV
23.68
Max
13.00
Q3
6.66
Median
3.89
Q1
2.10
Min
-3.85
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. GE Vernova (GEV): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and GE Vernova (GEV)
MetricCATGEV
P/E Ratio (TTM)36.9130.12
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.276.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)20.3023.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.28%5.55%