CAT vs. HII: Caterpillar vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while HII is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Profile Item	CAT	HII
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	255.63 billion USD	11.38 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	March 22, 2011
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

HII

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Metric	CAT	HII
Total Return (1Y)	6.75%	-0.48%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.34%	12.21%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.28%	11.63%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

HII

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Caterpillar (CAT) has an aggressive beta of 1.65, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is defensive at 0.17 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Metric	CAT	HII
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.33%	40.58%
Beta (5Y)	1.65	0.17
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-45.21%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.82M	505.72K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT and HII 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Metric	CAT	HII
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	-0.12
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.08	-0.18

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 13.99%, 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%

HII

Capital Goods industry group

13.99%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
HII: 13.99%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) 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%

HII

Capital Goods industry group

5.42%

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

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 7.72%, 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%

HII

Capital Goods industry group

7.72%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
HII: 7.72%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Metric	CAT	HII
ROE (TTM)	56.14%	13.99%
ROA (TTM)	9.09%	4.57%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.21%	5.42%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.19%	7.72%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.54%	12.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 8.23% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 10.24% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Metric	CAT	HII
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	8.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	5.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	10.24%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	2.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.42 and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 1.27 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

1.42

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
CAT: 1.42
Min: 0.36

HII

Capital Goods industry group

1.27

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
HII: 1.27
Min: 0.36

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 0.53 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

HII

Capital Goods industry group

0.53

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
HII: 0.53
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Metric	CAT	HII
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	1.27
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.10	0.53
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.25	2.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 1.91% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, HII 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%

HII

Capital Goods industry group

1.91%

Max: 2.66%
HII: 1.91%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 29.73% 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%

HII

Capital Goods industry group

29.73%

Max: 67.39%
HII: 29.73%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Metric	CAT	HII
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.13%	1.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.18%	29.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 15.55 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for HII, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

HII

Capital Goods industry group

15.55

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
HII: 15.55
Min: 3.03

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 0.84 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 prices around its industry’s middle — HII costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

HII

Capital Goods industry group

0.84

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
HII: 0.84
Min: 0.03

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at 2.07 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

HII

Capital Goods industry group

2.07

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
HII: 2.07
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
Metric	CAT	HII
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.92	15.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.29	0.84
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.90	2.07
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.55%	1.70%