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CAT vs. HUBB: Caterpillar vs. Hubbell Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and Hubbell (HUBB)
Profile ItemCATHUBB
NameCaterpillar Inc.Hubbell Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryElectrical Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation EquipmentElectrical Components & Equipment
Market Capitalization255.63 billion USD22.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962June 5, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT
HUBB
GSPC
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB), 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 Hubbell (HUBB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricCATHUBB
Total Return (1Y)6.75%-2.60%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)38.34%17.51%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.28%18.15%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricCATHUBB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.33%32.90%
Beta (5Y)1.650.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-47.79%-32.65%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.82M557.78K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CAT and HUBB 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 Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricCATHUBB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.06-0.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.08-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Hubbell (HUBB) at 23.43% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

23.43%

Max
40.55%
HUBB
23.43%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 15.21% and Hubbell (HUBB) at 13.78% 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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

13.78%

Max
27.47%
HUBB
13.78%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% and Hubbell (HUBB) at 20.52% 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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

20.52%

Max
36.60%
HUBB
20.52%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricCATHUBB
ROE (TTM)56.14%23.43%
ROA (TTM)9.09%8.53%
Net Margin (TTM)15.21%13.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.19%20.52%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.54%35.02%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and Hubbell (HUBB) at 3.84% 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. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and Hubbell (HUBB) at 15.10% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricCATHUBB
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.29%3.84%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%5.71%
EPS Growth (YoY)-14.69%15.10%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.17%20.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Hubbell (HUBB) at 1.53 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CAT.

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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

1.53

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
HUBB
1.53
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.10 and Hubbell (HUBB) at 1.29 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

1.29

Max
2.33
HUBB
1.29
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): 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 Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricCATHUBB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.421.53
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.101.29
Net Debt / EBITDA2.253.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Hubbell (HUBB) at 1.36% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, HUBB 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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

1.36%

Max
2.66%
HUBB
1.36%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): 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 Hubbell (HUBB) at 33.31% 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%

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

33.31%

Max
67.39%
HUBB
33.31%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricCATHUBB
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.13%1.36%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)24.18%33.31%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 and Hubbell (HUBB) at 25.19 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

21.92

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
CAT
21.92
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

25.19

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
HUBB
25.19
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 and Hubbell (HUBB) at 3.44 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

3.44

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
HUBB
3.44
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Hubbell (HUBB) at 5.53 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Caterpillar (CAT) at 11.90 prices even higher, above its industry 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

HUBB

Capital Goods industry group

5.53

Max
9.66
HUBB
5.53
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Hubbell (HUBB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Hubbell (HUBB)
MetricCATHUBB
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.9225.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.293.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.905.53
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.55%2.44%