CAT vs. MAIR: Caterpillar vs. Madison Air Stock Comparison
How do Caterpillar (CAT) and Madison Air (MAIR) 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 Madison Air (MAIR) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while MAIR is classified in Building Products.
Caterpillar (CAT) has been public since January 2, 1962, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Madison Air (MAIR) listed only on April 16, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.
| Profile Item | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Caterpillar Inc. | Madison Air Solutions Corporation Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Machinery | Building Products |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment | Building Products |
| Market Capitalization | 255.63 billion USD | 11.56 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | April 16, 2026 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 6.75% | -- |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 38.34% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 25.28% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.33% | 57.10% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.65 | 1.60 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -47.79% | -51.16% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.82M | 2.60M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both CAT and MAIR need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | -- |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.08 | -- |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Caterpillar (CAT) earns 56.14% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Madison Air (MAIR) has no ROE this period.
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%
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
- MAIR
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Caterpillar (CAT) at 15.21% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Madison Air (MAIR) at 3.73%, 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%
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
3.73%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- MAIR
- 3.73%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% and Madison Air (MAIR) at 19.76% 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%
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
19.76%
- Max
- 36.60%
- MAIR
- 19.76%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 56.14% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.09% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.21% | 3.73% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.19% | 19.76% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 29.54% | 39.06% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Madison Air (MAIR) at 34.07% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for MAIR.
EPS Growth
Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and Madison Air (MAIR) at -2.32% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.29% | 34.07% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.38% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -14.69% | -2.32% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.17% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Madison Air (MAIR) at 1.82 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
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
1.82
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- MAIR
- 1.82
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Madison Air (MAIR) at 0.87 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
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
0.87
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- MAIR
- 0.87
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 1.82 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.10 | 0.87 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.25 | 3.37 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Madison Air (MAIR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Caterpillar (CAT) reports a yield of 1.13%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- MAIR
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Madison Air (MAIR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Caterpillar (CAT) reports a payout of 24.18%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- MAIR
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 24.18% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Madison Air (MAIR) at 164.57 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for MAIR’s trailing earnings.
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
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
164.57
- MAIR
- 164.57
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 and Madison Air (MAIR) at 3.09 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
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
3.09
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- MAIR
- 3.09
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Madison Air (MAIR) at 3.17 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
MAIR
Capital Goods industry group
3.17
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- MAIR
- 3.17
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CAT | MAIR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.92 | 164.57 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.29 | 3.09 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 11.90 | 3.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.55% | -- |