CAT vs. PNR: Caterpillar vs. Pentair Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Caterpillar (CAT) and Pentair (PNR) 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 Pentair (PNR) both belong to the Machinery industry, though CAT is classified under Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment while PNR falls under Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and Pentair (PNR)
Profile Item	CAT	PNR
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	Pentair plc
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	255.63 billion USD	10.88 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	May 3, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

PNR

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Pentair (PNR), 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 Pentair (PNR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	CAT	PNR
Total Return (1Y)	6.75%	-33.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.34%	6.19%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.28%	0.13%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

PNR

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	CAT	PNR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.33%	36.79%
Beta (5Y)	1.65	0.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-53.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.82M	3.26M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT and PNR 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 Pentair (PNR)
Metric	CAT	PNR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	-1.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.08	-1.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Pentair (PNR) at 15.61%, 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

15.61%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
PNR: 15.61%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR) at 15.44% 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

15.44%

Max: 27.47%
PNR: 15.44%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% and Pentair (PNR) at 21.90% 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

21.90%

Max: 36.60%
PNR: 21.90%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	CAT	PNR
ROE (TTM)	56.14%	15.61%
ROA (TTM)	9.09%	7.91%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.21%	15.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.19%	21.90%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.54%	40.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and Pentair (PNR) at 2.28% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and Pentair (PNR) at 5.88% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	CAT	PNR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	2.28%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	0.44%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	5.88%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	10.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Pentair (PNR) at 1.47 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

1.47

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
PNR: 1.47
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Pentair (PNR) at 0.42 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

0.42

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
PNR: 0.42
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR)
Metric	CAT	PNR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	1.47
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.10	0.42
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.25	1.61

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 1.52% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PNR 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

1.52%

Max: 2.66%
PNR: 1.52%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR) at 28.88% 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

28.88%

Max: 67.39%
PNR: 28.88%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	CAT	PNR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.13%	1.52%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.18%	28.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 18.56 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 PNR, 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

18.56

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
PNR: 18.56
Min: 3.03

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR) at 2.74 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

2.74

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
PNR: 2.74
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pentair (PNR) at 2.82 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

2.82

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
PNR: 2.82
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	CAT	PNR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.92	18.56
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.29	2.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.90	2.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.55%	4.77%