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CAT vs. POOL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

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Here’s a clear look at CAT and POOL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

SymbolCATPOOL
Company NameCaterpillar Inc.Pool Corporation
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsConsumer Discretionary
GICS IndustryMachineryDistributors
Market Capitalization197.04 billion USD11.75 billion USD
ExchangeNYSENasdaqGS
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962October 13, 1995
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of CAT and POOL by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

CAT vs. POOL: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCATPOOL
5-Day Price Return0.74%-3.42%
13-Week Price Return19.29%-2.33%
26-Week Price Return18.91%-7.45%
52-Week Price Return22.03%-8.87%
Month-to-Date Return-3.98%2.21%
Year-to-Date Return15.94%-7.62%
10-Day Avg. Volume3.54M0.46M
3-Month Avg. Volume2.76M0.59M
3-Month Volatility19.85%30.35%
Beta1.461.12

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

CAT

49.92%

Machinery Industry

Max
34.68%
Q3
19.06%
Median
13.13%
Q1
8.53%
Min
-4.87%

CAT’s Return on Equity of 49.92% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Machinery industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

POOL

31.34%

Distributors Industry

Max
18.85%
Q3
17.85%
Median
13.11%
Q1
11.23%
Min
11.19%

POOL’s Return on Equity of 31.34% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Distributors industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

CAT

14.95%

Machinery Industry

Max
19.74%
Q3
11.24%
Median
8.13%
Q1
5.38%
Min
-1.11%

A Net Profit Margin of 14.95% places CAT in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

POOL

7.79%

Distributors Industry

Max
5.04%
Q3
4.92%
Median
4.56%
Q1
4.55%
Min
4.54%

POOL’s Net Profit Margin of 7.79% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Distributors industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

CAT

18.23%

Machinery Industry

Max
26.63%
Q3
16.15%
Median
11.27%
Q1
7.72%
Min
-4.91%

An Operating Profit Margin of 18.23% places CAT in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

POOL

11.13%

Distributors Industry

Max
11.14%
Q3
7.80%
Median
5.53%
Q1
3.65%
Min
3.17%

An Operating Profit Margin of 11.13% places POOL in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCATPOOL
Return on Equity (TTM)49.92%31.34%
Return on Assets (TTM)10.81%11.64%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)14.95%7.79%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)18.23%11.13%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)36.53%29.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CAT

1.34

Machinery Industry

Max
3.83
Q3
2.32
Median
1.72
Q1
1.28
Min
0.78

CAT’s Current Ratio of 1.34 aligns with the median group of the Machinery industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

POOL

2.52

Distributors Industry

Max
1.81
Q3
1.72
Median
1.48
Q1
1.24
Min
1.15

POOL’s Current Ratio of 2.52 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Distributors industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

CAT

2.18

Machinery Industry

Max
1.49
Q3
0.75
Median
0.44
Q1
0.26
Min
0.00

With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.18, CAT operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Machinery industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.

POOL

0.95

Distributors Industry

Max
1.09
Q3
0.98
Median
0.75
Q1
0.52
Min
0.46

POOL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.95 is typical for the Distributors industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

CAT

12.53

Machinery Industry

Max
67.55
Q3
33.79
Median
13.87
Q1
7.97
Min
-1.43

CAT’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 12.53 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Machinery industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

POOL

12.28

Distributors Industry

Max
13.15
Q3
10.84
Median
5.59
Q1
4.01
Min
3.80

POOL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 12.28 is in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCATPOOL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.342.52
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.720.82
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)2.180.95
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)12.5312.28

Growth

Revenue Growth

CAT vs. POOL: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

CAT vs. POOL: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CAT

1.37%

Machinery Industry

Max
5.32%
Q3
2.84%
Median
1.87%
Q1
1.09%
Min
0.00%

CAT’s Dividend Yield of 1.37% is consistent with its peers in the Machinery industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

POOL

1.52%

Distributors Industry

Max
44.83%
Q3
35.02%
Median
4.81%
Q1
3.26%
Min
1.54%

POOL’s Dividend Yield of 1.52% is below the typical range for the Distributors industry. This indicates that shareholder returns are likely driven more by potential capital appreciation than by dividend income.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CAT

28.60%

Machinery Industry

Max
202.17%
Q3
98.65%
Median
55.54%
Q1
29.03%
Min
0.00%

CAT’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 28.60% is in the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

POOL

44.67%

Distributors Industry

Max
1,122.47%
Q3
858.23%
Median
55.08%
Q1
44.32%
Min
34.92%

POOL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 44.67% is within the typical range for the Distributors industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCATPOOL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.37%1.52%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)28.60%44.67%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

CAT

20.88

Machinery Industry

Max
53.66
Q3
31.29
Median
22.00
Q1
16.18
Min
7.00

CAT’s P/E Ratio of 20.88 is within the middle range for the Machinery industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

POOL

29.38

Distributors Industry

Max
28.99
Q3
25.04
Median
23.42
Q1
13.71
Min
6.24

At 29.38, POOL’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Distributors industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

CAT

3.12

Machinery Industry

Max
5.04
Q3
2.72
Median
1.67
Q1
1.04
Min
0.24

CAT’s P/S Ratio of 3.12 is in the upper echelon for the Machinery industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

POOL

2.29

Distributors Industry

Max
1.14
Q3
1.14
Median
0.96
Q1
0.61
Min
0.28

With a P/S Ratio of 2.29, POOL trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Distributors industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

CAT

9.78

Machinery Industry

Max
7.23
Q3
3.90
Median
2.52
Q1
1.47
Min
0.49

At 9.78, CAT’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Machinery industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

POOL

8.44

Distributors Industry

Max
3.72
Q3
3.57
Median
3.12
Q1
2.41
Min
1.47

At 8.44, POOL’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Distributors industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

CAT vs. POOL: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCATPOOL
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)20.8829.38
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)3.122.29
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)9.788.44
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)25.4624.87