CAT vs. RBC: Caterpillar vs. RBC Bearings Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Profile Item	CAT	RBC
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	RBC Bearings Incorporated
Country/Region	United States	United States
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	15.02 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	August 10, 2005
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

RBC

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC), 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 RBC Bearings (RBC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	CAT	RBC
Total Return (1Y)	6.75%	13.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.34%	30.63%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.28%	15.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

RBC

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	CAT	RBC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.33%	29.69%
Beta (5Y)	1.65	1.34
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-34.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.82M	309.06K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT and RBC 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 RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	CAT	RBC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.08	0.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than RBC Bearings (RBC) at 10.51%, 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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

10.51%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
RBC: 10.51%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): 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 RBC Bearings (RBC) at 17.51% 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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

17.51%

Max: 27.47%
RBC: 17.51%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 24.97% 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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

24.97%

Max: 36.60%
RBC: 24.97%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	CAT	RBC
ROE (TTM)	56.14%	10.51%
ROA (TTM)	9.09%	6.06%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.21%	17.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.19%	24.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.54%	45.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 14.34% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 18.05% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	CAT	RBC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	14.34%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	8.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	18.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	22.54%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 3.13 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

3.13

Max: 5.22
RBC: 3.13
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 0.22 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.10 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.22

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
RBC: 0.22
Min: 0.00

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): 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 RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	CAT	RBC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	3.13
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.10	0.22
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.25	1.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) 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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
RBC: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) 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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
RBC: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	CAT	RBC
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 RBC Bearings (RBC) at 42.44 sits in the richer quartile — RBC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

42.44

Max: 59.38
RBC: 42.44
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while RBC Bearings (RBC) at 7.42 sits in the pricier quartile — RBC costs more per dollar of sales.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

7.42

Max: 7.54
RBC: 7.42
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 4.21 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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

4.21

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
RBC: 4.21
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	CAT	RBC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.92	42.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.29	7.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.90	4.21
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.55%	2.22%