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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX)

This page compares Caterpillar (CAT) with RTX (RTX) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Caterpillar (CAT) and RTX (RTX) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while RTX is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

SymbolCATRTX
Company NameCaterpillar Inc.RTX Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation EquipmentAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization398.85 billion USD236.99 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962April 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

Caterpillar (CAT) has an aggressive beta of 1.62, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while RTX (RTX) is defensive at 0.31 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

CAT
RTX
Loading price history…
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCATRTX
5-Day Price Return-2.52%2.80%
13-Week Price Return13.86%-14.33%
26-Week Price Return56.44%1.16%
52-Week Price Return152.82%30.40%
Month-to-Date Return-2.71%-0.05%
Year-to-Date Return51.16%-4.05%
10-Day Avg. Volume2.44M6.01M
3-Month Avg. Volume2.70M5.93M
3-Month Volatility40.13%26.59%
Beta1.620.31

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) posts Return on Equity (TTM) of 47.57%, above its industry benchmark range, while RTX (RTX) at 11.23% sits closer to the industry mid-range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

47.57%

Max
46.22%
Q3
20.97%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.01%
Min
-19.93%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

11.23%

Max
46.22%
Q3
20.97%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.01%
Min
-19.93%
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 13.33% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of RTX (RTX) at 8.03%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

13.33%

Max
25.28%
Q3
12.38%
Median
6.85%
Q1
1.74%
Min
-13.93%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

8.03%

Max
25.28%
Q3
12.38%
Median
6.85%
Q1
1.74%
Min
-13.93%
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 16.48% and RTX (RTX) at 10.87% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

16.48%

Max
31.46%
Q3
16.66%
Median
9.92%
Q1
4.69%
Min
-13.15%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

10.87%

Max
31.46%
Q3
16.66%
Median
9.92%
Q1
4.69%
Min
-13.15%
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCATRTX
Return on Equity (TTM)47.57%11.23%
Return on Assets (TTM)9.97%4.29%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)13.33%8.03%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)16.48%10.87%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)33.84%20.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.35 and RTX (RTX) at 1.02 run Current Ratio (MRQ) in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

1.35

Max
5.24
Q3
2.93
Median
1.88
Q1
1.38
Min
0.45

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

1.02

Max
5.24
Q3
2.93
Median
1.88
Q1
1.38
Min
0.45
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

RTX (RTX) at 0.56 is around its industry mid-range for Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ), while Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.31 sits above its industry benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

2.31

Max
2.24
Q3
1.07
Median
0.59
Q1
0.27
Min
0.00

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max
2.24
Q3
1.07
Median
0.59
Q1
0.27
Min
0.00
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 8.29 and RTX (RTX) at 6.03 post Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on interest-coverage headroom.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

8.29

Max
33.75
Q3
15.37
Median
6.22
Q1
1.46
Min
-17.81

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

6.03

Max
33.75
Q3
15.37
Median
6.22
Q1
1.46
Min
-17.81
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCATRTX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.351.02
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.720.78
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)2.310.56
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)8.296.03

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCATRTX
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)22.22%8.72%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)11.85%10.56%
3-Year Revenue CAGR4.38%9.72%
5-Year Revenue CAGR10.12%9.38%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCATRTX
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)30.35%32.88%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)-2.06%56.47%
3-Year EPS CAGR14.16%12.37%
5-Year EPS CAGR28.05%--

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RTX (RTX) at 1.54% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Caterpillar (CAT) at 0.70%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

0.70%

Max
2.80%
Q3
1.19%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

1.54%

Max
2.80%
Q3
1.19%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 29.46% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. RTX (RTX) at 50.29% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

29.46%

Max
67.06%
Q3
29.46%
Median
11.18%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

50.29%

Max
67.06%
Q3
29.46%
Median
11.18%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCATRTX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.70%1.54%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)29.46%50.29%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 42.26 and RTX (RTX) at 32.66 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

42.26

Max
76.08
Q3
44.68
Median
30.28
Q1
21.23
Min
1.06

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

32.66

Max
76.08
Q3
44.68
Median
30.28
Q1
21.23
Min
1.06
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

RTX (RTX) at 2.62 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Caterpillar (CAT) at 5.63 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — CAT carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

5.63

Max
9.58
Q3
4.85
Median
2.77
Q1
1.52
Min
0.13

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

2.62

Max
9.58
Q3
4.85
Median
2.77
Q1
1.52
Min
0.13
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

RTX (RTX) at 3.92 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Caterpillar (CAT) at 17.66 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated book-value multiple for CAT relative to peers.

CAT

Capital Goods industry group

17.66

Max
13.81
Q3
7.00
Median
3.82
Q1
2.19
Min
0.15

RTX

Capital Goods industry group

3.92

Max
13.81
Q3
7.00
Median
3.82
Q1
2.19
Min
0.15
Caterpillar (CAT) vs. RTX (RTX): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCATRTX
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)42.2632.66
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)5.632.62
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)17.663.92
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)50.4429.03