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CAT vs. TXT: Caterpillar vs. Textron Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and Textron (TXT)
Profile ItemCATTXT
NameCaterpillar Inc.Textron Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation EquipmentAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization255.63 billion USD14.15 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT
TXT
GSPC
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT), 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 Textron (TXT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Textron (TXT)
MetricCATTXT
Total Return (1Y)6.75%3.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)38.34%4.49%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.28%2.30%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Textron (TXT)
MetricCATTXT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.33%29.18%
Beta (5Y)1.650.87
Max Drawdown (5Y)-47.79%-37.33%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.82M1.72M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CAT and TXT 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 Textron (TXT)
MetricCATTXT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.06-0.01
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.08-0.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Textron (TXT) at 12.48%, 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%

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

12.48%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
TXT
12.48%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 15.21% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Textron (TXT) at 6.30%, 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%

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

6.30%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
TXT
6.30%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Textron (TXT) at 9.33%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

9.33%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
TXT
9.33%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Textron (TXT)
MetricCATTXT
ROE (TTM)56.14%12.48%
ROA (TTM)9.09%4.51%
Net Margin (TTM)15.21%6.30%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.19%9.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.54%17.53%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and Textron (TXT) at 8.01% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and Textron (TXT) at 18.02% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Textron (TXT)
MetricCATTXT
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.29%8.01%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%4.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)-14.69%18.02%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.17%8.42%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Textron (TXT) at 1.80 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

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.80

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
TXT
1.80
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Textron (TXT) at 0.52 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

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.52

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
TXT
0.52
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): 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 Textron (TXT)
MetricCATTXT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.421.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.100.52
Net Debt / EBITDA2.251.54

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% and Textron (TXT) at 0.09% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.09%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
TXT
0.09%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 24.18% and Textron (TXT) at 1.44% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.44%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
TXT
1.44%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Textron (TXT)
MetricCATTXT
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.13%0.09%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)24.18%1.44%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Textron (TXT) at 15.03 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 TXT, 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

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

15.03

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
TXT
15.03
Min
3.03
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Textron (TXT) at 0.92 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 prices around its industry’s middle — TXT costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.92

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
TXT
0.92
Min
0.03
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Textron (TXT) at 1.74 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Caterpillar (CAT) at 11.90 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

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

TXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.74

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
TXT
1.74
Min
-1.08
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Textron (TXT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Textron (TXT)
MetricCATTXT
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.9215.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.290.92
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.901.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.55%5.35%