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CAT vs. URI: Caterpillar vs. United Rentals Stock Comparison

How do Caterpillar (CAT) and United Rentals (URI) 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 United Rentals (URI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while URI is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and United Rentals (URI)
Profile ItemCATURI
NameCaterpillar Inc.United Rentals Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation EquipmentTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization255.63 billion USD65.36 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962December 18, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT
URI
GSPC
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI), 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 United Rentals (URI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricCATURI
Total Return (1Y)6.75%35.39%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)38.34%38.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.28%24.76%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricCATURI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.33%44.71%
Beta (5Y)1.651.81
Max Drawdown (5Y)-47.79%-39.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.82M496.78K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CAT and URI 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 United Rentals (URI)
MetricCATURI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.060.70
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.081.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; United Rentals (URI) at 30.56% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

30.56%

Max
40.55%
URI
30.56%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): 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 United Rentals (URI) at 16.33% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

16.33%

Max
27.47%
URI
16.33%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% and United Rentals (URI) at 29.21% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

29.21%

Max
36.60%
URI
29.21%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricCATURI
ROE (TTM)56.14%30.56%
ROA (TTM)9.09%9.14%
Net Margin (TTM)15.21%16.33%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.19%29.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.54%39.19%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and United Rentals (URI) at 4.91% 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. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and United Rentals (URI) at -0.21% 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. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricCATURI
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.29%4.91%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%11.41%
EPS Growth (YoY)-14.69%-0.21%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.17%9.20%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.42 and United Rentals (URI) at 0.80 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

0.80

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
URI
0.80
Min
0.36
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.10 and United Rentals (URI) at 1.64 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

1.64

Max
2.33
URI
1.64
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): 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 United Rentals (URI)
MetricCATURI
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.420.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.101.64
Net Debt / EBITDA2.253.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% and United Rentals (URI) at 0.74% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

0.74%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
URI
0.74%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 24.18% and United Rentals (URI) at 16.95% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

16.95%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
URI
16.95%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricCATURI
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.13%0.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)24.18%16.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 and United Rentals (URI) at 23.24 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

23.24

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
URI
23.24
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): 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 United Rentals (URI) at 3.74 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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

3.74

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
URI
3.74
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: United Rentals (URI) at 6.75 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Caterpillar (CAT) at 11.90 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

6.75

Max
9.66
URI
6.75
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricCATURI
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.9223.24
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.293.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.906.75
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.55%3.24%