CAT vs. VRT: Caterpillar vs. Vertiv Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertiv (VRT) 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 Vertiv (VRT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CAT is classified in Machinery while VRT is classified in Electrical Equipment.

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Profile Item	CAT	VRT
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	Vertiv Holdings Co Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Electrical Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Electrical Components & Equipment
Market Capitalization	255.63 billion USD	70.41 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	August 2, 2018
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

VRT

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Vertiv (VRT), 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 Vertiv (VRT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	CAT	VRT
Total Return (1Y)	6.75%	11.12%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.34%	71.14%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.28%	49.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

VRT

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	CAT	VRT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.33%	71.11%
Beta (5Y)	1.65	2.15
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-69.52%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.82M	5.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT and VRT 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 Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	CAT	VRT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	0.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.08	0.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% and Vertiv (VRT) at 46.57% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

46.57%

VRT: 46.57%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Vertiv (VRT): 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 16.00% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

16.00%

Max: 27.47%
VRT: 16.00%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 20.19% and Vertiv (VRT) at 23.77% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

23.77%

Max: 36.60%
VRT: 23.77%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	CAT	VRT
ROE (TTM)	56.14%	46.57%
ROA (TTM)	9.09%	11.94%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.21%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.19%	23.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.54%	38.12%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Vertiv (VRT) at 27.69% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for VRT.

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

EPS Growth

Vertiv (VRT) at 166.41% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	CAT	VRT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	27.69%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	21.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	166.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	340.11%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.42 and Vertiv (VRT) at 1.39 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

1.39

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
VRT: 1.39
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Vertiv (VRT) at 0.61 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

0.61

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
VRT: 0.61
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Vertiv (VRT): 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 Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	CAT	VRT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	1.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.10	0.61
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.25	-0.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.11% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

0.11%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
VRT: 0.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 24.18% and Vertiv (VRT) at 4.67% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

4.67%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
VRT: 4.67%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	CAT	VRT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.13%	0.11%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.18%	4.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 and Vertiv (VRT) at 34.18 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

34.18

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
VRT: 34.18
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Vertiv (VRT): 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 5.37 sits in the pricier quartile — VRT 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

5.37

Max: 7.54
VRT: 5.37
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Caterpillar (CAT) at 11.90 and Vertiv (VRT) at 12.80 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

12.80

VRT: 12.80
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	CAT	VRT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.92	34.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.29	5.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.90	12.80
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.55%	4.21%