CAT vs. WCC: Caterpillar vs. WESCO Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and WESCO (WCC)
Profile Item	CAT	WCC
Name	Caterpillar Inc.	WESCO International, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	255.63 billion USD	14.24 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	May 12, 1999
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT

WCC

GSPC

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. WESCO (WCC), 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 WESCO (WCC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and WESCO (WCC)
Metric	CAT	WCC
Total Return (1Y)	6.75%	26.01%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.34%	33.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.28%	19.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CAT

WCC

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and WESCO (WCC)
Metric	CAT	WCC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.33%	48.31%
Beta (5Y)	1.65	1.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-37.37%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.82M	592.41K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CAT and WCC 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 WESCO (WCC)
Metric	CAT	WCC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	0.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.08	0.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than WESCO (WCC) at 15.44%, 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

15.44%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
WCC: 15.44%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. WESCO (WCC): 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 WESCO (WCC) at 3.04%, 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

3.04%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
WCC: 3.04%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. WESCO (WCC): 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 WESCO (WCC) at 6.61%, 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

6.61%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
WCC: 6.61%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and WESCO (WCC)
Metric	CAT	WCC
ROE (TTM)	56.14%	15.44%
ROA (TTM)	9.09%	5.43%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.21%	3.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.19%	6.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.54%	21.51%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and WESCO (WCC) at 7.76% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and WESCO (WCC) at 0.00% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and WESCO (WCC)
Metric	CAT	WCC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.29%	7.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	3.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-14.69%	0.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.17%	-5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

WESCO (WCC) at 2.01 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

2.01

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
WCC: 2.01
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 2.10 and WESCO (WCC) at 1.25 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

1.25

Max: 2.33
WCC: 1.25
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Caterpillar (CAT) vs. WESCO (WCC): 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 WESCO (WCC)
Metric	CAT	WCC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	2.01
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.10	1.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.25	3.46

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% and WESCO (WCC) at 0.68% 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

0.68%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WCC: 0.68%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 24.18% and WESCO (WCC) at 12.13% 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

12.13%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WCC: 12.13%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and WESCO (WCC)
Metric	CAT	WCC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.13%	0.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.18%	12.13%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 18.17 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 WCC, 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

18.17

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
WCC: 18.17
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 0.55 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Caterpillar (CAT) at 3.29 prices around its industry’s middle — WCC 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

0.55

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
WCC: 0.55
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

WESCO (WCC) at 2.62 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

2.62

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
WCC: 2.62
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and WESCO (WCC)
Metric	CAT	WCC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.92	18.17
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.29	0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.90	2.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.55%	2.71%