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CAT vs. WWD: Caterpillar vs. Woodward Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Caterpillar (CAT) and Woodward (WWD)
Profile ItemCATWWD
NameCaterpillar Inc.Woodward, 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 USD18.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962April 4, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CAT
WWD
GSPC
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD), 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 Woodward (WWD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricCATWWD
Total Return (1Y)6.75%25.66%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)38.34%36.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.28%23.54%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricCATWWD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.33%40.29%
Beta (5Y)1.650.87
Max Drawdown (5Y)-47.79%-37.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.82M665.85K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CAT and WWD 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 Woodward (WWD)
MetricCATWWD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.060.53
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.080.85

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Caterpillar (CAT) at 56.14% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Woodward (WWD) at 22.34% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

22.34%

Max
40.55%
WWD
22.34%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 13.17% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.17%

Max
27.47%
WWD
13.17%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 17.76%, 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

17.76%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
WWD
17.76%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricCATWWD
ROE (TTM)56.14%22.34%
ROA (TTM)9.09%8.62%
Net Margin (TTM)15.21%13.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.19%17.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.54%29.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 4.29% and Woodward (WWD) at 7.30% 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. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at -14.69% and Woodward (WWD) at 19.63% 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. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricCATWWD
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.29%7.30%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%14.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)-14.69%19.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.17%38.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Woodward (WWD) at 1.65 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

1.65

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
WWD
1.65
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Woodward (WWD) at 0.56 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
WWD
0.56
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD)
MetricCATWWD
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.421.65
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.100.56
Net Debt / EBITDA2.251.13

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 1.13% and Woodward (WWD) at 0.32% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.32%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
WWD
0.32%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 24.18% and Woodward (WWD) at 13.35% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
WWD
13.35%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricCATWWD
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.13%0.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)24.18%13.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Caterpillar (CAT) at 21.92 and Woodward (WWD) at 35.30 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

35.30

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
WWD
35.30
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 4.47 sits in the pricier quartile — WWD 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

4.47

Max
7.54
WWD
4.47
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Woodward (WWD) at 7.60 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

7.60

Max
9.66
WWD
7.60
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Caterpillar (CAT) vs. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Caterpillar (CAT) and Woodward (WWD)
MetricCATWWD
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.9235.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.294.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.907.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.55%1.00%