Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT – Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 20th will be paid a dividend of 1.51 per share by the industrial products company on Tuesday, May 19th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 20th.
Caterpillar has raised its dividend payment by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 30 consecutive years. Caterpillar has a dividend payout ratio of 28.6% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Caterpillar to earn $22.11 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $6.04 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 27.3%.
Caterpillar Stock Up 2.1%
NYSE CAT opened at $787.46 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. Caterpillar has a 1-year low of $279.80 and a 1-year high of $795.52. The company has a 50 day moving average of $723.94 and a 200-day moving average of $621.03. The company has a market cap of $366.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.84, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.52.
Key Caterpillar News
Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple near-term and FY2026 EPS forecasts for CAT (notably Q2 2026, Q1 2027 and FY2026), nudging forward earnings expectations and supporting the buy-side narrative that results and backlog remain strong. Zacks Research Note
- Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar declared/maintained a quarterly dividend of $1.51 (payable May 19, record April 20), reinforcing buy-and-hold income investor interest and signaling confidence in cash flow. Dividend Announcement
- Positive Sentiment: Management announced a planned CFO succession (Andrew Bonfield to retire Oct. 1; Kyle Epley named CFO effective May 1), a smooth internal handover that reduces governance/transition risk and was received positively by the market. CFO Succession PR
- Positive Sentiment: Industry and thematic coverage highlight stronger AI/data-center-driven generator demand and a large $51B backlog, providing a structural demand tailwind beyond cyclical construction and mining recovery. Thematic Bull Case
- Neutral Sentiment: Sanford C. Bernstein raised its price target to $769 from $678 but kept a “market perform” rating — the PT rose but remains near/below recent trade, offering mixed guidance on near-term upside. Bernstein Note
- Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary and media coverage (including Jim Cramer mentions and options chatter) have amplified momentum narratives; these can boost flows but also increase short-term volatility around earnings and macro headlines. Cramer Commentary
- Negative Sentiment: Quiver/insider-tracking data show substantial insider sales across multiple executives in recent months, which can be interpreted as a cautionary signal by some investors. Insider Activity Summary
- Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its Q4 2026 estimate slightly (to $6.15 from $6.21) — a minor headwind that highlights near-term quarter-to-quarter variability despite overall upward revisions. Zacks Estimate Changes
Caterpillar Company Profile
Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. The company’s product portfolio includes earthmoving machines such as excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and off?highway trucks, as well as a range of power generation products including generator sets and power systems for industrial and commercial use. Caterpillar serves customers across heavy construction, mining, energy, transportation and related industries with both equipment and integrated technology solutions.
In addition to manufacturing, Caterpillar provides a broad range of aftermarket parts and support services, including maintenance, repair, remanufacturing and fleet management tools.
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