Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Trading Down 1.2% Following Insider Selling

Shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) dropped 1.2% on Wednesday following insider selling activity. The stock traded as low as $897.38 and last traded at $901.2220. Approximately 1,892,230 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 30% from the average daily volume of 2,695,528 shares. The stock had previously closed at $912.14.

Specifically, insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 16,283 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $916.80, for a total value of $14,928,254.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 46,041 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $42,210,388.80. This represents a 26.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 15,674 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $918.71, for a total value of $14,399,860.54. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 52,935 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $48,631,913.85. This trade represents a 22.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In other Caterpillar news, insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 9,152 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $926.25, for a total value of $8,477,040.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 46,041 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $42,645,476.25. This trade represents a 16.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. HSBC raised their target price on Caterpillar from $850.00 to $1,100.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Daiwa Securities Group raised their target price on Caterpillar from $790.00 to $900.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $1,103.00 target price on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Monday. Oppenheimer set a $980.00 target price on Caterpillar and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Caterpillar from $940.00 to $1,165.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $911.77.

Key Stories Impacting Caterpillar

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Argus raised its price target on Caterpillar (CAT) to $990 from $820 and reiterated a Buy rating, citing expectations for strong demand and continued business momentum. Argus Lifts PT on Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Expects Strong Demand
• Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar’s 2025 Annual and Sustainability Reports highlighted record full-year sales and revenues, along with a refreshed strategy focused on profitable growth. Caterpillar Inc. Releases 2025 Annual and Sustainability Reports
• Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage emphasized Caterpillar’s strong first-quarter results, upbeat full-year guidance, and progress on its share buyback program, reinforcing the bullish case for the stock. Caterpillar (CAT) Is Up 5.9% After Strong Q1…
• Positive Sentiment: Commentary also pointed to Caterpillar’s growing exposure to AI-related power demand, especially backup and primary power systems for data centers, which could expand a long-term growth driver. Seeking Alpha article on Caterpillar and AI power bottleneck
• Neutral Sentiment: Jim Cramer also said Caterpillar is a buy, adding to the positive tone, though the segment did not introduce new fundamental information. Cramer’s lightning round: Buy Caterpillar
• Negative Sentiment: Insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 16,283 shares at an average price of $916.80, which can be a mild overhang even though he still retains a meaningful stake. Anthony Fassino Sells 16,283 Shares of Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Stock

Caterpillar Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $415.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.35. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $765.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $673.10.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.54 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.65 by $0.89. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 48.21% and a net margin of 13.33%.The business had revenue of $17.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.53 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $4.25 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Caterpillar Inc. will post 24.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Caterpillar Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 20th will be given a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 20th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Caterpillar’s payout ratio is currently 30.06%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Caterpillar

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Caterpillar by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,385,185 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $26,572,681,000 after purchasing an additional 442,164 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Caterpillar by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 35,388,550 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $20,273,039,000 after purchasing an additional 385,204 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Caterpillar by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,610,182 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $6,072,572,000 after purchasing an additional 94,524 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Caterpillar by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 9,493,266 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $5,438,408,000 after purchasing an additional 54,069 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in Caterpillar by 16.0% in the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,738,802 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,860,457,000 after purchasing an additional 928,974 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

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.