Caterpillar FY2026 EPS Forecast Lifted by Erste Group Bank

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) – Erste Group Bank boosted their FY2026 EPS estimates for shares of Caterpillar in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, March 24th. Erste Group Bank analyst H. Engel now anticipates that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $22.70 for the year, up from their previous estimate of $22.65. The consensus estimate for Caterpillar’s current full-year earnings is $19.86 per share.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The industrial products company reported $5.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.67 by $0.49. The company had revenue of $19.13 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.81 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 13.14% and a return on equity of 45.76%. The firm’s revenue was up 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $5.14 EPS.

CAT has been the topic of several other reports. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $677.00 price objective on shares of Caterpillar in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. DA Davidson boosted their target price on Caterpillar from $569.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Wolfe Research upped their target price on Caterpillar from $470.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 2nd. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $610.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group boosted their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $640.00 to $790.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $730.50.

Caterpillar Trading Down 2.4%

NYSE CAT opened at $701.96 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $707.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $601.23. Caterpillar has a twelve month low of $267.30 and a twelve month high of $789.81. The company has a market capitalization of $326.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.30, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.54.

Insider Transactions at Caterpillar

In related news, CEO Joseph E. Creed sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $718.93, for a total value of $1,797,325.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 35,083 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $25,222,221.19. This trade represents a 6.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 10,671 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $680.45, for a total value of $7,261,081.95. Following the transaction, the insider owned 41,151 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,001,197.95. This represents a 20.59% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 135,950 shares of company stock valued at $94,327,990. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Caterpillar

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Torren Management LLC bought a new stake in Caterpillar in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Caterpillar by 220.0% in the 4th quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 48 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. IFS Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Rialto Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 47.4% during the 4th quarter. Rialto Wealth Management LLC now owns 56 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. 70.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Caterpillar

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group slightly raised its FY2026 EPS forecast for Caterpillar, a modest analyst upgrade that supports forward earnings expectations. Erste Group raises FY2026 estimate for Caterpillar
• Positive Sentiment: Analysis highlighting Caterpillar’s role supplying equipment for Nscale’s large AI compute campus frames a material long-term revenue opportunity if equipment and service demand materializes. Assessing Caterpillar’s Valuation As It Powers Nscale’s Massive AI Compute Campus
• Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar debuted a new 1‑ton 301 CR mini excavator — product expansion that helps address compact equipment demand and supports aftermarket/service revenue. Cat Debuts its Smallest Mini Excavator Yet, the 1-Ton 301 CR
• Neutral Sentiment: Local education and workforce partnerships (e.g., Alvernia collaboration on STEM) are positive for long-term talent/PR but have limited near-term revenue impact. Alvernia and Caterpillar collaborate to strengthen STEM education
• Neutral Sentiment: Be careful not to confuse tickers: a press release from “CAT Strategic Metals” (ticker CAT on other exchanges) concerns a mining project and is unrelated to Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT). CAT Strategic Metals Consolidates 100% Ownership…
• Negative Sentiment: Washington state advocates praised the sale of $62M in Caterpillar bonds — a public divestment tied to ESG/policy concerns that can pressure investor sentiment. Advocates praise WA for selling off $62M in Caterpillar bonds
• Negative Sentiment: Broad market weakness contributed to a Dow decline that cited losses in Caterpillar among others, amplifying short‑term downside risk. Dow drops nearly 350 points on losses for NVIDIA Corp., Caterpillar stocks
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts remain mixed on a power‑generation equipment agreement with Atlas Energy, creating uncertainty about margins and the deal’s contribution to near-term earnings. Analysts Remain Mixed on Caterpillar (CAT) Amid Power-Generation Equipment Agreement with Atlas Energy
• Negative Sentiment: Operating margins slipped in 2025 and rising tariff costs are highlighted as a continuing headwind into 2026 — a direct pressure on profitability. Caterpillar’s Operating Margins Slipped in 2025: Bounce Back Ahead?
• Negative Sentiment: Ongoing litigation: Caterpillar has counter‑sued Bobcat/Doosan over alleged patent infringement and raised industrial‑espionage claims — legal exposure and distraction that can increase costs and create uncertainty. Caterpillar countersues Bobcat for infringing machinery patents Caterpillar Challenges Doosan Bobcat Patent Lawsuit, Alleges Industrial Espionage

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.