Ascent Group LLC Buys 1,302 Shares of Caterpillar Inc. $CAT

Ascent Group LLC lifted its stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) by 21.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,438 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,302 shares during the quarter. Ascent Group LLC’s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $4,261,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund lifted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 7.3% in the third quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 17,262 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $8,237,000 after buying an additional 1,181 shares in the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA grew its holdings in Caterpillar by 155.9% during the 3rd quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 47,231 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $21,014,000 after buying an additional 28,773 shares in the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC bought a new stake in Caterpillar in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $8,893,000. ZEGA Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 149.6% during the 3rd quarter. ZEGA Investments LLC now owns 4,184 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,996,000 after acquiring an additional 2,508 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D raised its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 165,677 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $79,053,000 after acquiring an additional 4,010 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on CAT. Raymond James Financial reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of Caterpillar in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $587.00 to $658.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $760.00 to $785.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, March 9th. Argus upped their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $625.00 to $820.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $678.00 price target on shares of Caterpillar in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $737.55.

Key Headlines Impacting Caterpillar

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple forward-quarter and full-year EPS forecasts for CAT (including FY2026–FY2028 and several quarterly uplifts), pushing multi-year earnings power higher and supporting a more bullish outlook from analysts. (Zacks research note)
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price-target increases and an upgrade have driven buying interest—separate notes lifted CAT targets to $700 and $750 and an upgrade sent the stock up intraday. Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Price Target Raised to $700.00 Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Price Target Raised to $750.00 Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Trading Up 3.1% After Analyst Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Local manufacturing expansion: Caterpillar plans to add ~200 jobs at its Victoria, Texas facility — signals ongoing demand for equipment and incremental capacity investment. Caterpillar to add 200 jobs at Victoria facility even as manufacturing activity across Texas slows
• Neutral Sentiment: C-suite governance change: CEO Joe Creed has taken on the additional role of board chairman following Jim Umpleby’s retirement — typically neutral but worth watching for any strategic shifts. Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed takes over added role as board chairman
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro tailwind: Geopolitical-driven market flows (the “Iran war FOMO” trade) have boosted industrial names including Caterpillar as investors rotate into defense- and infrastructure-exposed stocks. The Iran War FOMO Trade Is Sending Stocks Surging
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/supply-chain risk: U.S. senators have launched a review of heavy-equipment imports from Mexico that could lead to tariffs or restrictions affecting cross-border parts and finished goods — a potential headwind for Caterpillar’s Mexico-linked manufacturing footprint. Caterpillar Faces Mexico Import Review As Supply Chain Risks Resurface

Caterpillar Stock Performance

CAT stock opened at $717.23 on Friday. Caterpillar Inc. has a twelve month low of $267.30 and a twelve month high of $789.81. The firm has a market cap of $333.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.11, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.52. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $715.54 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $614.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The industrial products company reported $5.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.67 by $0.49. The firm had revenue of $19.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.81 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 13.14% and a return on equity of 45.76%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $5.14 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Caterpillar Inc. will post 19.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Lange Bob De sold 22,656 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $720.11, for a total value of $16,314,812.16. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 79,953 shares in the company, valued at approximately $57,574,954.83. The trade was a 22.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO William E. Schaupp sold 972 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $764.20, for a total value of $742,802.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 824 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $629,700.80. This represents a 54.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 125,950 shares of company stock valued at $88,577,390. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

About Caterpillar

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.