Blue Bird (BLBD) vs Caterpillar (CAT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Caterpillar (CAT) has outperformed Blue Bird (BLBD) over the past year, gaining 67.2% versus a gain of 4.6%. Over five years, CAT leads with a +308.9% price change compared with +182.4% for BLBD. Caterpillar is the larger company by market cap ($374.10 billion vs $1.75 billion), about 213.7 times the size.
On valuation, Blue Bird trades at a lower forward P/E (12.5x vs 25.1x for Caterpillar). Caterpillar pays a dividend yielding 0.76%, while Blue Bird does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BLBD | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $55.84 | $813.83 |
| Market cap | $1.75B | $374.10B |
| 1-day change | -2.35% | -5.75% |
| YTD return | +18.81% | +42.06% |
| 1-year return | +4.65% | +67.21% |
| 5-year return | +182.45% | +308.92% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.61 | 35.03 |
| Forward P/E | 12.53 | 25.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.45 | $23.23 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.76% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $6.16 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $67.59B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +4.29% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $8.88B |
| Gross margin | — | 33.79% |
| Operating margin | — | 16.50% |
| Net margin | — | 13.14% |
| 52-week high | $83.39 | $1,073.46 |
| 52-week low | $46.14 | $489.34 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -33.04% | -24.19% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +59.62% | +19.29% |
| Average volume | 530.87K | 2.64M |
| Shares outstanding | 31.35M | 459.67M |
| Employees | 2,008 | 118,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks | Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Caterpillar is about 213.7 times larger than Blue Bird by market value ($374.10B vs $1.75B).
- CAT has outperformed BLBD by 62.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Caterpillar trades at a higher earnings multiple (35.0x vs 6.6x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Blue Bird in Consumer Discretionary and Caterpillar in Industrials.
About Blue Bird
BLBD stock →Blue Bird Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells school buses in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Bus and Parts.
Consumer Discretionary · Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks · 2,008 employees
About Caterpillar
CAT stock →Caterpillar Inc. provides construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in the United States and internationally.
Industrials · Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks · 118,000 employees
BLBD vs CAT FAQ
Which is bigger, Blue Bird or Caterpillar?
Caterpillar (CAT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $374.10B compared with $1.75B for Blue Bird (BLBD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BLBD or CAT?
CAT returned +67.21% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.65% for BLBD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BLBD or CAT?
BLBD has the lower trailing P/E at 6.6, versus 35.0 for CAT. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Blue Bird or Caterpillar?
Caterpillar pays a dividend yielding 0.76%, while Blue Bird does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Blue Bird and Caterpillar in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.