Caterpillar (CAT) vs Deere (DE)
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 Deere (DE) over the past year, gaining 67.2% versus a gain of 42.3%. Over five years, CAT leads with a +308.9% price change compared with +97.4% for DE. Caterpillar is the larger company by market cap ($374.10 billion vs $177.11 billion), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, Caterpillar trades at a lower forward P/E (25.1x vs 28.9x for Deere). Deere offers the higher dividend yield (0.99% vs 0.76%). Caterpillar converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.1% versus 11.0%.
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 | CAT | DE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $813.83 | $656.87 |
| Market cap | $374.10B | $177.11B |
| 1-day change | -5.75% | -3.80% |
| YTD return | +42.06% | +41.09% |
| 1-year return | +67.21% | +42.33% |
| 5-year return | +308.92% | +97.40% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 35.03 | 36.51 |
| Forward P/E | 25.09 | 28.92 |
| EPS (TTM) | $23.23 | $17.99 |
| Dividend yield | 0.76% | 0.99% |
| Annual dividend | $6.16 | $6.48 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $67.59B | $45.68B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.29% | -11.66% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $8.88B | $5.03B |
| Gross margin | 33.79% | — |
| Operating margin | 16.50% | — |
| Net margin | 13.14% | 11.00% |
| 52-week high | $1,073.46 | $721.22 |
| 52-week low | $489.34 | $433.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -24.19% | -8.92% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +19.29% | +5.32% |
| Average volume | 2.64M | 1.20M |
| Shares outstanding | 459.67M | 269.63M |
| Employees | 118,000 | 73,100 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks | Industrial Machinery/Components |
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 2.1 times larger than Deere by market value ($374.10B vs $177.11B).
- CAT has outperformed DE by 24.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Caterpillar grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+4.29% vs -11.66%).
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
About Deere
DE stock →Deere & Company engages in the manufacture and distribution of various equipment worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Production and Precision Agriculture, Small Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 73,100 employees
CAT vs DE FAQ
Which is bigger, Caterpillar or Deere?
Caterpillar (CAT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $374.10B compared with $177.11B for Deere (DE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CAT or DE?
CAT returned +67.21% over the past 12 months, compared with +42.33% for DE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CAT or DE?
CAT has the lower trailing P/E at 35.0, versus 36.5 for DE. 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, Caterpillar or Deere?
Deere has the higher yield at 0.99%, compared with 0.76% for Caterpillar.
Are Caterpillar and Deere in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks for Caterpillar and Industrial Machinery/Components for Deere.