Caterpillar (CAT) vs Federal Signal (FSS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Caterpillar (CAT) has outperformed Federal Signal (FSS) over the past year, gaining 58.6% versus a loss of 6.9%. Over five years, CAT leads with a +300.1% price change compared with +172.3% for FSS. Caterpillar is the larger company by market cap ($365.98 billion vs $6.87 billion), about 53.2 times the size, while Federal Signal is growing revenue faster (+17.1% vs +4.3%).
On valuation, Federal Signal trades at a lower forward P/E (19.5x vs 24.6x for Caterpillar). Caterpillar offers the higher dividend yield (0.77% vs 0.52%). Caterpillar converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.1% versus 11.3%.
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 | FSS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $796.18 | $112.61 |
| Market cap | $365.98B | $6.87B |
| 1-day change | -2.17% | -1.57% |
| YTD return | +38.98% | +3.70% |
| 1-year return | +58.56% | -6.89% |
| 5-year return | +300.05% | +172.27% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 34.27 | 24.27 |
| Forward P/E | 24.56 | 19.49 |
| EPS (TTM) | $23.23 | $4.64 |
| Dividend yield | 0.77% | 0.52% |
| Annual dividend | $6.16 | $0.58 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $67.59B | $2.18B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.29% | +17.14% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $8.88B | $246.60M |
| Gross margin | 33.79% | 28.95% |
| Operating margin | 16.50% | 15.63% |
| Net margin | 13.14% | 11.31% |
| 52-week high | $1,073.46 | $134.51 |
| 52-week low | $491.30 | $101.19 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.83% | -16.28% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +21.93% | +29.32% |
| Average volume | 2.65M | 433.03K |
| Shares outstanding | 459.67M | 61.04M |
| Employees | 118,000 | 5,800 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks | Auto Manufacturing |
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 53.2 times larger than Federal Signal by market value ($365.98B vs $6.87B).
- CAT has outperformed FSS by 65.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Caterpillar trades at a higher earnings multiple (34.3x vs 24.3x trailing P/E).
- Federal Signal grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+17.14% vs +4.29%).
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 Federal Signal
FSS stock →Federal Signal Corporation designs, manufactures, and supplies a suite of products and integrated solutions for municipal, governmental, industrial, and commercial customers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Environmental Solutions Group, and Safety and Security Systems Group.
Industrials · Auto Manufacturing · 5,800 employees
CAT vs FSS FAQ
Which is bigger, Caterpillar or Federal Signal?
Caterpillar (CAT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $365.98B compared with $6.87B for Federal Signal (FSS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CAT or FSS?
CAT returned +58.56% over the past 12 months, compared with -6.89% for FSS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CAT or FSS?
FSS has the lower trailing P/E at 24.3, versus 34.3 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, Caterpillar or Federal Signal?
Caterpillar has the higher yield at 0.77%, compared with 0.52% for Federal Signal.
Are Caterpillar and Federal Signal in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks for Caterpillar and Auto Manufacturing for Federal Signal.