Caterpillar (CAT) vs PACCAR (PCAR)
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 PACCAR (PCAR) over the past year, gaining 66.8% versus a gain of 10.5%. Over five years, CAT leads with a +308.9% price change compared with +84.5% for PCAR. Caterpillar is the larger company by market cap ($374.10 billion vs $56.25 billion), about 6.7 times the size.
On valuation, PACCAR trades at a lower forward P/E (14.9x vs 25.1x for Caterpillar). PACCAR offers the higher dividend yield (1.25% vs 0.76%). Caterpillar converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.1% versus 8.4%.
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 | PCAR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $813.83 | $106.86 |
| Market cap | $374.10B | $56.25B |
| 1-day change | -5.75% | -2.25% |
| YTD return | +41.68% | -2.42% |
| 1-year return | +66.76% | +10.53% |
| 5-year return | +308.92% | +84.47% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 35.03 | 22.50 |
| Forward P/E | 25.09 | 14.89 |
| EPS (TTM) | $23.23 | $4.75 |
| Dividend yield | 0.76% | 1.25% |
| Annual dividend | $6.16 | $1.34 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $67.59B | $28.44B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.29% | -15.50% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $8.88B | $2.38B |
| Gross margin | 33.79% | 20.07% |
| Operating margin | 16.50% | — |
| Net margin | 13.14% | 8.35% |
| 52-week high | $1,073.46 | $139.24 |
| 52-week low | $489.34 | $92.25 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -24.19% | -23.25% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +19.29% | +32.36% |
| Average volume | 2.64M | 3.34M |
| Shares outstanding | 459.67M | 526.36M |
| Employees | 118,000 | 25,900 |
| 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 6.7 times larger than PACCAR by market value ($374.10B vs $56.25B).
- CAT has outperformed PCAR by 56.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Caterpillar trades at a higher earnings multiple (35.0x vs 22.5x trailing P/E).
- Caterpillar grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+4.29% vs -15.50%).
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 PACCAR
PCAR stock →PACCAR Inc designs, manufactures, and distributes light, medium, and heavy-duty commercial trucks in the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Europe, Central and South America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Truck, Parts, and Financial Services.
Industrials · Auto Manufacturing · 25,900 employees
CAT vs PCAR FAQ
Which is bigger, Caterpillar or PACCAR?
Caterpillar (CAT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $374.10B compared with $56.25B for PACCAR (PCAR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CAT or PCAR?
CAT returned +66.76% over the past 12 months, compared with +10.53% for PCAR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CAT or PCAR?
PCAR has the lower trailing P/E at 22.5, 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, Caterpillar or PACCAR?
PACCAR has the higher yield at 1.25%, compared with 0.76% for Caterpillar.
Are Caterpillar and PACCAR in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks for Caterpillar and Auto Manufacturing for PACCAR.