1,113 Caterpillar Inc. $CAT Shares Sold by Sterling Capital Management LLC

Sterling Capital Management LLC cut its stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) by 9.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,303 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,113 shares during the quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $9,164,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. raised its stake in Caterpillar by 440.0% in the second quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 27 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Matrix Trust Co boosted its position in Caterpillar by 93.8% during the 2nd quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 31 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Lam Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, PFS Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Caterpillar by 1,750.0% in the 3rd quarter. PFS Partners LLC now owns 37 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. 70.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Caterpillar Stock Down 2.5%

NYSE CAT traded down $17.53 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $686.52. The stock had a trading volume of 3,016,836 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,596,919. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1 year low of $521.02 and a 1 year high of $1,073.46. The stock has a market cap of $315.57 billion, a PE ratio of 29.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $798.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $855.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.85.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $8.17 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.22 by $1.95. The company had revenue of $20.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.34 billion. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 55.53% and a net margin of 14.51%. Caterpillar’s revenue was up 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.72 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Caterpillar Inc. will post 27.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Caterpillar Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 19th. Investors of record on Monday, October 26th will be issued a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 26th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. Caterpillar’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.06%.

Insider Transactions at Caterpillar

In related news, CEO Joseph E. Creed sold 32,401 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $808.98, for a total value of $26,211,760.98. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 34,555 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,954,303.90. The trade was a 48.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Caterpillar

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect Caterpillar to deliver year-over-year earnings growth in its upcoming third-quarter report. The company’s positive Earnings ESP and favorable estimate revisions suggest potential for an earnings beat, supported by manufacturing strength and demand for industrial equipment. Caterpillar Reports Next Week: Wall Street Expects Earnings Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Technical and fundamental indicators are encouraging some investors to view the recent decline as a buying opportunity. A hammer chart pattern points to possible support, while upward earnings-estimate revisions could help drive a near-term recovery. Bears Are Losing Control Over Caterpillar
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks lists Caterpillar among industrial companies with the potential to outperform third-quarter earnings expectations, reflecting continued confidence in the sector’s demand environment. Industrial Stocks Set to Outshine Q3 Earnings Estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: The key catalyst is Caterpillar’s forthcoming quarterly report. Investors will focus on whether earnings growth, revenue momentum and management’s outlook validate the optimistic estimates. The company’s previous quarter featured a substantial earnings and revenue beat, providing a supportive comparison.
• Negative Sentiment: The recent selloff has materially weakened CAT’s momentum and caused it to underperform the S&P 500, with much of the decline concentrated in only a few trading sessions. Continued investor caution, profit-taking or disappointment in the upcoming report could keep pressure on the shares. Caterpillar Just Dropped 10% in a Month

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on CAT shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded Caterpillar from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on Caterpillar from $877.00 to $897.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Caterpillar from $900.00 to $925.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings raised Caterpillar from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Finally, President Capital assumed coverage on shares of Caterpillar in a research report on Friday, September 18th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $999.00 target price on the stock. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $967.83.

Caterpillar Profile

Caterpillar Inc is a manufacturer of construction, mining, and industrial equipment. Its product portfolio includes excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, articulated trucks, and other machinery used in construction, infrastructure development, mining, quarrying, forestry, and related industries. The company also produces diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, generator sets, and other power-generation and transportation equipment.

Caterpillar operates through businesses focused on construction industries, resource industries, and energy and transportation.