Wharton Business Group LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Caterpillar Inc. $CAT

Wharton Business Group LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) by 2.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 48,473 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,105 shares during the quarter. Caterpillar accounts for approximately 1.1% of Wharton Business Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Wharton Business Group LLC’s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $27,769,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Pinebridge Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the fourth quarter worth about $39,182,000. Viewpoint Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Viewpoint Capital Management LLC now owns 12,806 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $7,336,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Arsenal Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the fourth quarter worth about $594,000. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 28.2% during the fourth quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 12,292 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $7,042,000 after purchasing an additional 2,706 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 2,693 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,543,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

Caterpillar Stock Down 3.8%

Shares of CAT opened at $904.89 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 0.81. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1 year low of $352.26 and a 1 year high of $946.83. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $831.99 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $714.41. The firm has a market cap of $416.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.59.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.65 by $0.89. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 48.21% and a net margin of 13.33%.The firm had revenue of $17.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.53 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.25 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 22.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Caterpillar Inc. will post 24.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Caterpillar Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 20th were given a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 20th. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Caterpillar’s payout ratio is presently 30.06%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on CAT shares. Williams Trading set a $825.00 target price on Caterpillar in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Caterpillar from $960.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Oppenheimer set a $980.00 target price on Caterpillar and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Barclays upped their target price on Caterpillar from $700.00 to $800.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Finally, CICC Research started coverage on Caterpillar in a research note on Friday, February 6th. They issued an “outperform” rating for the company. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $933.27.

Trending Headlines about Caterpillar

Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar is benefiting from strong demand tied to data center construction and rising power needs, with coverage highlighting record quarterly results and improving sentiment around its power and energy business. Data Center Power Demands Push This Dividend Aristocrat to All Time Highs
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentators remain constructive on Caterpillar’s growth outlook, citing durable tailwinds from AI-related infrastructure spending and a bullish price target in the latest research note. Caterpillar Setting The Pace For Growth In Power And Energy
• Positive Sentiment: Trump administration tariff cuts on farm and construction equipment are being viewed as a margin boost for Caterpillar’s core products, which could support earnings and sentiment. Trump Just Gave Caterpillar Stock a Boost. What to Know.
• Positive Sentiment: Additional coverage framed Caterpillar as one of the stocks poised to benefit from lower equipment tariffs, reinforcing the recent bullish narrative. When Trump Cuts Tariffs on Farm and Construction Equipment, These 5 Stocks Win Big
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles were more general or commentary-driven, including a decade-long return retrospective and broader construction-stocks roundups, so they are less likely to move the shares directly. If You Invested $1000 in Caterpillar a Decade Ago, This is How Much It’d Be Worth Now
• Neutral Sentiment: Non-fundamental items such as an unrelated garden-caterpillar story and a political donation tracker do not appear to have a direct impact on Caterpillar’s business outlook. New caterpillar that can ‘send you to A&E’ breeding rapidly in gardens

Insider Transactions at Caterpillar

In other Caterpillar news, insider Lange Bob De sold 24,222 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $922.92, for a total value of $22,354,968.24. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 86,029 shares in the company, valued at approximately $79,397,884.68. The trade was a 21.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO William E. Schaupp sold 360 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $906.00, for a total value of $326,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 530 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $480,180. The trade was a 40.45% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 95,773 shares of company stock valued at $87,642,635. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. The company’s product portfolio includes earthmoving machines such as excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and off?highway trucks, as well as a range of power generation products including generator sets and power systems for industrial and commercial use. Caterpillar serves customers across heavy construction, mining, energy, transportation and related industries with both equipment and integrated technology solutions.

In addition to manufacturing, Caterpillar provides a broad range of aftermarket parts and support services, including maintenance, repair, remanufacturing and fleet management tools.