Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) Given Average Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of "Hold" from the eighteen brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have issued a hold recommendation and nine have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $383.80.

Several research firms have weighed in on CAT. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $455.00 to $475.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. UBS Group raised Caterpillar from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the company from $355.00 to $385.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Caterpillar from $452.00 to $414.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $330.00 to $300.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, DA Davidson increased their price objective on Caterpillar from $350.00 to $357.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Jason Kaiser sold 2,425 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $354.70, for a total value of $860,147.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6,275 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,225,742.50. The trade was a 27.87 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Gerald Johnson bought 100 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 4th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $365.57 per share, with a total value of $36,557.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,053 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,116,085.21. The trade was a 3.39 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Caterpillar

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Cyrus J. Lawrence LLC acquired a new stake in Caterpillar during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Noble Wealth Management PBC bought a new stake in Caterpillar in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Investment Management Corp VA ADV bought a new position in Caterpillar during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. 70.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Caterpillar Stock Up 1.8 %

Shares of CAT opened at $341.83 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $163.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.49, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.15. Caterpillar has a 52 week low of $307.05 and a 52 week high of $418.50. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $358.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $372.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

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Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.97 by $0.17. Caterpillar had a net margin of 16.65% and a return on equity of 58.18%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Caterpillar will post 19.86 EPS for the current year.

Caterpillar Company Profile

Caterpillar Inc manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools.

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