Empower Advisory Group LLC Increases Holdings in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Empower Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 253,620 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 2,880 shares during the period. Empower Advisory Group LLC owned 0.05% of Caterpillar worth $99,196,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Caterpillar by 39,534.0% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,136,667 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $8,356,930,000 after buying an additional 2,131,276 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 306.9% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 407,677 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $149,385,000 after purchasing an additional 307,479 shares during the last quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd lifted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 3,319.7% during the 2nd quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd now owns 275,011 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $91,606,000 after purchasing an additional 266,969 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the 1st quarter worth $97,042,000. Finally, Capital International Investors lifted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 99.9% during the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 488,660 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $179,060,000 after purchasing an additional 244,253 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Caterpillar

In other Caterpillar news, insider Cheryl H. Johnson sold 2,975 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $342.48, for a total value of $1,018,878.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 15,615 shares in the company, valued at $5,347,825.20. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Gerald Johnson acquired 100 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $338.59 per share, with a total value of $33,859.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,842 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $962,272.78. This trade represents a 0.00 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Cheryl H. Johnson sold 2,975 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $342.48, for a total value of $1,018,878.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 15,615 shares in the company, valued at $5,347,825.20. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 23,749 shares of company stock worth $9,251,912 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Evercore ISI lowered shares of Caterpillar from an "in-line" rating to an "underperform" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $321.00 to $365.00 in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com lowered shares of Caterpillar from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $315.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $445.00 to $435.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $285.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $365.33.

Caterpillar Trading Down 1.3 %

NYSE:CAT traded down $5.15 on Wednesday, hitting $387.86. 1,006,515 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,616,985. The stock has a market capitalization of $187.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.10. Caterpillar Inc. has a 52 week low of $241.81 and a 52 week high of $418.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.40. The company's 50-day moving average price is $378.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $353.36.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $5.33 by ($0.16). The firm had revenue of $16.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.37 billion. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 59.09% and a net margin of 16.26%. The company's revenue was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $5.52 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Caterpillar Inc. will post 21.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Caterpillar Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 21st will be issued a dividend of $1.41 per share. This represents a $5.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, October 21st. Caterpillar's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.15%.

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.