First Business Financial Services Inc. Raises Stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

First Business Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) by 2,099.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,667 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 14,000 shares during the period. Caterpillar accounts for approximately 0.5% of First Business Financial Services Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest holding. First Business Financial Services Inc.'s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $5,321,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. grew its stake in Caterpillar by 5.8% in the fourth quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 10,351 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $3,755,000 after purchasing an additional 566 shares during the last quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 25.2% during the fourth quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,603 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $3,846,000 after acquiring an additional 2,131 shares during the last quarter. Sound Financial Strategies Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 12.7% during the fourth quarter. Sound Financial Strategies Group LLC now owns 2,321 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $842,000 after acquiring an additional 261 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 38.3% during the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,218 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $805,000 after acquiring an additional 614 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SPC Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 9.6% during the fourth quarter. SPC Financial Inc. now owns 1,112 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $403,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company's stock.

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Caterpillar Stock Performance

NYSE:CAT traded up $9.96 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $350.97. The company had a trading volume of 3,061,142 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,503,377. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1-year low of $307.05 and a 1-year high of $418.50. The firm has a market cap of $167.74 billion, a PE ratio of 15.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.15. The business's 50 day moving average price is $363.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $372.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 0.89.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.97 by $0.17. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 58.18% and a net margin of 16.65%. Research analysts forecast that Caterpillar Inc. will post 19.86 EPS for the current year.

Caterpillar Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 21st were paid a dividend of $1.41 per share. This represents a $5.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 21st. Caterpillar's payout ratio is 25.56%.

Insider Transactions at Caterpillar

In related news, insider Jason Kaiser sold 2,425 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $354.70, for a total transaction of $860,147.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,275 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,225,742.50. The trade was a 27.87 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Gerald Johnson purchased 100 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,053 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,116,085.21. This represents a 3.39 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on CAT. DA Davidson boosted their price target on Caterpillar from $350.00 to $357.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Caterpillar from $420.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Wedbush upgraded Caterpillar to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $365.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Raymond James raised Caterpillar from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $383.80.

About Caterpillar

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.