Insider Selling: Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) Insider Sells 2,425 Shares of Stock

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) insider Jason Kaiser sold 2,425 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were 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 owns 6,275 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,225,742.50. This represents a 27.87 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Caterpillar Price Performance

NYSE:CAT traded down $9.31 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $339.84. 3,217,291 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,416,794. The company has a market capitalization of $162.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.12. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1-year low of $307.05 and a 1-year high of $418.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The business has a 50 day moving average of $369.54 and a 200 day moving average of $372.24.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last released 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 Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 21st were paid a $1.41 dividend. This represents a $5.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 21st. Caterpillar's payout ratio is 25.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Caterpillar from $365.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com raised Caterpillar from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $299.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Caterpillar from $455.00 to $438.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Caterpillar from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $355.00 to $385.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $383.80.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 688 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $262,000 after acquiring an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. Allen Capital Group LLC raised its position in Caterpillar by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Allen Capital Group LLC now owns 4,247 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,541,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Caterpillar by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC now owns 668 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $242,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. First Bank & Trust raised its position in Caterpillar by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. First Bank & Trust now owns 709 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $277,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Washington Trust Bank raised its position in Caterpillar by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Washington Trust Bank now owns 2,349 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $919,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. 70.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.