For most investors, how much a stock's price changes over time is important. This factor can impact your investment portfolio as well as help you compare investment results across sectors and industries.
Another thing that can drive investing is the fear of missing out, or FOMO. This particularly applies to tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.
What if you'd invested in Caterpillar (CAT) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to CAT for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?
Caterpillar's Business In-Depth
With that in mind, let's take a look at Caterpillar's main business drivers.
Caterpillar, known for its iconic yellow machines, is the largest global construction and mining equipment manufacturer. Given that it serves a gamut of sectors - infrastructure, construction, mining, oil & gas and transportation, the company is considered a bellwether of the global economy.
Since 1925, Caterpillar’s product portfolio has evolved and boasts 20 brands and generated revenues of $67.6 billion in 2025. It has more than 4 million products with an extensive dealer network of 156 dealers spanning 190 countries.
Caterpillar started using telematics in the 1990s and reached its target of 1 million connected assets in 2019. It currently has more than 1.5 million connected assets. The combination of innovation, and cutting-edge technology, coupled with the formidable reputation, set Caterpillar apart from its peers.
Caterpillar is the 23rd largest company on the S&P 500 Index, with a market capitalization of around $414 billion. It holds the second position in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, with a 11.03% weight. It is also a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat Index.
The Irving, TX-based company has six operating segments.Machinery, Power & Energy (MP&E) (around 95% of total revenues in 2025) includes the Construction Industries segment, which manufactures machinery utilized in infrastructure, forestry and building construction.
The Resource Industries segment caters to customers using machinery in mining, quarry and aggregates, heavy construction, waste and material handling applications.
The Power & Energy segment supports customers in oil and gas, power generation, marine, rail and industrial applications.
Financial Products Segment (5% of total revenues in 2025) provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar products.
Bottom Line
Anyone can invest, but building a successful investment portfolio requires research, patience, and a little bit of risk. So, if you had invested in Caterpillar, ten years ago, you're likely feeling pretty good about your investment today.
A $1000 investment made in June 2016 would be worth $12,533.05, or a gain of 1,153.30%, as of June 5, 2026, according to our calculations. This return excludes dividends but includes price appreciation.
In comparison, the S&P 500's gained 261.31% and the price of gold went up 245.95% over the same time frame.
Going forward, analysts are expecting more upside for CAT.
Caterpillar posted strong revenue and earnings growth in the first quarter of 2026, supported by higher volumes across all segments. Backlog reached a record $63 billion, and management lifted its full-year outlook to low double-digit sales growth. Construction demand remains solid, driven by infrastructure activity, rental fleet expansion and nonresidential projects, boosting both end-user sales and dealer restocking. The Power & Energy segment is gaining from rising data-center-related power demand, with increased long-term growth targets and investments in large engine capacity to expand services. Resource Industries stands to benefit from mining investments and aging equipment fleet, though timing and product mix may add volatility. A continued focus on high-margin aftermarket parts and services should further support growth.
The stock has jumped 5.00% over the past four weeks. Additionally, no earnings estimate has gone lower in the past two months, compared to 12 higher, for fiscal 2026; the consensus estimate has moved up as well.
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Caterpillar Inc. (CAT): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).