Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Price Target Raised to $610.00

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) had its price target increased by Barclays from $555.00 to $610.00 in a research report issued on Friday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage presently has an “equal weight” rating on the industrial products company’s stock. Barclays‘s price target would indicate a potential downside of 3.67% from the company’s current price.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Caterpillar from $730.00 to $740.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Caterpillar in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $560.00 price target on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $612.00 to $680.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Erste Group Bank raised shares of Caterpillar from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $557.00 to $630.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Caterpillar has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $637.45.

Caterpillar Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of NYSE CAT traded down $15.15 during trading on Friday, reaching $633.26. 292,966 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,239,703. The company has a market capitalization of $296.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.57. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $592.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $508.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. Caterpillar has a twelve month low of $267.30 and a twelve month high of $655.78.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 3rd. The industrial products company reported $4.95 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.52 by $0.43. The firm had revenue of $17.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.72 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 14.34% and a return on equity of 47.16%. The firm’s revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $5.17 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Caterpillar will post 19.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO William E. Schaupp sold 1,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $572.22, for a total value of $686,664.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 1,323 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $757,047.06. This represents a 47.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Lange Bob De sold 14,638 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $562.36, for a total transaction of $8,231,825.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 80,209 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $45,106,333.24. The trade was a 15.43% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 54,729 shares of company stock valued at $31,084,308. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Caterpillar

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Dara Capital US Inc. purchased a new position in Caterpillar in the fourth quarter valued at about $549,000. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. increased its holdings in Caterpillar by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. now owns 2,633 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,508,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. lifted its stake in Caterpillar by 95.7% in the fourth quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 45,896 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $26,292,000 after acquiring an additional 22,444 shares during the last quarter. Successful Portfolios LLC increased its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 22.9% during the 4th quarter. Successful Portfolios LLC now owns 521 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $322,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clear Creek Financial Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 11.8% during the 4th quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 1,688 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $967,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. The company’s product portfolio includes earthmoving machines such as excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and off‑highway trucks, as well as a range of power generation products including generator sets and power systems for industrial and commercial use. Caterpillar serves customers across heavy construction, mining, energy, transportation and related industries with both equipment and integrated technology solutions.

In addition to manufacturing, Caterpillar provides a broad range of aftermarket parts and support services, including maintenance, repair, remanufacturing and fleet management tools.