Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Stock Rating Upgraded by UBS Group

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) was upgraded by investment analysts at UBS Group from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report released on Monday, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a $385.00 price objective on the industrial products company’s stock, up from their previous price objective of $355.00. UBS Group’s price target would indicate a potential upside of 3.53% from the company’s current price.

CAT has been the subject of a number of other reports. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Caterpillar from $330.00 to $300.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Evercore ISI raised Caterpillar from an “underperform” rating to an “in-line” rating and set a $365.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Robert W. Baird upped 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. Bank of America decreased their target price on Caterpillar from $452.00 to $414.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Caterpillar from $455.00 to $475.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $382.13.

Caterpillar Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE:CAT opened at $371.88 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $380.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $371.07. The stock has a market cap of $179.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.12. Caterpillar has a 1 year low of $299.93 and a 1 year high of $418.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.42.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.14 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Caterpillar will post 21.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Caterpillar

In related news, insider Lange Bob De sold 12,657 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $410.25, for a total value of $5,192,534.25. Following the sale, the insider now owns 71,107 shares in the company, valued at $29,171,646.75. This represents a 15.11 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $380.09, for a total value of $3,800,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 45,182 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,173,226.38. This represents a 18.12 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 30,236 shares of company stock valued at $12,102,371. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Caterpillar

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CAT. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Caterpillar during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in Caterpillar during the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Albion Financial Group UT grew its holdings in Caterpillar by 334.8% during the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 100 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Kimelman & Baird LLC grew its holdings in Caterpillar by 42.9% during the 3rd quarter. Kimelman & Baird LLC now owns 100 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC grew its holdings in Caterpillar by 130.0% during the 4th quarter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC now owns 115 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

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.